Keeler Johnson’s picks and plays of Dec. 11, 2023

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Monday, Dec. 11 at Mahoning Valley and Zia Park, including a cold double wager.

Today’s special offers from TwinSpires include:

• 10x Points at Zia Park: Receive 10x reward points on all wagers (excluding show bets) at Zia Park on Mondays and Tuesdays through Dec. 19.

Picks and Plays

Mahoning Valley: Race 3: $5,000 Claiming (six furlongs, 1:40 p.m. ET)

#3 Woodland Walk (5-2) might be 12 years old, but the veteran gelding enters this $5,000 claimer in hot form. On Oct. 10, he won a $12,500 starter optional claimer at Thistledown by two lengths. On Nov. 1, he took a $10,000 claimer for horses who hadn’t won two races in the last six months by 3 3/4 lengths. And on Nov. 30, he finished a close second in an $8,000 claimer.

Woodland Walk has the tactical speed to work out a favorable trip and should be tough to beat while dropping down to the $5,000 claiming level. We’ll single him to start a double wager and key him over #8 Savvy Layla (4-1) in a cold exacta.

Selections

• #3 Woodland Walk (5-2)
• #8 Savvy Layla (4-1)
• #7 D’money Honey (6-1)

Wagers

• $30 Double: 3 with 7
• $10 Exacta: 3 with 8
  Total: $40

Mahoning Valley: Race 4: $8,000 Claiming (six furlongs, 2:08 p.m. ET)

#7 Diva Power (7-5) misfired when stepping up in class and distance for the one-mile and 70-yard Ohio Debutante S. last month, fading from a pace-tracking position to finish seventh. But she’d previously won three straight sprints on the Ohio circuit, wiring a $16,000 claimer by 7 3/4 lengths before taking a $20,000 starter optional claimer by 1 1/2 lengths and a $7,500 starter allowance by 2 1/4 lengths.

Those three victories yielded Brisnet Speed ratings of 83, 79, and 83, stamping Diva Power as a clear standout while dropping into an $8,000 claimer. We’ll single her to conclude our double wager, then bet her over #3 Not a Wild Brat (5-1) and #5 Dancin’ Rosie (2-1) in the exacta.

Selections

• #7 Diva Power (7-5)
• #3 Not a Wild Brat (5-1)
• #5 Dancin’ Rosie (2-1)

Wagers

• $10 Exacta: 7 with 3,5 ($20)

Zia Park: Race 9: Maiden Special Weight (six furlongs, 5:49 p.m. ET)

Since 2021, trainer Joel Marr has gone 4-for-15 (27%) debuting juveniles at Zia Park. Marr has a couple of unraced two-year-olds entered in this maiden special weight sprint: #6 No Trouble (9-2) and #7 Cash Follows Me (6-1). Of the pair, we prefer No Trouble.

A son of Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) runner-up World of Trouble, who sires a respectable 12% winners from first-time starters, No Trouble is a half-sibling to five horses who broke their maidens at age two. A fast half-mile workout from the Zia Park starting gate in :47 4/5 last month suggests No Trouble is a live threat to win on debut.

We’ll keep things simple with a win bet.

Selections

• #6 No Trouble (9-2)
• #7 Cash Follows Me (6-1)
• #1 Lovesunfair (7-2)

Wagers

• $30 to win on #6 No Trouble

Good luck!