America’s Best Racing and handicapper (and avid gambler) Monique Vág team up to provide horseplayers with their best bets of the weekend in a regular feature blog that will run on Fridays.

For some posts, Vág will try to identify a 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 look for strong exacta plays for the weekend or occasionally try to spot a nice opportunity for other wagers.

This Weekend’s Bets

Saturday, June 24

Longshot Play

Belmont Park, Race 6, 4:14 p.m. ET

#2 Wonderful Light: There doesn’t seem to be any clear standout and that’s very often the case in maiden special weight contests. They often make for a good race to take a shot on higher priced horses who you think will be successful making their racing debut, or have potential to add on to their prior efforts. This colt was never a factor in his first start, but it’s difficult to gauge based off the track being listed as sloppy last time out. He’s had some very solid workouts and regains jockey Jose Ortiz. I expect him to be better racing over a fast track.

Best Bet

Santa Anita Park, Race 4, $100,000 Affirmed Stakes, 5:30 p.m. ET

#2 Battle of Midway: Not only did the mile and a quarter distance of the Kentucky Derby seem too long for this colt, but he just looked to be a tad bit overmatched. It’s nice to see him return to Santa Anita, a track he made his racing debut at and a track where trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has dominated over the years. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him forwardly placed here – this race seems to lack a lot of speed, and I anticipate well-rated easy fractions to be put up on the front end.

Exacta Box

Belmont Park, Race 9, 5:50 p.m. ET

#7 Call Provision: He raced well last year, trying his luck in a couple of graded stakes races including the Grade 1 Belmont Derby. Similarly to my second choice, he also added blinkers recently which look to be an improvement. This gelding will likely look to work out a stalking trip sitting just off the pace early.

#8 Converge: He’s looked really solid adding blinkers, albeit against much easier, but I do think that has improved his racing by helping to break a little bit closer and not being left with so much to do down the stretch. He won last time out off of a nine-month layoff, so I anticipate a similar effort as he already looks to be racing in good 2017 form. He fits in well with this group.

#9 Eirigh: He’s available for claiming today, entered for a price of $62,500. Consistency has been an issue and he appears to be a notch below racing with graded stakes company. Being entered for a tag today, I anticipate it to go one of two ways – either he’s positioned just off the pace and connections try to get one last win with him before likely parting ways, or his efforts are lackadaisical. At 8-1 on the morning line, I’ll take a shot.

Sunday, June 25

Best Bet

Woodbine, Race 8, $125,000 Bold Ruckus Stakes, 4:56 p.m. ET

#5 Sailing Home: This colt has had major struggles with consistency and has certainly disappointed since his dominating maiden victory in October. Despite his struggles he’s been heavily bet in all of his regular stakes races and as a longshot almost pulled off the huge double digit upset in the Grade 3 Palm Beach Stakes. I like how he draws post No. 5 today and should be able to capitalize off his main competition drawing the far outside. I think he’ll finally be able to find the win column in 2017.