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, Feb. 6

Tampa Bay Downs, Race 8, Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes, Post time 3:30 p.m. ET

#12 Greyes Creek (4-1 morning-line odds): It wouldn’t be an East Coast grass stakes without the presence of Chad Brown. He trains two in here; I lean toward the more highly regarded of the pair, although both look like win contenders.

Greyes Creek has moved through his conditions effortlessly in his last three. He broke his maiden at Churchill Downs in June, winning with a strong, wide rally in the stretch. He employed a similar tactic to win a first-level allowance race at Keeneland in July, then went to the sidelines for a bit. Making his first start in five months in an allowance-optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park last out, he showed no signs of rust. He enjoyed a great stalking trip and powered on in the stretch to win impressively.

This is definitely a step up in class, as many of his rivals are very experienced against stakes competition. However, this guy has displayed a powerful closing punch and looks to have lots of upside. What’s more, there are multiple horses in this race who like to be on the lead, and they may get themselves caught in a pace battle early on. If they tire, Greyes Creek should be able to motor past them and draw off.

STRATEGY ON A $10 BUDGET

$5 to win, $5 to place on 12 ($10 total)

STRATEGY ON A $25 BUDGET

$10 to win on 12

$5 exacta: 12 with 2, 5, 8 ($15 total)

STRATEGY ON A $50 BUDGET

$20 to win on 12

$5 exacta box: 12 with 2, 5, 8 ($30 total)

Tampa Bay Downs, Race 9, Suncoast Stakes, Post time 4:02 p.m. ET

#5 Honorifique (7-2 morning-line odds): This race rematches the top two finishers in the Cash Run Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 1, when Honorifique finished second by a half-length to Gulf Coast.

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However, I think Honorifique is going to turn the tables here. She made a strong closing rally in that race, coming from more than seven lengths out of it to just miss, while Gulf Coast got a very favorable trip just off the pace. Two races ago, she broke her maiden at Churchill Downs going away by 3 ½ lengths. She looks like the kind who is improving at the right time and will have no problem with the extra distance. I also think she’ll go off at a better price than Gulf Coast, with bettors likely to flock toward the recent stakes winner.

STRATEGY ON A $10 BUDGET

$6 to win on 5

$2 exacta box: 5, 7 ($4 total)

STRATEGY ON A $25 BUDGET

$11 to win on 5

$7 exacta box: 5, 7 ($14 total)

STRATEGY ON A $50 BUDGET

$20 to win on 5

$5 exacta box: 5 with 2, 3, 7 ($30 total)