Every Friday and Saturday 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. Selections are listed in chronological order.
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Belmont Park Race 6 – Post time: 3:34 ET
6-Acushla (4-1)
Makes just her third career start in this state-bred maiden turf miler and it should be her best effort after a couple of troubled outings to begin her career. In her most recent race,the daughter of Tiznow failed to gain a favorable early position after breaking slowly and then raced wide throughout when looming a threat but losing her punch in the closing stages, eventually winding up fourth, beaten just two lengths. The J. Abreu-trained sophomore should be fitter and sharper today, and makes a pivotal jockey switch to J. Rosario, so at 4-1 on the morning line we’ll make her a play in the win pool and in the various rolling exotics.
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Santa Anita Race 2 – Post time: 1:37 PT
4-Honor Among Men (5/2)
Showing up in a claimer after failing at 4/5 in a maiden special weight sprint up north in his first start since the summer of 2019, the 4-year-old son of Bayern obviously has issues but against this group the S. Callaghan-trained gelding should be capable of dominating from gate to wire. We like the blinkers off angle and the switch to F. Prat, so in a field without much speed the lightly-raced gelding he should have every chance to wire the field. There’s value in the win pool and in rolling exotic play at or near his morning line of 5/2.
