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. 18

Best Bet

Gulfstream Park, Race 4, $200,000 Royal Delta Stakes, 1:30 p.m. ET

#2 Curlin's Approval: The interesting thing about this filly in comparison to the other short price in here for me is that she is trying the mile and a sixteenth distance for the first time, and it looks like a mile and a sixteenth may be a little too long for Eskenformoney, the other favorite. Although she's stretching out in distance today, her racing style and pedigree indicate she should be able to handle that comfortably. I like that she's done most of her career racing at Gulfstream Park too and I think she draws an ideal post to work out a ground-saving rail trip.

Exacta Box

Laurel Park, Race 9, $300,000 Barbara Fritchie Stakes, 4:30 p.m. ET

#3 By the Moon: Historically it seems like this filly has been asked to make her move a little bit too early and hasn't shown that she's capable of holding on to that lead in deep stretch. That's somewhat problematic for me in choosing her as a straight winner, but it seems like she is the class of the field and certainly the most accomplished in here today. She's been heavily bet throughout the graded stakes ranks (Grade 1 through Grade 3) and if she races at her full potential should run away with this one comfortably.

#6 Takrees: This mare may have been spotting the field too many lengths to give herself a legitimate shot at winning in many of her 2016 starts. She's capable of big efforts and a repeat win definitely does not seem out of the question. I like how jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. remains on board after her last race win, and I think her post today and hopefully having a cleaner break could make her a serious win contender. She should get the pace up front (perhaps quick early fractions!) which certainly work in her favor.

Best Bet

Laurel Park, Race 10, $250,000 General George Stakes, 5 p.m. ET

#6 Stallwalkin' Dude: This sprinter sure has shown he's as consistent as they come with honest and big efforts almost every time out. He hasn't finished off the board in 2016 since Irad Ortiz Jr. took over riding duties, and that's quite a feat as he's done it all throughout the graded stakes ranks. He has the speed, versatility, experience and class to get it done today.

Sunday, Feb. 19

Longshot Play

Aqueduct, Race 9, 4:50 p.m. ET

#3 Out of Trouble: With many in here trying stakes racing for the first time this field seems as wide open as possible. I like to take a shot on big prices and make a play on them across the board and avoid short priced horses at all costs. With most of the logical first choices drawing the outside posts, I think this filly will live up to her name and stay out of trouble and sit back off the pace waiting to make her move. I like her breeding – there's no denying Harlan's Holiday as a sire – and I think she's shown some glimmer of potential in her last. I think she's best suited racing over the dirt.