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, Jan. 29

Gulfstream Park, Race 2, post time 11:59 a.m. ET

#10 Complete Agenda: The second race on the card is a maiden special weight for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on the dirt. It wouldn't be surprising to see a late-blooming Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve contender emerge here.

Todd Pletcher shipped Complete Agenda to Tampa Bay Downs last out after an unplaced finished in his career debut. The son of Curlin, who sold for $250,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sale in 2020, made up decent ground in the stretch of his two-turn debut and finished second by 1 1/2 lengths. He ran a career-best figure on both the Equibase and Brisnet scales. The winner of that race, Pioneer of Medina, came back to win a first-level allowance optional-claiming race at Fair Grounds last Saturday. This one has shown the most positive two-turn experience of anyone in the race and looks poised to turn in a big effort. 

Strategy on a $10 Budget

$5 to win on 10

$5 exacta: 10 with 9

Strategy on a $25 Budget

$15 to win on 10

$10 exacta: 10 with 9

Strategy on a $50 Budget

$30 to win on 10

$14 exacta: 10 with 9 

$2 trifecta, 10 with 9 with 2,4,6 ($6 total)

Gulfstream Park, Race 4, post time 12:57 p.m. ET

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#3 No Nay Franklin: I'm looking for an upset in this seven-furlong maiden special weight race. No Nay Franklin has raced just once on dirt, but his lone start on that surface was a big performance. He finished second in the Armed Forces Stakes, beaten just a head after a long, game stretch battle. He ran an impressive Brisnet figure of 85 and an Equibase figure of 81. That race was in September, and he did not return to the races afterward until Jan. 2. He finished third in a grass race, setting himself up nicely for this spot. If he stays anywhere near his 15-1 morning line, he'll be an excellent value play.

Strategy on a $10 Budget

$6 to win on 3

$2 exacta: 3 with 9, 11 ($4 total)

Strategy on a $25 Budget

$10 to win on 3

$4 exacta: 3 with 9, 11 ($8 total)

50-cent trifecta, 3 with 9,11 with 1,2,6,7,9,10,11,12 ($7 total)

Strategy on a $50 Budget

$20 to win on 3

$8 exacta: 3 with 9,11 ($16 total)

$1 trifecta: 3 with 9,11 with 1,2,6,7,9,10,11,12 ($14 total)