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.

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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 last April.

This Weekend’s Bets

Saturday, June 1

Longshot Play

Woodbine, Race 8, $175,000 Connaught Cup Stakes, 5 p.m. ET

#7 El Tormenta: The race’s morning-line favorite appears vulnerable as he has not found much success over the turf thus far in his career. This runner should benefit from the added couple of furlongs and the return to jockey Luis Contreras who has been on board for both of his wins. He has shown some sneaky fast speed early and might find success dictating the pace on the front end.

Best Bet

Penn National, Race 10, $200,000 Penn Oaks Stakes, 7:15 p.m. ET

#7 Regal Glory: She is at her best when working out a stalking trip, and should find herself in a very similar position today. Speed figure-wise, she is one of the standout runners and with a better break, should be much closer – something that looked like it hindered her chances last time out. The price is short, but when on her game she has proved very difficult to beat.

Best Bet

Penn National, Race 11, $500,000 Penn Mile Stakes, 7:50 p.m. ET

#2 A Thread of Blue: With not much speed entered at all, he will be super dangerous if on the front end early. He has shown a great amount of early speed and has made some quick breaks out of the gate. Last time out he tired in the final sixteenth of a mile, so a shortening of distance today may prove beneficial.  It appears to be his race to lose.

Longshot Play

Churchill Downs, Race 9, $120,000 Mighty Beau Overnight Stakes, 10:11 p.m. ET

#4 Om: He should be better making his third start off the five-month layoff. I like the drop in class and the shortening in distance. This five-furlong turf sprint is where he has recorded all four career wins, so the return could prove very beneficial. With quite a bit of speed entered, I expect him to work out a trip sitting just off the front runners making one late rally.

Sports Pick of the Weekend

Sunday, June 2

NBA: Golden State Warriors @ Toronto Raptors

PICK: Warriors first-half moneyline (Odds TBD): Game 1 is Thursday night, so depending on what happens there the Raptors might look to go up 2-0 winning both games at home, or hoping to split the opening two in the NBA Finals.

The Warriors have gotten out to quick starts away from home all year averaging 60.8 first-half points per game. Look for their success to continue and take a lead into halftime.