BetAmerica’s Best Bets of the Weekend for Dec. 4-5
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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, Dec. 5
BEST BET/WIN BET
Gulfstream Park, Race 3, $125,000 Claiming Crown Tiara Stakes, 1:05 p.m. ET
#8 Wild Swava: This 5-year-old mare has done some of her best running at Gulfstream Park, where she has 3 wins from 6 starts. All of those wins came with superstar jockey Javier Castellano aboard and he returns to ride Wild Swava in this race, the $125,000 Claiming Crown Tiara. I think Wild Swava will get enough pace to run into and this 1 1/16-mile distance would seem to suit her perfectly. She flew late in her last race to finish second going a mile. She also missed by less than two lengths in stakes company three races ago at this distance, after encountering traffic trouble.
EXACTA BOX
Gulfstream Park, Race 6, $110,000 Claiming Crown Rapid Transit Stakes, 2:35 p.m. ET
#4 Old Times Sake: This grinder has only finished out of the money once in 11 starts at Gulfstream and won by 4 1/2 lengths over the track going this same distance two races back. Granted, that was against softer company but he also figures to get an ideal pace set up with several speedsters trading blows in front of him.
#6 Gryvon: This is another horse I would look for late, closing into what should be a red-hot pace. Trained by Jorge Navarro, who scores at a spectacular 30 percent clip first off the claim.
#9 Trouble Kid: He might be the best of the speed after wiring the $350,000 De Francis Dash last month, only to be disqualified for cutting a horse off earlier in the race. He’s been nearly perfect most of the year.
#1 One More Night: This one will have to work out a trip from the rail. I don’t think he’s fast enough early and he’ll have to avoid getting boxed in and taking back behind tiring horses late. On ability alone, he looks capable at this level.
Sunday, Dec. 6
BEST BET/WIN BET
Fair Grounds, Race 8, 4:52 p.m. ET
#2 Purest Pleasure: This horse ran a pretty big race last out, closing ground late despite a wide trip. The switch to the turf seemed to work and trainer Joe Sharp has been really good at keeping his horses in form, and getting them to take the next necessary step forward. You’re also getting a rider who wins at a 20 percent clip for the barn in Emmanuel Esquivel. Lots of good signs, a good price (10-1 morning line) and no world beaters in the field - it all adds up to making this one a good bet on Sunday.
EXACTA BOX
Fair Grounds, Race 6, 3:54 p.m. ET
#8 Voodoo Spell: Five wins and five runner-up finishes in 11 starts at this particular distance is really pretty impressive. This race should set up perfectly for this horse; there’s a ton of speed and Voodoo Spell can fly late when the circumstances are right. He ran his best races late last year and earlier this year going this 5 ½-furlong distance at the Fair Grounds. He’s beaten tougher and should be ready to roll in his second race off the layoff.
#6 Proud Jackson: This horse put in several nice efforts in Chicago before shipping in. His final split in the last race was about as fast as any horse in this field. He kept missing at five furlongs but the extra half a furlong seems to make a difference with him.
#3 Cape Race: If you look far enough down his past performances, you’ll find a really strong 5 1/2 furlong turf win at the Fair Grounds last January. That was a while ago but would think that he’ll like getting back to the grass after an inconsistent series of races on the dirt.
#5 Classy Lulu: The recent form on this one isn’t too impressive but he has the ability to sit off the pace in a race that could see some of the early speed back up. His last win was five races ago over the course and distance with returning jockey Miguel Mena aboard.