Get A Hunch, Bet A Bunch

Tonight, the horses are off and running as Playfair Race Course begins its 59th season.

With the change to later dates, horses will be fitter, because of racing at other sites, for the opener than they have been in many years.

Runners with solid form at Yakima Meadows should do well, particularly if they can lay close to the pace. Give an extra nod, too, to horses that showed well over the sandy surface at Playfair last fall.

In the Inaugural Purse, Hope’s Rullah, winner of three straight opening-day features, merits a shot at a fourth. However, Stubble is as an almost certain favorite off his Yakima form and Extreme Edge, my pick, showed signs of brilliance while winning five here last year.

Now, we’re off and betting. Good luck.

$5 daily doubles combining PLAYFUL MOON in the first race with LADY’S A CINCH and CLOGGING PIRATE in the second ($10).

FIRST: $20 to win on PLAYFUL MOON.

FOURTH: $5 exactas pairing HOLY BUD and PEAK PERFORMANCE ($10).

SIXTH: $2 quinella baseball combining SPY SESSION, SHY JESSY and BANDANA FLYER ($6).

EIGHTH: $10 to win on INSTEAD OF CAL.

NINTH: $10 to win on EXTREME EDGE and $5 quinellas pairing him with STUBBLE and HOPE’S RULLAH ($10).

TENTH: $1 trifectas teaming STEADY ‘N NICE with every combination of RANDOLPH, NAIVE SESSION and FUNNYMONEY HABIT ($6).

Original bankroll: $2,000.

Present bankroll: $2,000.