In his regular gambling blog, John Piassek presents his top picks for the upcoming weekend in horse racing, offering betting options at different budget levels. Piassek’s Plays is brought to you by Horseplayers.com, the official online qualifying site of the Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC) and National Horseplayers Championship (NHC). Horseplayers.com offers low-cost feeders every day and BCBC and NHC qualifiers every weekend, and it’s the only site where you can qualify for the $1 million BCBC. It’s free to sign up – click here to get information about registering and how to enter contests.

Piassek has contributed to the horse racing sites The Racing Biz and Danonymous Racing and worked at Tioga Downs, Monmouth Park, and Saratoga Race Course. He joined America’s Best Racing in January 2021.

Saturday, Nov. 13

Delta Downs, Race 8, post time 4:41 p.m. ET

#7 Byanymeans: This is a Louisiana-bred allowance race at 6 1/2 furlongs. Because of Delta's configuration, this race takes place around two turns. I'm taking a bit of a leap of faith here and going with a horse who hasn't raced since early April. Byanymeans was rounding into career-best form earlier in the year, hitting the board twice at this level with very respectable speed figures. She hasn't started since April 7, but she's been working out consistently for a month, and trainer Rylee Grudzien hits at 20% with horses coming off a layoff of 90 days or more. If this mare bounces back to her form from the spring, she's going to be tough to beat. She should rate towards the middle of the pack early on and make a move late. In a wide-open contest like this one, I'm happy to take a horse at 8-1 on the morning line like her.

Strategy on a $10 Budget

$4 to win on 7

$2 exacta, 7 with 1, 2, 8 ($6 total)

Strategy on a $25 Budget

$7 to win on 7

$3 exacta, 7 with 1, 2, 8 ($9 total)

$1 trifecta, 7 with 1, 2, 8 with 1, 2, 8, 10 ($9 total)

Strategy on a $50 Budget

$17 to win on 7

$5 exacta, 7 with 1, 2, 8 ($15 total)

$1 trifecta, 7 with 1, 2, 8 with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10 ($18 total)

Delta Downs, race 9, Delta Mile Stakes, post time 5:09 p.m. ET

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#2 Its a Wrap: A competitive field of ten will do battle in the Saturday feature at Delta Downs. Its a Wrap has come a long way in a few months, going from non-winners of three claiming races at Evangeline Downs to contender status in a $100,000 stakes. The key to his success has been his early speed. He's won his last three races in gate-to-wire style, setting the early pace and drawing off every time. Two races back, he won the Evangeline Mile Stakes after setting a fast pace and holding on. He has an ideal post position for a speed horse and shouldn't have any trouble getting to the rail and establishing control. If he went off at near his 5-1 morning line, that would make for an excellent value play.

Strategy on a $10 Budget

$7 to win on 2

$3 exacta, 2 with 6

Strategy on a $25 Budget

$15 to win on 2

$5 exacta, 2 with 6, 9 ($10 total)

Strategy on a $50 Budget

$30 to win on 2

$10 exacta, 2 with 6, 9 ($20 total)