America’s Best Racing and handicapper (and avid gambler) Monique Vág team up to provide horseplayers with their best bets of the weekend in a regular feature blog that will run on Fridays.

For some posts, Vág 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. She also will look for strong exacta plays for the weekend or occasionally try to spot a nice opportunity for other wagers.

This Weekend’s Bets

Saturday, June 16

Best Bet

Gulfstream Park, Race 5, Ginger Punch Stakes, 2:47 p.m. ET

#2 Madame Uno: She has won three of her four recent races and it’s nice to see how she has notched wins versus stakes company and already shown an affinity for the turf at Gulfstream Park. I think she will be forwardly placed again today, and historically she’s proven tough to pass when left alone to rate on the front end.

Best Bet

Churchill Downs, Race 6, Wise Dan Stakes, 8:30 p.m. ET

#4 World Approval: Not much to say about this gelding at this point other than he’s been exceptional, regardless of distance or track for most of his career. He doesn’t need to be on the front end to win, but with not a lot of speed entered aside from Shining Copper (#2), I would not be surprised to see him win comfortably in gate-to-wire fashion. Although he had no stretch bid in his last effort in the Frank Kilroe Mile, that race is clearly the exception and making his third start off the layoff should get him back to his winning ways.

Sunday, June 17

Longshot Play

Monmouth Park, Race 5, 2:42 p.m. ET

#8 Paulita: It’s always great to see a Chad Brown trainee at a decent M/L price. What’s intriguing to me is how this filly most recently romped over a sloppy dirt surface and that her connections are choosing to race her on turf. Although that maiden race was originally scheduled for turf, it’s still interesting that they seem to be sticking with their original plan. Jockey Paco Lopez has been on a tear as of late and having the service of a hot jockey is always appealing.

Longshot Play

Monmouth Park, Race 6, 3:06 p.m. ET

#3 Mydadfloyd: In super-short sprint races like this one at 5 ½ furlongs, drawing an inside post is most desirable, as the turns come up very quickly and often horses get caught outside traveling more steps than necessary off very wide trips. This horse has often flashed some early speed and will likely be either setting the pace, or sitting just off of it. The jockey upgrade should be useful, and I think sprinting is what he prefers.