America’s Best Racing 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.

Saturday, Sept. 12

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Longshot Play

Woodbine, Race 1, 12:30 p.m. ET

#7 Malibu Uproar: Expect a much bigger price than his morning line odds of 9-2 as it looks like #5 Kingly will take a lot of support moving from Bob Baffert to Mark Casse and taking a substantial class drop. Kingly looks like the one to beat, but I’m willing to take a shot on this gelding who may trip out.

Malibu Uproar returns to the turf today and gets to make his third start off a lengthy layoff of six months. His last turf effort he posted a career best Equibase Speed Figure of 103 and he now gets Kazushi Kimura on board. There’s lots to like.

Longshot Play

Woodbine, Race 8, $250,000 Bison City Stakes, 4:17 p.m. ET

#7 Infinite Patience: It’s going to take a huge effort from this filly to find the winner’s circle and a lot to go right, but I definitely think she could hit the board at a very nice price, and perhaps even spring the upset.

Last time out in the Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser she went straight to the front end but was forced wide early out of post 10 trying to secure the front end.

The fractions were quick upfront, and when the closers came to life, she was smothered in deep stretch and faded to seventh. Expect her on the front end once again Saturday, and if she’s able to rate well she will be tough to pass late.

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Best Bet

Kentucky Downs, Race 10, $1,000,000 Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes, 6:04 p.m. EST

#10 Zulu Alpha: At post time he will be a very short price, and rightfully so – he's looked untouchable this year with his only miss a runner-up finish losing by a nose two starts back. There are no questions whatsoever about the mile-and-a-half distance as he thrives going longer, and gets along very well with jockey Tyler Gaffalione, who’s been his regular pilot this year.

He’s going to be my single in the multi-leg bets and exotics and who I’ll build my tickets around.

Longshot Play

Kentucky Downs, Race 11, $700,000 Runhappy Turf Sprint Stakes, 6:36 p.m. ET

#9 Imprimis: I expect him to go off at a fair price at post time that’s close to his 8-1 morning-line odds, but he could take quite a bit of support off his most recent few efforts. Last time out he crossed the finish line first, but was placed back to third due to disqualification, which is unfortunate because he looked much the best in the Grade 3 Troy Stakes.

This gelding has flaunted wins off many different types of trips, and that versatility could certainly come in handy versus a group like this. Expect him to be even sharper today making his second start off an eight-month layoff.