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, Aug. 28

Gulfstream Park, Race 5, post time 2:18 p.m. ET

#5 Khozmore: A field of nine Florida-bred fillies and mares will sprint 6 1/2 furlongs on the dirt in this race. Khozmore has raced just once, but it was an impressive performance. She rated just off the early leaders and then took the lead with a four-wide move and drew away in the stretch for an impressive 7 1/4-length win. She earned a Brisnet figure of 95 in that race. Only one horse in the field earned a figure within ten points of that number in their last start. This is a step up in class for Khozmore, who is coming out of a maiden optional claiming race. However, she showed lots of promise in her debut, and if she's able to maintain that form, she's going to be very tough to catch. 

Strategy on a $10 Budget

$5 to win on 5

$5 exacta, 5 with 6

Strategy on a $25 Budget

$15 to win on 5

$10 exacta, 5 with 6

Strategy on a $50 Budget

$25 to win on 5

$16 exacta, 5 with 6

$3 trifecta, 5 with 6 with 1, 2, 3 ($9 total)

Gulfstream Park, Race 9, FTBOA Florida Sire Susan's Girl Stakes, post time 4:36 p.m. ET

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#8 Devilette: This Daniel Pita-trained filly took a big step forward second time out. After a debut where she showed speed and faded, she lasted on the pace and drew away to win by 5 1/2 lengths while being kept to task by her jockey. She now tries winners for the first time in a race which, although it is a stakes race, features six horses who have not won a race and only two others entering off a win. She's demonstrated good tacitcal speed and the ability to keep going even when clear. I'm hoping that she sneaks through the cracks in the wagering and goes off at a decent price.  

Strategy on a $10 Budget

$4 to win on 8

$1 exacta box, 7, 8, 10 ($6 total)

Strategy on a $25 Budget

$6 to win on 8

$2 exacta box, 7, 8, 10 ($12 total)

$1 trifecta box, 7, 8, 10 ($6 total)

Strategy on a $50 Budget

$14 to win on 8

$3 exacta box, 7, 8, 10 ($18 total)

$1 trifecta, 8, 10 with 3, 7, 8, 10 with 3, 6, 7, 8, 10 ($18 total)