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.



Fair Grounds – Sixth Race – Post time: 3:25 CT
6 – Dramatizer (8-1)

Sophomore filly was in too tough and had no chance as a closer in a race without any pace in a listed stakes earlier this month but this first-level allowance middle distance turf event is a much more realistic spot for the daughter of Exaggerator. A deep closer with numbers that fit at this level, the K. Desormeaux-trained filly can bounce back with a repeat of her clever maiden claiming win two races back over this course and distance and offers good wagering value at 8-1 on the morning line.

Santa Anita – Second Race – Post time: 1:35 PT
1-Vronsky Zips Away (3-1)

Here’s a four-year-old maiden filly that finished unplaced in her first two starts but might very well be better than the form indicates. The daughter of Vronsky switches to dirt, shortens from a mile, and drops into a bottom-rung claimer from straight maiden company and has trained quite well of late to indicate she hasn’t yet shown her best stuff. If she can run, this would be a good spot to show it, and we strongly suspect that the C. Gaines-trained filly has enough ability to win in this league. At 3-1 on the morning line, she’s worth a play in the win pool and in the various rolling exotics.