BetAmerica’s Best Bets of the Weekend for Nov. 28-29
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Photo by Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing
America’s Best Racing and BetAmerica team up to provide horseplayers with their best bets of the weekend in a regular feature blog that will run on Fridays.
Each week, one of our crack handicappers - Jose Contreras, Dan Tordjman, Victoria Garofalo, Mike Johnson or Vince Mathews – will provide at least one “Best Bet” of the weekend, ideal for a win bet. The post also will include some combination of additional bets for the weekend.
For some posts, our handicappers will try to identify a longshot play of the weekend, a nice opportunity to swing for the fences on a win bet or to take a shot with a show bet.
Our handicappers also will look for strong exacta plays for the weekend or occasionally try to spot a nice opportunity for other wagers.
Place your bets at BetAmerica, which prides itself on outstanding customer service combined with the safety and security of wagering with a reputable advance-deposit wagering platform. Place your bets and you can walk away with some extra cash in your pocket.
Saturday, Nov. 28
BEST BET/WIN BET
Aqueduct, Race 7, $300,000 Comely Stakes, 2:50 p.m. ET
#4 Fast Retailing – Between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, there’s no way I could ignore this aptly-named, million-dollar filly by Malibu Moon, the sire who gave trainer Shug McGaughey his first Kentucky Derby winner with Orb. I’m a sucker for hunch bets AND legitimately think this filly is rounding into form at just the right time. She’s getting a key jockey change from Eric Cancel to Javier Castellano. A move forward could put her in the winner’s circle at a big holiday price and help fatten our wallets for this holiday season.
EXACTA BOX
Aqueduct, Race 9, $500,000 Cigar Mile Handicap, 3:50 p.m. ET
#1 Marking – This regally bred colt takes a major class jump into the big leagues for this race after two easy, runaway wins, including one on this track at the Cigar Mile’s distance. The jockey switch from Jose Lezcano to Jose Ortiz, Marking’s bullet workout and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin 25-percent win rate for the year all indicate that this horse is in position to earn his first stakes win and upset this closely matched field of seven.
#7 Private Zone – He’s the obvious favorite by class, and he almost pulled the upset in last year’s edition at 32.50-to-1. He’s consistently danced every big race this year. I expect him to have the lead in the middle of the stretch, but he’s proven to be much better at shorter distance. With one win and one second at Aqueduct combined with his gutsy second-place finish to Runhappy in this year’s TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup Sprint, he’s the one to beat. But he’ll be overbet.
Sunday, Nov 29
EXACTA BOX
Aqueduct, Race 8 - $125,000 New York Stallion Series Stakes, 3:50 p.m. ET
#8 Empire Dreams - With the biggest speed figures by far, three on-the-board finishes in as many starts at Aqueduct plus two seconds and a third at the distance, this Tom Albertrani trained gelding is the one to beat. This will be Empire Dreams’ 10th New York state-bred race in a row and cutting back in distance should be the difference today.
#3 Geaux Mets – Coming off the claim for two of Aqueduct’s hottest — jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and trainer Rudy Rodriguez, who are winning at 30-percent and 35-percent, respectively — Geaux Mets is a must play in the New York Stallion Series Stakes.
TRIFECTA BOX
Del Mar, Race 8, $300,000 Matriarch Stakes (G1), 7 p.m. ET
#9 Filimbi – This old, gray mare is still what she use to be. A picture of consistency at today’s one-mile distance with six wins in 10 one-mile turf races, along with two seconds and two thirds. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott ships her across the country to take all the money at Del Mar. She ran second in the Grade 1 Just a Game Stakes behind 2015 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner and probable Eclipse Award winner Tepin.
#1 Hard Not to Like - This mare is exactly as her name proclaims – hard not to like! Jockey John Velazquez is back aboard having won his last three races when riding this double Grade 1 winner for trainer Christophe Clement. She’ll get the pace today, the only question is this short distance.
#12 Queen of The Sand – This Southern California-based mare is back at her best distance today. She has finished first or second in seven of her eight one mile starts and is consistent on this Del Mar turf course with five of her six Del Mar starts resulting in either a win or a second-place finish. She figures to be there at the end and at a decent price.