Your BEST BET is 1 RENDEZVOUS in RACE 7 (3/1 ML). 4 YO should appreciate the step back to G3 company and the return to the turf. He’s reunited with Rosario, who has ridden him to victory in the past here. Loses the shades today for a winning trainer. This guy has scored for me before and is a logical contender. Plus he’ll offer a better price than heavy fave Richard’s Kid.

Your NEXT BEST BET is 2 CONNAGHER in RACE 1 (5/2 ML). Speedster just broke his maiden in a pacesetting win here. May take the lead and not look back.

Your VALUE BET is WIN/PLACE/SHOW on 2 DREAM NOW in RACE 2 (8/1 ML). This guy was doing pretty well for himself on the turf a year ago and scored here in his last. Has been training nicely for his comeback and cuts back to a sprint today. Has a good shot at a nice price.

Cough! Cough! Might have a case of seconditis coming on – two more places again yesterday. But…and it’s a big but…Value Bet Lilly Fa Pootz (love that name) scored and paid $26.20 for the across the board bet! Not a bad day after all. Now we just need all winners, right? That’s not too much to ask for. So let’s stay at the lovely Del Mar and cheer these three runners to victory!

Your BEST BET is 1 ASPERITY in RACE 3 (7/2 ML). 6 YO has a ton of back class – a G3 winner in Europe. Couple of strong efforts off a very long layoff. Should be ready to fire in this third start from the break. Love the long works on the turf.

Your NEXT BEST BET is 3 CALLE VISTA in RACE 2 (4/1 ML). Lightly raced filly finished second in her last at this level and scored a career best Beyer. Runs well fresh and broke her maiden at this distance. Nice string of works going long.

Your VALUE BET is WIN/PLACE/SHOW on 2 SILVER STETSON MAN in RACE 7 (6/1 ML). Gelding has been off for a year, but Baffert knows how to get ‘em ready. And this guy looks ready to rock based on a sharp work tab. Garcia wins 32% for this barn.

Ouch. Two places and a show yesterday. Soooo close. Oh well, let’s shake it off and move on. I’m playing in a couple of online tournaments today and I’ve been studying Del Mar, so let’s take advantage of that and head west for some winners.

Your BEST BET is 2 VICTOR’S CRY in RACE 8 (5/1 ML). Street Cry boy is proven on this course and likes to run fresh – won twice from a layoff. Last race was a G1 win. Race may set up nicely for this closer.

Your NEXT BEST BET is 4 ROCK SO HARD in RACE 7 (5/1 ML). Rock Hard Ten baby sports a consistently sharp work tab for his debut and gets Lasix today. Baffert is 26% with first timers and Garcia wins 32% for him.

Your VALUE BET is WIN/PLACE/SHOW on 10 LILLY FA POOTZ in RACE 6 (8/1 ML). Hollendorfer trainee loves the turf – in the money in all 7 starts on the stuff. In fact, she has finished in the money in all 8 starts this year. Can’t see that changing today. She’s coming off a nice Hollywood win at this distance and fits well with these.

Yippee! It’s Friday! It’s amazing how much longer the work week seems after a vacation. Man. But on to fun now. It would be silly to mess with a good thing, so we’ll stick with Arlington where we cashed some tasty tickets last week.

Your BEST BET is 8 FOXIE’S BOY in RACE 8 (7/2 ML). At the age of 8, this guy is the oldest in the field, but he certainly proved he still has plenty of kick after a pace-setting win in his last here. He has two wins at a mile and loves this track. Gets sharp Castanon in the irons today.

Your NEXT BEST BET is 11 UNBRIDLED ELTEMPO (5/1 ML). Consistent gray has been knocking on the door here this year – almost caught Kemp in the race before last. Beyers are above par and better than most of this field.

Your VALUE BET is WIN/PLACE/SHOW on 2 GENERAL DARBY in RACE 1 (12/1 ML). OK, on paper it looks like Jilluke has this one in the bag. But if he falters, this guy will be right there at the wire. Coming off a nice win here at this distance even after being blocked in the stretch. That sprint seemed to wake this router up and he should be even better in this third start from the layoff. Potential for a speed duel in front helps his chances.

Value Bet proved to be valuable once again. $18.20 for Place/Show. Let’s wrap up a profitable weekend with some more winners at Arlington.

Your BEST BET is 2 MY COUSIN PEPI in RACE 7 (4/1 ML). This guy looks to be the speed of this bunch – impressive 6 length win in his last with Michael Baze on board. Should be hard to catch today.

Your NEXT BEST BET is 1 GREY KNIGHT in RACE 1 (6/1 ML). Gray was in a little over his head in his last couple of races and should appreciate the class relief today. He also switches back to the poly, which seems to be his preferred surface.

Your VALUE BET is WIN/PLACE/SHOW on 10 OKEFENOKEE in RACE 2 (10/1 ML). Gray mare is coming off a win for her return to the grass. Turf Beyers in the 70s against tougher – should put her in the mix at a bargain price.

Had a good Friday. Value Bet Denham sure did like the grass – Win, Place, Show – $20.60 – Kaching! Then Next Best Larry By The Lake sure liked being back on the grass. Led the way to the win for a nice $8.80. Let’s see if we can hit all three picks at Arlington’s Million Preview Day.

