2. My Kentucky Star, Arta B Tricky, Ahknow Too

3. Moon Over Mocha, Jazzver, Dryspell

4. Lucky Acres, Trampus Too, Garrett's Tiger

5. Red Rock Rebel, Clever Contract, Exclusive Kick

6. Mister Quigley, I'm Real, Trackem 'n' Wackem

7. Molly Pontz, Tammy, Annadacious

8.Nikki Nine, C.R. Charmer, Butter Crunch

9. Isleseeyousoon, Hooligan, Clearly Who

Best bet Nikki Nine in the Bold Accent

Longshot special My Kentucky Star in the second

Best exotics Key Ben Won't Tell in the early daily double; box Moon Over Mocha and Jazzver in the third race exacta; key Nikki Nine on top in the eighth race trifecta. In a box below, use C.R. Charmer, Butter Crunch, and Lovesablumin play Nikki Nine and Isleseeyousoon in the late daily double

Play of the day

Our handicapping fortunes during the early portion of the meet will rely on wins by trainer KIim Veerhusen, who spent part of an exceptionally cold winter getting his horses ready in Texas.

His investment should pay off early, as the fitness edge should result in repeated trips to the winner's circle.

Nikki Nine looks too tough to beat in today's Bold Accent. The 2007 Bold Accent winner, this mare fired a bullet three-furlong workout at Retama Park before being shipped to Fonner.

The holster is loaded here. Now, it's time to fire.

Give us $50 to win.

Starting balance: $1,500

Friday's result: Fang Child got Apel's Aces off to a fast start as the first race winner returned $4.00 to win on our $50. win bet.

Current balance: $1,550.

Simulcasting spotlight

We'll turn our attention this week to the valley of the sun, where Grade 1 winner Idiot Proof makes his Arizona debut against Dennis Collins in the $100,000 Phoenix Gold Cup Handicap.

Nebraska native Shawn Swartz, Turf Paradise's director of racing, has Idiot Proof listed at 5-to-2 on the morning line in a field of nine that also includes Snowbound Halo, Collins' mount in the six-furlong race. If Collins is heading to Fonner after riding the race, he will be chasing Idiot Proof from start to finish.

He's too good not to win.

Post time is 4:35 p.m.

Monk's play of the day.

We played the pick three on opening day, and picked two out of three, but close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades so we lost $20. We also missed out on our namesake horse, Monk, which won at Santa Anita and returned a healthy $15 to win.

We'll return to the pick three today starting with race five. Give us a $1 pick three starting with Red Rock Rebel and Cyclone Prince in the fifth, and in the tough sixth, we'll take Whamo, Mister Quigley, Trackem 'N' Wackem, I'm Real, and Brooklet, while we'll use Molly Pontz and Tammy in the seventh. The two times five times two play costs $20.

Jeff Apel is a former turf writer for The Independent who now works as an assistant editor for The Thoroughbred Times in Lexington, Ky. Contact him at (859) 489-0520.