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: 2:36 CT
1-Ashaar (9/2)

This once-highly regarded Into Mischief colt tries two turns for the first time in this entry-level allowance event and from his good inside post seems certain to establish the pace in a race without much speed. If he’s ever going to get the trip, it’ll be in his first attempt, and given the projected pace scenario and with the switch to J. Rosario this T. Pletcher-trained colt should be more than capable of running his rivals off their feet on the front end. At 9/2 on the morning line he represents an example gamble in the win pool and in rolling exotic play.



Santa Anita Park – Seventh Race – Post time: 3:30 PT
3-Bang for Your Buck (5-1)

The son of Unusual Heat tried grass for the first time and predictably left his previous form behind when breaking his maiden over this course and distance in mid-January with a visually pleasing performance that produced a career top speed figure, one that makes him dangerous right back despite the class hike. There’s not a whole lot of speed signed on in this six furlong dash, so hopefully his deep closing style won’t be compromised, but at or near his morning line of 5-1 the B. Heap-trained gelding offers good wagering value.