Monday's Best Bet: Shashashakemeup at a price in Steel Valley Sprint

Monday’s 8th race from Mahoning Valley is the $200,000 Steel Valley Sprint for 3-year-olds dashing six furlongs on the main track (Post Time 4:02 p.m. ET).

#3 SHASHASHAKEMEUP (10-1) was nabbed out of his last by claiming artist Peter Miller. He exits a claiming $50k sprint win at Keeneland and might not be out of this class-wise. He was 4th in the Pat Day Mile (G3) and Iowa Derby, and was up for the place behind multiple graded winner C Z Rocket at this distance earlier this year. I definitely want to get him somewhere in the top three. 

#1 Vertical Threat (3-1) tracked the pace and easily captured both starts at this distance. He stretched out in the Pat Day Mile (G3) last time and he set the pace and weakened in the stretch. He reunites with his winning rider Heriberto Figueroa and he should be right there if he runs back to his Smiling Tiger Stakes victory. 

#14 Golden Candy (7-2) fired trifecta shots in his last five dirt sprints at Delaware Park. He does some of his best work at this distance and figures to stalk outside. 

#8 Fore Left (10-1) has nothing but stakes races showing in his past performances. He won the Tremont and Sunny Slope in 2019, and captured the UAE Two Thousand Guineas (G3) at Meydan in Dubai Feb. 6. His recent form is not great but he fits with these on his best day. 

Wagers:

#3 to win

Exacta 3/1-8-14

Exacta 1-8-14/3

Trifecta 1/ALL/3

Recent Best Bet Winners

Nov. 1 - STEPHEN ($6.30)
Nov. 3 - POPIZAR ($19.00), Trifecta ($66.30)
Nov. 7 - Merneith/Motivated Seller Exacta ($50.60)
Nov. 11 - FLAT OUT BEAUTIFUL ($7.20)
Nov. 19 - Nomo Ron/Stroll Smokin/Hold Me Black Trifecta ($60.80)

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