BetAmerica Best Bets of the Weekend for March 12-13

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.
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This Weekend’s Bets
Best Bet 
Saturday, Race 6, Santa Anita Park, Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes, 5:30 p.m. ET 
#4 Bolo: He’s been a consistent turf performer showing a favorable eye towards the Santa Anita surface. I like his post position - with the speed of the race drawn inside, I think he will work out a nice stalking trip. He’ll likely have every opportunity to outkick rival Om in the stretch. I think he wins convincingly. 
Longshot Play 
Saturday, Race 8, Santa Anita Park, 6 p.m. ET 
#5 Clear the Way: This colt tried turf for the first time last start and had the unfortunate circumstance of receiving the far outside post in a 12-horse field. Despite this, he was bet down to 6-1. He has a nice turf pedigree and will prefer the stretch out in distance to a mile where he’s able to make a closing bid. 
Best Bet 
Saturday, Race 10, Santa Anita Park, Santa Anita Handicap, 7:30 p.m. ET 
#5 Effinex: It’s always a tough task asking a horse to go a mile and a quarter first start off the bench and I typically don’t like backing a horse off a four-month layoff, but I think Effinex is in pretty easy for a Grade 1 contest. Effinex will be a short price here and I think he kicks away in deep stretch. Mike Smith tries for his fourth straight victory in the Santa Anita Handicap.
Exacta Box 
Sunday, Race 9, Fair Grounds, 6:21 p.m. ET 
#3 Knights Nation: He was claimed two starts back for $62,500, raced in the allowance optional claiming for that tag and didn’t make any impact. In his career, he’s faced some great horses in Grade 2 and Grade 3 company, so the drop here today will definitely be appreciated. 
#5 Sevenoaks: There’s something to be said about a horse who’s won two straight regardless of the classification or purse. He’ll be involved early, and it’s always dangerous to have a horse with a nose for the wire race in front-running style. He’s won his last two and if this gelding is rated well, he might be able to steal the race on the front end. At 12-1 morning-line odds he’s definitely worth a closer look. 
#7 Same As: He’s one of five in here entered without a claiming tag. He nearly broke his maiden first time out in an $83,000 Maiden Special Weight at Saratoga in a 12-horse field so his potential is clearly noted by me. He’s been consistently performing well in the turf allowance races. He shows some good four furlong workouts. He’s a must-include in any exotic wager.