We take heart when we see BreezeFigs exactas, trifectas or superfectas, and last week was pretty good with four such gimmicks—a trifecta at Belmont and exactas at Golden Gate, Gulfstream and Santa Anita.  However, when our Pick turns out to be an exacta-in-reverse, we scramble to hide under a rock.  That’s what happened last week when our Pix finished next to last and last—well, at least our top Pick finished ahead of the other one.  In any case, there were 13 other BreezeFigs maidens who won last week in additio

Download DRF Plus handicapping reports for Friday's races, including DRF Bets GamePlan, the Positive ROI Report, and Key Race Report.

DRF Bets GamePlan

Closer looks for Belmont Park, Golden Gate, Gulfstream Park, Keeneland, Santa Anita, and Woodbine, and spot plays and live longshots for Belmont Park, Gulfstream Park, Hawthorne, Keeneland, Laurel Park, Retama Park, and Santa Anita. Picks are chronologically listed, so you can build and plan your wagering day.

Although the big races of opening day at Keeneland come later Friday, large fields for the bulk of the day make the whole card quite playable. Here’s a pick three play to get things started a little earlier on the program, beginning with the third race.

RACE 3

Keeneland’s fall meet is similar to the spring meet in many ways; after all, it often features the same jockeys, trainers, and horses who we saw in the spring. However, trainer intent can be different in the fall, especially with the Breeders’ Cup happening there this year. Don’t get me wrong, many of the trainer angles we highlighted in the spring will still play in the fall, but other angles can vary greatly between the two meets.

Trainer Bobby Dibona saddles Air Squadron (#5, ML 5-2) in Thursday's fifth race at Penn National, a one-mile-70-yard allowance optional claimer. Since Jan., 1, 2014, Dibona is winning at a 40 percent clip in allowances, for a return on investment of $4.64.

Bella Joy (#3, ML 8-1) returns in Thursday's sixth race at Belmont Park, a one-mile maiden special weight race on turf. It will be her first start since finishing third by 3 1/2 lengths in a maiden special weight race Aug. 14 at Saratoga. The first- and second-place finishers from that race came back to win their next starts.

Songa (#3, ML 5-2) returns in Wednesday's first race at Belmont Park, a 6 1/2-furlong claiming race. It will be his first start since finishing fourth by 3 1/4 lengths in an optional claimer July 12 at Monmouth Park. The third- and fifth-place finishers from that race came back to win their next starts.

IVANKA
Trainer: Sean Smullen
Last race: Sept. 23, 7th
Finish: 4th by 1 3/4
Beyer: 49
She broke a bit slowly and lacked room in the stretch while in the midst of her rally when debuting in a $20,000 sprint. The 3-year-old daughter of Hat Trick is bred to be a miler, and could break through on the stretchout.

Southern California Horses to Watch for the week of Sept. 28.

CASS IN STONE
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Last race: Los Alamitos, Sept. 24, 4th
Finish: 2nd by 2 1/2
Beyer: 66

This maiden-20 set a fast pace, shook off his pace rivals, and got collared in another sharp effort. Claimed by O’Neill from Eric Guillot, he is sitting on a maiden win.

Saturday, September 26

Belmont - Beldame (race 5)

COMMENT: Despite being gone for 112 days and missing the Grade 1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga due to a foot problem, Wedding Toast looked super beating up on this field, punching her ticket for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Keeneland.