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. 7

Longshot Play

Saratoga, Race 8, $500,000 Longines Test Stakes, 4:34 p.m. ET

#8 Bella Sofia: This is one of the more wide-open races on the card and an extremely competitive one where I can pretty much make a case for any horse entered  to win. With that being said, value is imperative and this filly, due to her lack of racing experience and the outside draw, could help to offer good value on Saturday.

She’s yet to try her luck versus graded stakes runners; however, her times are very quick and she’s likely to utilize her early speed to get to the front. She’s progressing nicely and if she can get away with any type of moderate fractions upfront, she will be very tough to track down late.

Best Bet

Saratoga, Race 9, $1,000,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes, 5:10 p.m. ET

#6 Bolshoi Ballet: He dazzled overseas flaunting three victories out of five starts versus some tough competition. In his North American debut, he was good to go coming through as a short-priced favorite in the Belmont Derby. This wasn’t the easiest trip for him after shuffling back a little bit early and sustaining pressure. When he found clear racing room late he did the rest to get up in time.

I would expect him to be sharper getting his second start on North American soil. Despite the short price, I’ll be building my exotics and multi-leg tickets around him.

Click image to purchase shirt.

Longshot Play

Arlington Park, Race 6, $75,000 Kirby Memorial Stakes, 6:10 p.m. ET

#4 Lily’s Woofy: She won her debut by eight lengths in-hand at the wire. She then tried her luck on the synthetic and followed that up with another dirt try. Today, she tries turf for the first time and also stretches out in distance for the first time in her career for trainer Wayne Catalano, who is clicking at a 22 percent rate for horses making their first try on the grass through 37 starters.

I’m hoping she’s able to either flaunt that speed she showed in her maiden breaking score, or execute a stalking trip. I think she could be very tough if involved in the pace scenario early.

Longshot Play

Del Mar, Race 10, $250,000 Yellow Ribbon Handicap, 9:36 p.m. ET

#1 Bodhicitta: I see a lot of speed in this race, especially drawn towards the outside which could help set this mare up to work out one of her patented scores from off the pace. She just missed in her most recent race, losing by only a length with jockey Trevor McCarthy on board for the first time. This time around she draws the rail post which could help her save ground late. 

Although the rail post could prove advantageous, there’s always the challenge of her hopefully finding clear racing room in the stretch. Here's hoping she’s put in a position where she can run them down, because she may go overlooked on the tote board despite winning three of her last six races dating back to 2020.