Your BEST BET is 3 HOT CHA CHA in RACE 7, the Modesty Handicap (5/2 ML). I love this filly and expect a big performance today after a winning trip in the Mint Julep. She is proven on the grass and this level.

Your NEXT BEST BET is 9 GENERAL QUARTERS in RACE 9, the Arlington Handicap, (7/2 ML). This guy has really come into his own as a 4YO and his last run on the grass was the Turf Classic, which he won with Bejarano. That was on a yielding course, but he seems to be able to handle any surface thrown at him. Bejarano is back on board and a repeat of that last turf performance would be enough today.

Your VALUE BET is WIN/PLACE/SHOW on 9 MISTER MARDI GRAS in RACE 8, the American Derby, (8/1 ML). This guy seems to be happy to be back with trainer Block and jock Perez – seems to keep getting better. Taking a big step up today, but he did run in the Louisiana Derby last year, so he’s no stranger to graded stakes company. Coming off a late-running win and his late kick should be useful today.

Darn horses didn’t cooperate for my birthday. No winners – couple came close, but this ain’t horseshoes. We’ll return to the scene of the crime and see if I do any better now that I’m another year older (not so sure about wiser). Here are some Arlington plays to get your weekend started.

Your BEST BET is 7 JUDY MY DARLING in RACE 4 (7/2 ML). Stalker keeps getting better with each race, winning 2 of 3 career starts. Should be rested and ready for a winning outfit.

Your NEXT BEST BET is 6 LARRY BY THE LAKE in RACE 5 (6/1 ML). This gelding has been doing pretty good so far this year – in the money 4 of 5 starts. Posted an 82 Beyer on the grass in the past and anything close to those performances should seal the deal today. Graham stays on board.

Your VALUE BET is WIN/PLACE/SHOW on 1 DENHAM in RACE 3 (6/1 ML). One of my go-to horses tries the turf for the first time today. He’s coming off an impressive win here and has been having a very good 2010. If that winning form translates to grass, look out!

It’s my birthday today and all I want is winners! How old am I, you ask? Now, you should know better than to ask a lady her age. Let’s just say I’m old enough to know better but young enough not to care. Yesterday’s Best Bet won for us, but I want more. Here are some Arlington contenders wrapped up with a big bow.

Your BEST BET is 5 STREET CONTENDER in RACE 2 (2/1 ML). Winless this year, but he’s been knockin’ on the door. Race should set up nicely for him to pass ‘em in the stretch.

Your NEXT BEST BET is 3 SAYGOODNIGHTGRACIE in RACE 6 (4/1 ML). Ran a good race, but was up against tougher in her last. This gal loves the grass and the class drop should help her seal the deal today.

Your VALUE BET is WIN/PLACE/SHOW on 3 SHE’S SALTY TOO (8/1 ML). Speedy girl is coming off a front-running win here against tougher. Should be in the mix today at a nice price.

Greetings from sunny Palm Springs! Arrived this afternoon…er… this morning… er…I’m not really sure what time it is after getting up at 4 am and then traveling back in time via the switch to the PST zone. But there’s always time to pick some winners, even thru my jet lag haze. Thursday’s Next Best Bet paid a nice $11.60 for the win and Best Bet finished 2nd. So we’ll stay at Arlington and see if we can improve on that score with these three picks.

Your BEST BET is 2 DUCDUC in RACE 8 (3/1 ML). Colt returns to claiming ranks after a hard fought allowance win in spite of a stumbled break. Canani barn is winning 44% here and top jock Alvarado stays on board.

Your NEXT BEST BET is 8 SPEED BALL in RACE 5 (8/1 ML). This guy has been improving each try on the turf and looked really sharp in his last until getting boxed in on the rail in the stretch. Still managed to finish 4th. A clean trip could get the job done today at a nice price.

Your VALUE BET is WIN/PLACE/SHOW on 8 MERCEDES CLASS in RACE 7 (10/1 ML). Hmmm, this one looks kinda interesting. Lightly raced Mineshaft colt has won 2 of 3 lifetime starts and his lone try on the grass wasn’t bad. Taking a big step up today (but not in for a tag) for new trainer/owner Dorris, who is 19% off the claim. I like the presence of pilot Graham,who took this mount over others in here.

Whew, is it steamy outside. Heading to Palm Springs, CA tomorrow, so I’d better get used to the heat. Highs over 100 degrees. Yipes. And people always say, “but it’s a dry heat”. That doesn’t really matter much when you’re melting. Wet heat, dry heat – hot is hot. Speaking of hot, check out these hot plays at Arlington.

Your BEST BET is 3 COLLIDIN in RACE 1 (3/1 ML). There’s a ton of early speed in this one, but this guy is one tough customer and should come out ahead in a duel. He loves this course and Karlsson knows how to win with him. Should do his new connections proud today.

Your NEXT BEST BET is 5 POBRECITA in RACE 3 (5/1 ML). Filly looks to be the lone speed in this and if she gets gone, might be hard to catch. Won gate to wire in her last here at this level and at this distance.

Your VALUE BET is WIN/PLACE/SHOW on 3 LIVE TODAY in RACE 4 (10/1 ML). Touch Gold filly just broke her maiden on the grass and switches back to the poly – trainer is 20% with that switch and 35% going from a route to a sprint. Finished 2nd in her first try on the synthetic. That last win should be a confidence boost and if this girl keeps improving, she could hit the board at a nice price.