Thursday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Two Hawthorne carryovers
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Thursday, July 3 at Ellis Park and Horseshoe Indianapolis, along with analysis of carryovers at Hawthorne.
Best Bets
J. Keeler Johnson
J. Keeler Johnson (also known as “Keelerman”) is a writer, blogger, videographer, handicapper, and all-around horse racing enthusiast who was drawn to the sport by Curlin's quest to become North America's richest racehorse.
Wednesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Three cold exactas
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Wednesday, July 2 at Horseshoe Indianapolis and Assiniboia Downs, including a trio of cold exactas.
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Tuesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Doroteo should enjoy shorter trip
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Tuesday, July 1 at Horseshoe Indianapolis and Assiniboia Downs.
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Monday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Captain Barbossa can win return
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Monday, June 30 at Finger Lakes and Prairie Meadows, including an 8-1 shot returning from a layoff.
Best Bets
Churchill Downs: How to bet the mandatory-payout $1,413,928 Pick 6
Sunday is closing day of the Churchill Downs spring meet. The stakes-packed card is highlighted by the mandatory payout of a $1,413,928 Pick 6 carryover.
Wagering
Picks for Los Alamitos $114,292 Pick 5 and $19,305 Pick 6
The Saturday card at Los Alamitos features two enticing non-jackpot carryovers for bettors to pursue.
Los Alamitos Race Course
Friday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: First-time starters for Cox
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Friday, June 27 at Churchill Downs and Aqueduct, including two promising Brad Cox trainees.
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Thursday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Lone speed at 20-1
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Thursday, June 26 at Horseshoe Indianapolis, Aqueduct, and Churchill Downs, including a 20-1 longshot.
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Wednesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Two stakes, two exactas
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Wednesday, June 25 at Churchill Downs and Assiniboia Downs, including exactas in a pair of stakes.
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Tuesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Two stakes at Assiniboia
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Tuesday, June 24 at Assiniboia Downs, along with horses to play in carryovers at Louisiana Downs and Mountaineer.
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Monday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: 10-1 shot for Mountaineer carryover
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Monday, June 23 at Assiniboia Downs, along with a 10-1 shot to play in Mountaineer’s $1,845 Super High 5 carryover.
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Carryovers: Two Pick 5s at Laurel, Super High 5 at Gulfstream
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares horses to play in Sunday carryovers at Laurel Park and Gulfstream Park.
Gulfstream Park
Los Alamitos analysis: $10,860 Pick 6 carryover, $50 tournament
The Los Alamitos Thoroughbred meet kicked off on Friday. No one solved the $2 Pick 6 on opening day, which means Saturday’s card features a $10,860 Pick 6 carryover.
Los Alamitos Race Course
Friday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Bayou Brigid intrigues at 8-1
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Friday, June 20 at Aqueduct, Churchill Downs, and Gulfstream Park, along with analysis of the $11,299 Pick 5 carryover at Monmouth Park.
Gulfstream Park
Best Bets and Quick Picks: Churchill’s $16,590 Super High 5
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Thursday, June 19 at Horseshoe Indianapolis and Churchill Downs, including tickets for Churchill’s $16,590 Super High 5 carryover.
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Wednesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Class drop can help Givemethebeat
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Wednesday, June 18 at Churchill Downs and Presque Isle Downs, including a two-year-old dropping in class.
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Tuesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: 57% winning angle at Thistledown
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Tuesday, June 17 at Thistledown and Horseshoe Indianapolis, including a filly representing a 57% winning angle.
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Monday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Play this 12-1 shot at Horseshoe Indianapolis
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Monday, June 16 at Horseshoe Indianapolis, including a 12-1 longshot.
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Gulfstream: How to bet the mandatory-payout $129,340 Rainbow Pick 6 carryover
Are you planning to bet Sunday’s $129,340 Rainbow Pick 6 mandatory payout at Gulfstream Park? We’ve got you covered with a race-by-race analysis and a ~$67 ticket:
Gulfstream Park
Aqueduct: Single for Saturday’s $124,619 Pick 6 carryover
A 43-1 upset in Friday’s fifth race at Aqueduct ensured that the $1 Pick 6 went unsolved for the second day in a row, triggering a double carryover worth $124,619 into Saturday’s card.
Wagering
Friday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Aqueduct’s $30,569 Pick 6 carryover
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Friday, June 13 at Gulfstream Park, Churchill Downs, and Santa Anita, along with two singles for Friday’s $30,569 Pick 6 carryover at Aqueduct.
Gulfstream Park
Thursday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Asmussen juvenile at 8-1
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Thursday, June 12 at Santa Anita and Churchill Downs, along with analysis of carryovers at Hawthorne and Horseshoe Indianapolis.
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Wednesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Churchill’s $12,703 Super High 5 carryover
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Wednesday, June 11 at Churchill Downs and Horseshoe Indianapolis, including tickets for Churchill’s $12,703 Super High 5 carryover.
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Tuesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Red Iolla worth betting at 10-1
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Tuesday, June 10 at Horseshoe Indianapolis and Thistledown, along with a 6-1 shot to play in the $1,403 Pick 5 carryover at Presque Isle Downs.
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Monday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Mission Avenue can strike at 20-1
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Monday, June 9 at Thistledown and Finger Lakes, along with a horse to single in the $1,403 Pick 5 carryover at Presque Isle Downs.
Best Bets
Churchill Downs: How to bet the $241,646 Pick 5 carryover
There were several major upsets on Saturday at Churchill Downs, which is why there’s a massive $241,646 Late Pick 5 carryover up for grabs during Sunday’s card.
Wagering
Horse racing to bet after the 2025 Belmont Stakes
Saturday’s horse racing action doesn’t end with the running of the 157th Belmont Stakes (G1) at approximately 7:04 p.m. ET.
International
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Baeza
A gallant runner-up finish in a strong renewal of the Santa Anita Derby (G1) has stamped Baeza as a compelling candidate for the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1).
Triple Crown
2025 Belmont Stakes: Which horses are bred to handle the distance?
For the second straight year, the $2 million Belmont (G1) is taking place over 1 1/4 miles at Saratoga, a quarter-mile shorter than its traditional 1 1/2-mile distance at Belmont Park.
Triple Crown
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Journalism
Sometimes it’s possible to glance at a horse's pedigree and conclude with certainty they’re bred to shine racing classic distances, including the 1 1/4-mile journey of the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Triple Crown