Get A Hunch, Bet A Bunch

Betting on horses can be a little like hunting. You try to stay in the game until you bag the trophy that leaves you with something to brag about, something to save, something to spend and enough ammunition to try again.

So it was with Solar Country, a near miss at 18-1 on Monday. Although the $20 win bet could have made it a good season, the $10 quinella solved the problems of the day. One painful loss doesn’t change the fact that front-runners win many distance races on wet tracks.

In today’s seventh, V Twelve, not much sprinter, should be testing his legs for the Inland Empire Marathon while Esperit De Bogen tries to put a finishing touch on a splendid meet.

Here are today’s selections:

FIRST: $2 daily doubles boxing first three picks with first three in second race. $5 double pairing MANITO LASSIE with ROCKET’S GUN

FIFTH: $20 to win on DOC SHAH’S MAJESTY and a $10 quinella pairing him with RANCHO JAK. Parlay any winnings to place on SUBSCRIBE in sixth.

SIXTH: $10 quinellas pairing SUBSCRIBE with VALENTINE KNIGHT and TRAVESTY YEAR ($20).

SEVENTH: $30 to win on ESPERIT DE BOGEN.

EIGHTH: $2 twin trifectas pairing ONE TUFF PURSUIT twice with every combination of FRIENDLY FLYER, MOP’S TOP HOP and HOLY BUD ($24). Swap for FIERY PASSION to TOUCHA FLIER and LARUCE WAGAMORT both ways.

NINTH: $5 exactas pairing FIERY PASSION with TOUCHA FLIER and LARUCE WAGAMORE both ways.

Original bankroll: $2,000.

Sunday’s result: Lost $47.

Monday’s result: Won $3.

Present bankroll: $1,796.50.