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, Feb. 11

Best Bet

Aqueduct, Race 3, Haynesfield Stakes, 1:50 p.m. ET

#4 Send It In: Obviously this gelding is racing at a short price today, and that’s for good reason: he’s won six of his last eight and missed winning eight straight by a neck in both of those second-place efforts. Even stumbling at the start of the race breaking from the gate, he still managed to lead every step of the way and put forth a 107 Beyer figure. Sometimes it’s just good to start the day off with a winner – regardless of price. Look into singling him in the Daily Double and/or Pick 3 or Pick 6 wagers.

Best Bet

Gulfstream Park, Race 10, Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap, 4:34 p.m. ET

#4 Beach Patrol: His last couple of efforts have been very good racing within the graded stakes ranks. History has shown he’s capable of putting up big efforts off two months rest, so the layoff isn’t concerning to me. I like the post he’s drawn today - jockey Florent Geroux will likely have the choice of sending him out of the gate hard or settling just behind the pace maker. I like the distance, it looks to be just the perfect one to showcase his best effort.

Longshot Play

Gulfstream Park, Race 11, Hardacre Mile Gulfstream Park Handicap, 5:05 p.m. ET

#9 Awesome Slew: You never know what kind of effort to expect or what a horse will be like first time with a new trainer, but I’m willing to take a chance like that when the trainer change is to Mark Casse. I’m particularly intrigued by the “blinkers off” angle and Casse’s success as a trainer when this change takes place. I think drawing the outside post works well for a horse looking to pounce off a stalking trip. He fits well with this group and has put in some really good efforts.

Exacta Box

Tampa Bay Downs, Race 11, $150,000 Lambholm South Endeavour Stakes, 5:15 p.m. ET

#5 Isabella Sings: She’s a tough mare to pass when on the lead and it looks like she will have it her way on the front end today. She’s a multiple graded stakes winner, and although I think she’s best suited racing a mile distance, the extra sixteenth definitely won’t harm her. I like that she’s had a start in 2017 and has John Velazquez aboard – an improvement from her most recent two riders.

#8 Azaelia: This filly has been heavily bet in all of her North American starts but hasn’t really performed up to what she looks capable of. It looks like she broke a couple steps slow in her last one, and I think that’s partly why connections feel comfortable trying her again today within the stakes ranks.  She draws a good post to settle in towards the back of the pack and watch things unfold. I do believe she has a decent closing kick and could pass some tired horses late.

#2 Elysea’s World: Had the unfortunate task of racing against stellar filly Time and Motion twice, so I think she will appreciate facing a little bit easier in here today. She likes to spot the field some lengths early and I think if there’s any type of a speed duel or pressure up front, she has a very good shot at closing in deep stretch and picking up the pieces.