Every Thursday through 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. Selections are listed in chronological order.


Belmont Park Race 2 – Post time: 1:04 ET
4-Hot Fudge (6-1)

First-timer by Liam’s Map makes her debut in this turf sprint for juvenile fillies and appears cranked up and ready to win right now. Three bullet workouts from her last four drills are impressive enough, but this L. Rice-trained filly initially displayed her talent when sizzling a furlong in 9 4/5 seconds (equally the fastest in the sale) during the preview session of OBS April Sale. Subsequently purchased through the ring for $235,000, she is listed at 6-1 on the morning line and will offer excellent wagering value at anywhere near that price.


Monmouth Park Race 3 – Post time: 1:15 ET
1-Alli Alley (5/2)

The very quick daughter of Quality Road finds a proper spot right in this five furlong grass sprint for 2-year-old fillies. The workouts at Keeneland leading up to her debut don’t jump off the page, but make no mistake, she has plenty of zip, having been highly impressive at the OBS April sale when cruising a furlong in 10 seconds flat without undue pressure. Purchased through the ring for $260,000 and hailing from the W. Ward barn (33% with a massive ROI with first-time starters), this daughter of Quality Road should be more than fit to handle this assignment. At 5/2 on the morning line, she’s a win play and rolling exotic single.


Ellis Park Race 4 – Post time: 2:14 CT
3-Jolly Tommy (8-1)

This first-timer by the exciting freshman stallion Practical Joke and from the dam of the good California stakes winner Battle Force brought $170,000 in the OBS April sale after displaying superior speed and athleticism when previewing in a blistering :21 flat and appears primed and ready to win at first asking in this seven furlong sprint for 2-year-olds. A long-striding colt that should have no difficulty with today’s extended sprint trip, the E. Kenneally-trained has put together a recent series of solid, steady drills to provide a proper foundation, so at 8-1 on the morning line he looks like a live item in what on paper appears to be a wide open affair.


Belmont Park Race 7 – Post time: 3:47 ET
1-Harper’s in Charge (4-1)

We loved her debut win at Aqueduct last November, a six and one-half length romp when geared down in the final furlong and never being asked at any stage, so if she returns as well as she left the daughter of Malibu Moon can takes this class hike to the first level allowance ranks in stride. She’ll race with Lasix for the C. Clement barn (an excellent 20% with layoff runners) and the work tab at Saratoga appears solid, so with a clean break from the rail we’re expecting this talented sophomore filly to take control early and never look back. She’s listed at 4-1 on the morning line and at that price offers good value in the win pool and in the various rolling exotics.


Ellis Park Race 6 – Post Time: 3:10 CT
9-Nineties Country (3-1)

Unless there’s a good thing among the field’s first-time starters, this colt should be set to earn his diploma today in a seven furlong maiden juvenile sprint that may have come up slightly softer than the card’s fourth race split. A promising third in his debut behind Glacial and Vodka N Water (who returned to finish third and second, respectively, in the Bashford Manor S.-G3, this son of Connect hails from the high-percentage B. Cox barn (sensational stats with second-time starters) while retaining F. Geroux and breaking from a comfortable outside draw. At 3-1 on the morning line, he’s worth a play in the win pool and then with exactas/trifectas can be hooked up with major contenders 5-We All See It and 1-Moon Dial.