DerbyJackpot’s Best Bets of the Weekend for Jan. 31 - Feb. 1

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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.

Place your bets at DerbyJackpot. It's the easiest and most fun online horse betting site out there. Races open for betting about five minutes before post time. Place your bets and you can walk away with some extra cash in your pocket.

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This Weekend’s Bets

Saturday, Jan. 31

Exacta Box (Gonzo Bet)

Gulfstream Park, H. Allen Jerkens Stakes, Race 9, 4:34 p.m. ET

#3 Reflecting: The only horse to have actually run this two-mile distance before. He was only beaten a length in the Belmont Gold Cup and shows no questions about his ability to make the distance. Comes in off a nice rest for a high-percentage trainer going first off the layoff.

#1 Turkish: Took down a Grade 3 going 1 3/4 miles last out. A little scared by the 0-for-5 record at Gulfstream, but this is another one who I like to make the distance.

#5 Buck Benny: Interesting spot for a relatively lightly raced horse. Respect trainer Graham Motion finding this race for him. Expect him to be up with the pace most of the way and then hope he's got some kick late. Could factor at a nice price.

#10 Royal Blessing: He was beaten by Turkish two races back and never really got going last out. Intrigued by jockey Joel Rosario landing on this one when he presumably had several other options. Distance should be right in his wheelhouse.

Best Bet (Win Bet/Monkey Bet)

Santa Anita Park, Palos Verdes Stakes, Race 6, 6 p.m. ET

#1 Distinctiv Passion: Speed of the speed draws the rail and should be able to establish himself from the outset. He's 3-for-5 at Santa Anita and the only horses to finish ahead of him on this track going 6 furlongs were Goldencents and Points Offthebench. Pretty impressive.

Sunday, Feb. 1

Best Bet (Win Bet/Monkey Bet)

Aqueduct, Race 2, 1:14 p.m. ET

#6 Gypsum Johnny: There appears to be a solid amount of speed in this short field and this horse has shown the ability to sit off the pace until he's asked. Goes out first off the claim for trainer Linda Rice, which is a decent 17% in the last yearwith this angle, and he gets Rice's first call jockey aboard for the ride. Like the show of confidence moving this horse up after the race last out. 

Exacta Box (Gonzo Bet)

Aqueduct, Race 4

#1 Brannaman: Horse should show the most early speed in an otherwise paceless affair. You also can't play against the 28% first-out hit rate for trainer David Jacobson.

#9 Regal Strike: No explanation for the awful effort last out but this horse has enough back form on the inner track to conclude the last was an aberration. Cuts back for the second try off the layoff. 

#1A Indy Sea: The "other Jacobson" in here takes a drop in class after being claimed for more than twice this price last month. Could be a red flag or might be a winning angle for a trainer who scores 32% first off the claim. 

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