Saturday's Best Bet: Nasty a likable contender in Autumn Miss

Saturday’s 9th race from Santa Anita Park is the Grade 3 Autumn Miss Stakes for Valley View Stakes for 3-year-old fillies traveling one mile on the turf course (Post Time 8:15 p.m. ET).

#3 NASTY (4-1) looked great in her first two turf route wins, and she flopped as the chalk on yielding ground in the Indiana Grand Aug. 12. She was in a good stalking spot last time but retreated in the lane. Baltas has her now, she is 2-for-2 on firm turf, and she should be forwardly placed under Ricky Gonzalez.

#5 Warren’s Showtime (9-5) is a competent finisher on turf and she does some of her best work at this course and distance.

#7 Croughavouke (7-2) added blinkers and broke through with her first stateside victory Aug. 29. She dropped into a sophomore optional claimer that day and was just better than her rivals. Umberto Rispoli rides back and she fits with these, but she is 0-for-8 in the stakes ranks in this country with four underneath finishes.

#1 Mind Out (8-1) ran well in all four routes and can save ground and hit the board.

#4 Guitty (4-1) reconnects with Juan Hernandez and he guided her to a runner-up finish at almost 20-1 odds in the San Clemente (G2). She frequently breaks slow and has a habit of getting into trouble. The late runner is possible for a share on her best day. 

Wagers:

#3 to win

Exacta Box 3-5

Trifecta Key 3/1-4-5-7

Recent Best Bet Winners

Oct. 4 - MUTASAABEQ ($6.00), Exacta ($93.60), Trifecta ($317.65)
Oct. 5 - SWEET SOUPER SWEET ($5.00), Trifecta ($98.95)
Oct. 6 - PORTAL CREEK ($4.00), Exacta ($12.60)
Oct. 9 - NORTH COUNTY GUY ($7.80)
Oct. 10 - HARVEY'S LIL GOIL ($9.20)
Oct. 16 - STUNNING SKY ($13.80), Trifecta ($462.80)

Playing the horses can be a rewarding but tough game. Exacta, trifectas, superfectas, Pick 4s, Pick 5s -- there are so many wagers to play, it can get overly confusing. How do you know how much to play or which wagers to try? Unfortunately, part of the learning process can include losing money. But we would like to help you shortcut that process by learning some of the most common mistakes that horseplayers make on a daily basis. Take a look at Horse Racing Nation’s newest eBook -- “Top 10 Mistakes Horseplayers Make” -- and see if it helps you avoid some common mistakes and win more playing the races!