Get A Hunch, Bet A Bunch

With the twin trifecta pool swelling toward the $50,000 mark, bettors around the state will be loosening their purse strings. On one hand, the extra mutuel handle legitimizes the win odds. On the other, a tough field for the seventh race makes winning a daunting task.

On the basis of speed and class, this vote goes to Press Tour, who bucks a two-year winless streak in route races for No. 9. Grey Vista should be close in the first half.

Wednesday almost was a very good night, but Sensational Knight lost the seventh race by inches.

Here are tonight’s selections:

FIRST: $2 daily doubles pairing RUNNING WRITER and COUNTERCURRENT with EXPLOSIVE GOLD, ADMIRAL’S TYKE and PERFECT MESSENGER ($12).

SIXTH: $2 twin trifectas pairing GREY VISTA with every combination of TONZ A LADY, FLUFFING’S MISS and PROUDTOBEPROUD twice ($24) backed by a $2 quinella box ($12). Exchange to PRESS TOUR paired with MASTER SHANE and IMASAFECRACKER TWO both ways.

SEVENTH: $10 to win on PRESS TOUR.

EIGHTH: $10 to win on MARY HELD ON NINTH: $1 trifectas pairing ROADWORK to every combination of MANTIS, TRIBUTE TO SWING and ALMOST SMASHED ($6).

Original bankroll: $2,000.

Wednesday’s result: Lost $56.

Present bankroll: $1,761.70.