Every Friday thru Sunday 1/ST BET handicapper Jeff Siegel offers his best wagering opportunity from a selected North American racetrack. These “Best Plays” can take the form of a win wager, exacta, trifecta, or a daily double, pick-3, pick-4 or pick-6.
*
Oaklawn Park – Sixth Race – Post time: 2:55 CT
5-Edgeway (9/5)
Was quite successful in her 4-year-old debut at Santa Anita in early February, easily winning from an overmatched allowance field with strong speed figure while under wraps near the wire. The J. Sadler-trained filly surely will benefit from that tightener in today’s $250,000 Carousel Stakes at Oaklawn Park, and while better will be needed she appears more than capable of accepting the challenge. Listed as the second choice on the morning line at 9/5 behind favored Frank’s Rockette (7/5), the daughter of Competitive Edge projects to enjoy an ideal stalk-and-pounce trip under J. Rosario. We know she likes this track, as she won twice at Oaklawn Park last year.
*
Golden Gate Fields – Seventh Race – Post time: 4:20 ET
4-Cheater’s Waltz (9/2)
This straight maiden sprint for sophomore fillies is begging to be won by a fresh face, and Cheater’s Waltz – with speed breeding a series of good workouts – fits the bill quite nicely. From a stable that boasts superior stats with the first-time starter angle, this daughter of Grazen attracts the barn’s “go-to” rider W. Antongeorgi III while showing a healthy work tab that includes a recent bullet five furlong workout (1:01h) to have her fit and ready. At anywhere near her morning line of 9/2, the S. Miyadi-trained 3-year-old is worth a gamble in the win pool and in rolling exotic play.