America’s Best Racing, Belle Premium American Vodka, and handicapper (and avid gambler) Monique Vág team up to provide horseplayers with their best bets of the weekend.

Vág will identify her top picks as well as at least one 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 occasionally look for strong exacta plays for the weekend or try to spot a nice opportunity for other wagers.

Belle Premium American Vodka is the official vodka of America’s Best Racing. The American-made, American-owned vodka is distilled in Virginia, the birthplace of Thoroughbred breeding and racing in North America. The company’s mascot, Belle ‘n Tonic, broke her maiden at Laurel Park in Maryland in April 2018.

This Weekend’s Bets

Saturday, Aug. 8

Best Bet

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Saratoga Race Course, Race 10, 6:21 p.m. ET

#4 La Chancla: Her most recent effort sprinting at Belmont Park was super impressive as she made her move late in deep stretch to get up at the wire, clocking in a fast time. Today she tries her luck against winners, but meets a field of runners mostly making the same class jump. If she can work out a similar trip to her most recent start sitting just off the speed, she will be tough to hold off when she closes late.

Longshot Play

Arlington International Racecourse, Race 10, $500,000 Secretariat Stakes, 6:28 p.m. ET

#5 Ry’s the Guy: In his last start, he showed that moving out of maiden company to face horses in the allowance ranks was not too big for him, as he took advantage of a perfect stalking trip. This colt has put forth three of his best efforts since adding blinkers, and his best one yet came most recently over the turf. Although he will be a longshot again today, he’s already shown some nice speed and has won two straight races.

Longshot Play

Arlington International Racecourse, Race 12, $100,000 Pucker Up Stakes, 7:55 p.m. ET

#8 Princesa Carolina: The morning line is generous on a filly who has proven she belongs competing in the graded stakes ranks, and one who fits in well with this group speed-figure wise. Unfortunately she has shown in prior starts a tendency to race wide in the four- or five-path, which has hindered her chances. If she can manage to save some ground, she may hit the board at a nice price.

Best Bet

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Del Mar, Race 8, $200,000 Best Pal Stakes, 8:30 p.m. ET

#7 Fore Left: This colt is undefeated through two career races and has won both efforts in gate-to-wire fashion. With not a lot of speed entered, look for this colt to leave the gate hard and try and secure the front end once again. His early speed and tendency to break well are all factors that work to his advantage in a six-furlong sprint. If he can settle in nicely early, he will likely prove incredibly difficult to pass late.

Favorite Sports Pick of the Weekend

Saturday, Aug. 10

Major League Baseball: Philadelphia Phillies @ San Francisco Giants

PICK: SF Giants ML (odds: TBD): The Phillies have split their most recent 10 games, and are tied in wins with the Mets with 59 in a close National League East. The Giants have struggled recently, winning only three of their most recent 10 games, and have not been great at home posting a 25-31 record.

These two teams most recently met on July 31 with the exact same starting pitchers. It was the Giants’ Jeff Samardzija who got the better of the Phillies in a 5-1 win. Through six innings he gave up three hits, no earned runs and recorded five strikeouts. He’s only given up two earned runs over his three most recent starts. Look for another quality start from Samardzija as the Giants pick up a much needed win at home.