(1) What social commentary can be inferred from Smiley's success in betting on his slow and sickly mare? a. It praises the ingenuity of betting strategies. b. It condemns the practice of horse racing. c. It highlights the folly of placing value on superficial traits. d. It critiques the dishonesty and deceitful behavior of gamblers overall.

The social commentary that can be inferred from Smiley's success in betting on his slow and sickly mare is:<br /><br />c. It highlights the folly of placing value on superficial traits.<br /><br />This suggests that appearances can be deceiving, and what may seem like a disadvantage (a slow and sickly mare) can actually lead to unexpected success, thereby critiquing the tendency to judge based on superficial characteristics.