Photo courtesy of Eclipse Sportswire

America’s Best Racing and DerbyJackpot team up to provide horseplayers with their best bets of the weekend in a regular feature blog that will run on Fridays.

Each week, one of our crack handicappers - Jose Contreras, Dan Tordjman, Victoria Garofalo or Cory Moelis – will provide at least one “Best Bet” of the weekend, ideal for a win bet.

The post also will include some combination of additional bets for the weekend.

For some posts, our handicappers will try to identify a longshot play of the weekend, a nice opportunity to swing for the fences on a win bet or to take a shot with a show bet.

Our handicappers also will look for strong exacta plays for the weekend or occasionally try to spot a nice opportunity to bet a trifecta or superfecta.

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This Weekend’s Bets

Saturday, Jan. 24

Exacta Box (Gonzo Bet)

Gulfstream, Race 10, Forward Gal Stakes (G2), 5:06 p.m. ET

#6 Enchantress: My go-to method is: big races, big trainers, big jocks. Top trainer Todd Pletcher is winning 31% of his races at Gulfstream. Enchantress has got the breeding, she’s got the workout and she’s got top jockey Johnny Velasquez up for the mount.

#7 Ekati's Phaeton: She is 3-for-3 at Gulfstream. Coming off of her game Old Hat Stakes win, Ekati’s Phaeton looks to be sharp. She has been working bullets and has the right running style to be a top contender in this Grade 2 race.

#11 Skipalute: The maiden mystery factor! Despite being winless and off since November, she's in good hands with Eddie Kenneally, who is winning at 17% this meet. She's graded-stakes-placed in her last two races and, in her last start, she ran second to Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Take Charge Brandi. Skipalute looks to be a runner who will hopefully find that elusive victory on Saturday with top jockey Javier Castellano aboard.

Best Bet (Win Bet/ Monkey Bet)

Santa Anita, Race 7, Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint, 6 p.m. ET 

#9 Kathleen Rose: She relishes the turf. She’s hit the board 10 of 12 turf starts and 8 out of 10 of those were Santa Anita starts. Jockey Kent Desormeaux is winning 24% of his mounts at the current meet, and she looks to be a top contender for the winner's share of the $150,000 purse.

Sunday, Jan. 25

Best Bet (Win Bet/ Monkey Bet)

Gulfstream Park, Race 9, 4:34 p.m. ET

#4 Tizgale: OK, so sometimes my handicapping strategy is to follow my heart and bet on horses I’ve met and love. Call me crazy, but I’ve cashed my two biggest wins this way (and of course, I’ve also had plenty of losses this way, too). My emotional attachment is one thing, but I think she has a good shot in this wide-open race. She's 2-for-2 at Gulfstream, both with Joe Bravo, who is back to riding her. Five furlongs looks to be her sweet spot —she’s 2-for-3 at the distance — and her last two workouts, both at Palm Meadows, were bullets. I’m betting Tizgale for the win!

GAROFALO AND TIZGALE AT SAGAMORE FARM MAY 2014

Exacta Box (Gonzo Bet) 

Santa Anita, Race 8 – Clocker’s Corner Stakes, 7 p.m. ET

#1 Lil Bit O’Fun: Let’s have “a little bit of fun” with this durable 7-year-old veteran gelding. He’s got 34 turf starts, has the rail and does he best in sprints at Santa Anita. He will get the pace to close into in stretch. It also helps to have good connections (25% winners from trainer/jockey combo) at a square price. 

#5 Sweet Swap: He most likely will be the race-time favorite in this 6 ½-furlong turf race. Sweet Swap has been working well and is getting back jockey Joe Talamo, who rode him in his last two victories at Santa  Anita in early 2014.