Best Bets: Travers Day Tips, Pat O'Brien Play

Gambling
Horses break from the starting gate during a turf race earlier this meet at Saratoga Race Course. (Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing)

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, Aug. 28

Longshot Play

weekend TV schedule

Thursday, Aug. 26: 1 p.m.-6:30 p.m. ET on FS2; post time varies on TVG

Friday, Aug. 27:
1 p.m.-7 p.m. ET on FS2; post time varies on TVG

Saturday, Aug. 28:
11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. on FS1; 3 p.m.-5 p.m. on FS2; 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m. on FOX; 6:30 p.m.-7 p.m. on FS2; post time varies on TVG|Sunday, Aug. 29: 1 p.m.-6:30 p.m. on FS2; post time varies on TVG

Saratog Race Course, Race 2, 12:08 p.m. ET

#1 Back to Normal: He’s one of only two in here with a start under his belt and that adds to the appeal, especially for a trainer like Mike Maker who can definitely turn them around and make the necessary improvements boasting a 20% clip on horses in their second career race.

As difficult as the rail can be for first-time starters, it does prove advantageous if utilized well particularly in sprint races. Hoping he breaks sharply and isn’t too far back. If that’s the case, I think he can catch some of the early pacesetters in deep stretch.

Longshot Play

Saratog Race Course, Race 5, 1:54 p.m. ET

#3 Miracle Nicky: This colt debuts for trainer Rudy Rodriguez, who hasn’t put forth the best stats this year in terms of debut runners and first-time starters but can have his youngsters ready to go first asking. This colt is by a sire in Tapiture, a son of leading sire Tapit, clicking at a 16% rate with firsters.

I’m hoping he’s able to flaunt a little bit of early speed. He’s been showing quite a bit of speed throughout his morning workouts and draws a good post to take advantage of that.

Best Bet

Saratog Race Course, Race 10, $600,000 Personal Ensign Stakes Presented by Lia Infiniti, 4:47 p.m. ET

#6 Letruska: Comes in on a three-race winning streak where she has put up solid speed figures. In all of those efforts, this mare has been able to utilize her early speed to take command early and then settle well. There is a bit of speed in here with other horses expected to be vying for the front end, however with a great draw, she’s very likely to get the jump on the other runners early.

Although the price at post probably will be a small one, she looks like a very logical single in all of your multi-legs and will be my “key” horse in those sequences.

Best Bet

Del Mar, Race 10, $200,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes, 9:30 p.m. ET

#9 C Z Rocket: He's versatile enough to win in several different ways and that’s why this gelding is my top selection in this competitive sprinting tilt. He has the luxury of watching what unfolds in front of him and can sit just off the early speed.

C Z Rocket is the defending winner of this race last year. In that contest, he worked out a perfect, stalking trip, getting away third, and opened up to a well-rated victory late. Hoping the price won’t be nearly as short as it was in his effort last year, and the bigger field should help with that. He’s another that warrants serious consideration for multi-leg singles and as a horse to build tickets around.

newsletter sign-up

Stay up-to-date with the best from America's Best Racing!

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram TikTok YouTube
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram TikTok YouTube