BetAmerica Best Bets of the Weekend for Jan. 23-24

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, handicapper and avid gambler Monique Vág 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, Vág 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.
She 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.

This Weekend’s Bets
Exacta Box
Saturday,  Santa Anita Park, Race 1, 3:30 p.m. ET
#5 Horse Laugh: The 0-for-10 at Santa Anita is never a good thing to see, but dropping out of the $40,000 claimer and $62,000 optional claimer into a straight $32,000 claiming race is reassuring. The return to the turf entices me with this one running some of his best races on that surface. The 46.4 workout going four furlongs on Dec. 5 shows he could be ready. 
#8 Tripski: Takes a big drop out of the $80,000 optional claiming race after a good effort going six furlongs. This 9-year-old gelding always takes money at the windows, and this time won’t be any different. He’s a versatile horse who could get away anywhere. I like his chances. 
#10 Global Magician: This one seems to fit well at the 6 ½-furlong distance. He shows a good early kick will likely be forwardly placed pending a good break. Perhaps the jockey change to Joe Talamo will help his chances. At a big price I’ll take a shot. 
Best Bet 
Saturday, Oaklawn Park, Race 6, 4:39 p.m. ET 
#7 Bold Conquest: This classy 4-year-old has competed against some excellent graded stakes horses including the unfortunate circumstance of meeting American Pharoah twice. Today he finds himself at a familiar distance in a mile and sixteenth against substantially easier company. 
Best Bet 
Saturday, Tampa Bay Downs, Race 9, Wayward Lass Stakes, 4:20 p.m. ET 
#3 Savings Account: This mare showed she can run some of her best races on the turf, including a second-place loss by a head in the Grade 3 Miesque at Hollywood Park in her 2-year-old campaign. She was a beaten favorite last time out at a really short price over a sloppy track. I think the graded stakes experience is enough to give her the leg up over her competitors. She’s the one to beat. 
Longshot Bet 
Sunday, Fair Grounds, Race 6, 4:54 p.m. ET 
#2 Guardsman: In maiden claiming races it’s tough to give an edge. Perhaps the more starts you have, the better it is to draw up some type of racing blueprint. They say prior success is the best indicator of future success, so following that I find myself coming back to this colt. In five career starts, this horse has four runner up finishes, albeit all on the synthetic surface. His trainer is good with first time turf starters and with the 8-1 morning line odds and a good post, I’ll take a shot.