How to bet the Feb. 20 Pick 5 carryover at Fonner Park

Did you know there’s a $3,806 carryover up for grabs in Saturday’s 50-cent Dinsdale Automotive Pick 5 Jackpot at Fonner Park?

And did you know TwinSpires is offering a Fonner Park Bet Back promotion? Place a win bet on any race at Fonner this week, and if your pick finishes second, you’ll receive a refund (up to $20).

To me, this sounds like a great opportunity to chase two appealing prizes at once. Let’s assemble a Pick 5 play on a $20 budget, then place $20 win bets on our top choice from each of the five races:

Race 4: $2,500 Starter Allowance

#4 Contraband (3-1) posted two front-running victories over this track and distance last spring and will be tough to catch if he brings his A-game off a three-month freshening. But #1 Runarounddancing (5-1) has also shown an affinity for the local course and brings competitive Brisnet Speed ratings to the equation, so even at the age of 11, this veteran gelding warrants respect.

$20 to win on #4 Contraband

Race 5: $5,000 Claiming

#4 Beta Capo Song (5-2) boasts a solid 13-5-3-2 record at Fonner Park, but the form of this nine-year-old veteran has slipped in recent starts, suggesting he’s vulnerable at a short price. We’ll oppose him with #6 Knockyourblockoff (3-1), who has flashed speed in his last three starts running farther at Hawthorne, and #2 Wild Drive (6-1), who nabbed a six-furlong allowance race at Fonner last spring with an excellent 85 Brisnet Speed rating.

$20 to win on #6 Knockyourblockoff

Race 6: $5,000 Claiming

This isn’t the toughest race on paper, so #6 Comegetsome (10-1)—who has shown speed running longer against Iowa-breds and Prairie Meadows—can potentially challenge at a nice price. Fonner’s reigning champion jockey Armando Martinez takes the mount for trainer Kelli Martinez, who compiled a lofty 31% strike rate at Fonner last season.

#1 If the Boot Fits (6-1), #5 Dashiell (5-2), #7 Major Bizkit (9-2), and #8 Jager On the Rocks (7-2) are others worth including.

$20 to win on #6 Comegetsome

Race 7: Grasmick S.

The “speed of the speed” might be #7 Warrior’s Lullaby (7-2), who exits a series of competitive allowance and starter allowance races at Keeneland and Prairie Meadows. With Armando Martinez aboard, Warrior’s Lullaby should be tough to catch, though we’ll also use two-time Fonner Park winner #1 Ourbestfriend D L (5-2) as backup.

$20 to win on #7 Warrior’s Lullaby

Race 8: Maiden Special Weight

Front-running #4 Seattle Bay (12-1) posted a field-best 72 Brisnet Speed rating when finishing second in a $25,000 maiden claiming race over five furlongs at Gulfstream Park West. She’s facing easier competition at Fonner and sits atop the Brisnet Prime Power rankings, stamping the daughter of First Dude as the filly to beat.

$20 to win on #4 Seattle Bay

The Pick 5 Ticket

Race 4, 50-cent Pick 5: 1,4 with 2,6 with 1,5,6,7,8 with 1,7 with 4 ($20)

Good luck!