Keeler Johnson's picks and plays April 4

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Tuesday, April 4 at Mahoning Valley and Will Rogers Downs, including a superfecta.

Today’s special offers from TwinSpires include:

• Trifecta Tuesday: Receive a 15% bonus on trifecta winnings excluding stake amount; up to $25 per day.
• 10x Points on Harness Racing: On Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, receive 10x reward points on all wagers at any harness track.

Picks and Plays

Mahoning Valley: Race 5: $5,000 Claiming (six furlongs, 2:31 p.m. ET)

Trainer Elliot Sullivan has been on fire at Mahoning Valley in recent weeks. Since March 16, Sullivan has compiled six wins, three seconds, and a third from 17 starters. That’s a 35% win rate and a 65% in-the-money rate.

These stats bode well for #9 Joe Brrrr (3-1). Runner-up behind a next-out allowance winner in a $6,500 claimer racing one mile at Mahoning last month, Joe Brrrr is descending the class ladder and dropping down in distance. Both can trigger a winning performance under hot jockey Luis Perez, a 29% winner teaming up with Sullivan over the last two months.

We’ll use the coupled entrymates #1 The Coachman (2-1) and #1A Kaphavata (2-1) alongside #2 Uptown Guy (8-1) to complete exacta and trifecta tickets, designing the latter play to capitalize on the Trifecta Tuesday promotion.

Selections

• #9 Joe Brrrr (3-1)
• #1 The Coachman (2-1)
• #2 Uptown Guy (8-1)

Wagers

• $10 Exacta: 9 with 1,2 ($20)
• $5 Trifecta: 9 with 1,2 with 1,2 ($10)
  Total: $30

Mahoning Valley: Race 6: $5,000 Claiming (5 1/2 furlongs, 3:01 p.m. ET)

Elliot Sullivan has another chance to visit the winner’s circle with #1A Unyielding (3-1). In December, Unyielding returned from a six-month layoff to trounce a $5,000 claimer sprinting six furlongs at Mahoning by three lengths. Two months later, he crossed the wire second by a neck in another $5,000 claimer over the same track and distance, though he was awarded victory since the original winner interfered with a rival.

These efforts produced sharp Brisnet Speed ratings of 85 and 87 and boosted Unyielding’s record at Mahoning to a strong 7-4-1-1. Luis Perez is named to ride, and Unyielding is coupled in the betting with capable rival #1 Artie My Boy (3-1), so betting Unyielding to win sounds appealing.

We’ll also key him over #2 Gehrig (2-1) and #6 Attuck (4-1) in the exacta.

Selections

• #1A Unyielding
• #2 Gehrig (2-1)
• #6 Attuck (4-1)

Wagers

• $18 to win on #1A Unyielding
• $6 Exacta: 1 with 2,6 ($12)
  Total: $30

Will Rogers Downs: Race 6: $7,500 Maiden Claiming (5 1/2 furlongs, 4:35 p.m. ET)

#6 Master Red (4-5) might be an 0-for-8 maiden, but seven of his starts have come against tougher competition than he’ll face on Tuesday. Master Red posted a sharp 68 Brisnet Speed rating when finishing third in a $15,000 claimer sprinting six furlongs at Will Rogers Downs last month, a noteworthy performance since none of his Tuesday rivals have posted a number higher than 58.

Let’s bet Master Red on top of a superfecta. For second place, we’ll use the speedy #3 C C’s Legacy (7-5), sixth in his first two starts against maiden special weight competition at Will Rogers Downs. We’ll round out our tickets with #5 Crafty Sword (12-1) and #1 Macer the Racer (10-1).

Selections

• #6 Master Red (4-5)
• #3 C C’s Legacy (7-5)
• #5 Crafty Sword (12-1)

Wagers

• $15 Superfecta: 6 with 3 with 1,5 with 1,5 ($30)

Good luck!