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.


Gulfstream Park – Fourth Race – Post time: 2:06 ET
3 – Salit (3-1)

Ran very well in her debut last month when overcoming a slow start and an extremely wide trip to rally with courage to finish second in a middle distance turf event for maiden special weight 3-year-old fillies. The daughter of American Pharoah seems certain to improve with that bit of experience behind her, but today she tries the main track, a concern because most of her sire’s offspring have performed considerably better on the lawn. However, a series of good main track workouts prior to her first start gives hope that she’ll adapt to the surface switch, so the K. McPeek trained filly is worth a gamble in the win pool and in rolling exotic play.


Santa Anita – Eighth Race – Post time 4:20 PT
7 - Bella Vita (2-1)

Makes her first start since last May and has trained like she’s a better type now than she was then. The S. Callaghan-trained daughter of Bayern lands the lovely outside draw and can pop and go or stalk and pounce depending upon how F. Prat assesses the race flow. Stakes-placed last year as a 3-year-old, the daughter of Bayern returns in state-bred listed affair and seems the solid choice as a win play and rolling exotic single.