Photo:

Gonzalo Anteliz Jr. / Eclipse Sportswire

Get ready for Wednesday’s nine-race card at Tampa Bay Downs with my top picks and plays.

Best bet: C Suite Boy, race 3

Best value bet: Bivol, race 2

Race 2

No. 3 Suit Me Up Charlie (3-1, morning-line favorite) and No. 5 Bivol (9-2) were within a neck of each other here three weeks ago. Slight edge to the latter in the rematch shedding 10 pounds with Derby Gonzalez aboard. No. 6 Determined Freedom (4-1) is a threat if he can replicate his two-back effort after misfiring last time out. Pablo Morales, 25%, sees fit to climb aboard.

How I’d bet it, based on a $100 budget: $5 exacta key box 5/3,6

Race 3

No. 5 C Suite Boy (even, morning-line favorite) is far superior on speed figures compared to those who have run before, and a short price looms. No. 7 Swift Jaime (6-1) shows promising works ahead of his career unveiling at age 4. No. 6 In the Weeds (7-2) lures Samy Camacho as a late-debuting three-year-old.

How I’d bet it: $10 exacta 5/6,7

Race 6

No. 2 Ejtimaa (7-2) faces rivals who have been camera-shy of late. Meanwhile, he had won two in a row before flopping in a route race at Keeneland. He shook off rust at Parx two back before a solid runner-up result over this course last time out. No. 4 Osprey (3-1), No. 1 Cruising Derek (6-1), and No. 8 Life is Precious (5-2, morning-line favorite) are the aforementioned runners that fit on figures yet are a combined 0-for-9 in their last three races.

How I’d bet it: $8 exacta 2/4, $6 exacta 2/1,8

Race 8

No. 2 Fenwick (3-1, morning-line favorite) may overwhelm this group from a class perspective based on his two-back triumph. No. 10 D Coldest (4-1) should be heard from late and nearly won at this level at Gulfstream when last seen. No. 4 Russian Hammer (10-1) is likely to get plenty of pace to chase. He was third in a similar spot last time out.

How I’d bet it: $6 exacta 2/4,10, $4 exacta box 2/10

Race 9

Todd Pletcher appears to have the nightcap covered with No. 2 Into Amore (5-2, morning-line favorite) and No. 9 Annulled (6-1). The former gets the nod after outworking the latter on Nov. 26 while boasting a flashy pedigree and attracting Morales. The latter is a Tapit with a bullet workout on the tab. No. 8 Soundtrack (5-1) has run second in four straight starts to kick off her career.

How I’d bet it: $10 exacta 2/9, $5 exacta 2/8, $5 exacta 9/2

Robert Criscola is a free-lance handicapper based in New York.