Best Bets: Picks at Oaklawn, Keeneland, and Aqueduct

Gambling
Racing during Keeneland’s spring 2021 meet. (Eclipse Sportswire)

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.


This Weekend’s Bets

Saturday, April 10

Longshot Play

weekend Television schedule

Friday, April 9: 1 p.m.-6:30 p.m. ET on FS2; post time varies on TVG

Saturday, April 10: 1 p.m.-3 p.m. on FS1; 3 p.m.-8 p.m. on FS2; 7 p.m.-8 p.m. ET on NBCSN; post time varies on TVG

Sunday, April 11: 1 p.m.-4 p.m. on FS2; 4 p.m.-6:30 p.m. on FS1; post time varies on TVG

Oaklawn Park, Race 7, 4:29 p.m. ET

#1 Do Right: He's an intriguing option set to make his debut. The rail post will no doubt be a tricky draw for this colt, but he is well bred to fire first asking at the sprinting distance. We only have works to go by, five in the month of March alone – and some of those were pretty impressive from a timing perspective.

He’ll be a big price at post time, and if jockey Ramon Vazquez is able to save some ground early, expect this colt to be heard from in deep stretch.

Longshot Play

Aqueduct, Race 8, $100,000 Danger’s Hour Stakes, 5:19 p.m. ET

#3 Price Talk: He's lightly raced at 4 but has put forth some good efforts with two wins already to his name. In his most recent start, a stakes race here last November, he was left with a little too much work to do late trying to rally six-wide in the stretch. He was only beaten a length in that most recent contest, and should be a lot closer today.

It is going to be a tough task to pull off the upset with the time away from the track and the big move up in class; however, his best effort would make him competitive and I’m willing to take a shot pending a price right around or higher than his 8-1 in the morning line.

Best Bet

Keeneland, Race 9, $200,000 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes, 5:30 p.m. ET

#7 Proxy: His experience route racing and within the graded stakes ranks serves as a big asset versus this group. With quite a bit of speed entered and drawing mostly inside, look for the pace to be quick. A faster pace could really help set up well for this colt who will be attempting to work out a stalking trip.

He’s clearly the one to beat, and should go off a little bit higher than his morning line odds at post. He looks like a very likely single in all of your exotic wagers and multi-bets.

Best Bet

Oaklawn Park, Race 9, $400,000 Oaklawn Mile Stakes, 5:49 p.m. ET

#4 Rushie: This is a tough spot for this colt set to make his 2021 debut racing at age 4. He’s two starts removed from a victory in the Pat Day Mile Presented by LG & E and KU last fall capitalizing off a perfect trip. 

He’s traveled well throughout his career thus far and raced well in his one prior start at Oaklawn Park. Look for him to take advantage of some of the early speed and be positioned well to capitalize off a stalking trip late in the mile.

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