Photo:

Gonzalo Anteliz Jr. / Eclipse Sportswire

I’ve dug into this nine-race Wednesday card at Tampa Bay Downs to come up with my five favorite plays for the day.

Best bet: El Galan, race 3

Best value bet: Killybegs Kid, race 5

Race 1

No. 8 Oops Haha (3-2, morning-line favorite) was a well-beaten third vs. much tougher in her lone dirt start to date. She has sharp local connections in her corner in trainer Jose D’Angelo and jockey Samuel Marin. No. 7 Play Maker (5-2) appeals cutting back and trying a new low. Her best lifetime figure came in her only prior sprint attempt. No. 5 Ladys Chant (3-1) has hit the board in seven of 11 lifetime starts and is the best of the rest.

How I’d bet it, based on a $100 budget: $14 exacta 8/7, $6 exacta 7/8

Race 3

No. 7 El Galan (5-2, morning-line favorite) blew an open-length lead when last seen at Gulfstream, but the cutback to 5 1/2 furlongs should alleviate the stamina concerns. Samy Camacho, who had a huge first week back at the Oldsmar oval, gets the leg up. No. 2 Wolf Beach (9-2) was competitive in two dirt tries at Monmouth over the summer, including a late-closing second-place effort in a similar spot. No. 4 El Muchacho Alegre (15-1) hasn’t shown much in limited morning works, but the pedigree suggests precocity.

How I’d bet it: $20 exacta 7/2

Race 5

No. 5 Killybegs Kid (9-2) has not been a late factor in any of his first three starts, but he drops in class and his lone turf try was where he showed the best early speed of his brief career. No. 7 City Time (7-2, morning-line favorite) lures Camacho off a strong second-place finish vs. maiden claimers at the Meadowlands. No. 3 Grand Liam (6-1) sheds weight on the class drop.

How I’d bet it: $10 exacta box 5/7

Race 8

No. 1 Devra Warrior (7-2, morning-line favorite) has won two in a row at this level and lures Daniel Centeno. No. 9 Murumbi (9-2) has hit the exacta in four of his last five and gets Camacho aboard. No. 3 Simmering (8-1) should be heard from late on the turnback from routing to a seven-furlong sprint under Antonio Gallardo.

How I’d bet it: $10 exacta 1/3,9

Race 9

No. 10 Capture the Time (6-1) was second in a salty starter allowance turf sprint at the Meadowlands when last seen and should win with a stalking trip in the nightcap. No. 7 Jetaros (5-1) figures to take them a long way up front. No. 1 Cotton (2-1, morning-line favorite) was a gritty winner vs. tougher at Woodbine last time out but drops in for a tag. The move is a little suspicious, but he’s been dangled for less and it could simply be a product of “beggars can’t be choosers” when it comes to finding turf races at this time of year.

How I’d bet it: $2 exacta box 1/7/10, $4 exacta 7/1,10

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