Keeler Johnson's picks and plays for Feb. 7

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Monday, Feb. 7 at Mahoning Valley (which later canceled racing) and Turf Paradise, including a trio of $10 exacta bets.

Picks and Plays

Editor's note: Mahoning Valley canceled

Race 8: $20,000 Claiming (six furlongs, 4:02 p.m. ET)

#2 Cat’s Rhythm (3-1) has developed into a winning machine for trainer Danny Bird, a 20% winner at Mahoning Valley this meet. The eight-year-old mare has unleashed powerful stretch rallies to nab three races in a row, including a six-furlong allowance on Dec. 28 at Mahoning.

Cat’s Rhythm has already defeated some of her key rivals in Monday’s field, including morning line favorite #6 Rollin All the Way (5-2) and third choice #5 Opulent (4-1). There’s plenty of speed in the mix, so Cat’s Rhythm should receive sufficient pace to enhance her late rally. Throw in the fact she’ll be ridden by Brandon Tapara (a 45% winner teaming up with Bird over the last two months), and Cat’s Rhythm is worthy of a win bet.

Rollin All the Way and Opulent can battle for a place in the exacta.

• $20 to win on #2 Cat’s Rhythm
• $5 Exacta: 2 with 5,6 ($10)
  Total: $30

Turf Paradise: Race 4: $10,000-$7,500 Maiden Claiming (5 1/2 furlongs, 4:19 p.m. ET)

#1 Tengas Masterpiece (5-2) is the morning line favorite, but the five-year-old gelding hasn’t run since August 2020, when he ran fourth in a $50,000 maiden claimer against California-breds at Del Mar. The long layoff is a major question mark, especially since his work tab hasn’t been particularly flashy.

We’ll try to beat Tengas Masterpiece with #6 Warfront Fighter (4-1). Formerly a competitor in New York and California, Warfront Fighter has shown encouraging form since relocating to Turf Paradise. On Jan. 24, he ran second in a 6 1/2-furlong sprint over this class level, earning a respectable 69 Brisnet Speed rating after dueling for the lead through fast fractions.

Cutting back to 5 1/2 furlongs should only help Warfront Fighter, so let’s bet him to win and key him over Warfront Fighter and #4 Winning Magic (5-1) in the exacta.

• $20 to win on #6 Warfront Fighter
• $5 Exacta: 6 with 1,4 ($10)
  Total: $30

Turf Paradise: Race 5: $30,000 Maiden Optional Claiming (5 1/2 furlongs, 4:49 p.m. ET)

#2 Temporarily (7-2) has cracked the trifecta in each of her first three starts, including a six-furlong sprint over this track and class level on Jan. 17. Making her first start for high-percentage trainer Justin Evans, Temporarily settled in last place early on before rallying to finish third, beaten only 1 1/2 lengths by next-out stakes winner Miss Hard Knocks.

Temporarily will add blinkers for her second local start, a winning move 32% of the time for Evans. She’s also picking up hot jockey Luis Negron, a 36% winner teaming up with Evans over the last two months. In short, Temporarily looks like a solid win choice at a nice price.

The well-bred first-time starter #7 Curlin Blessing (3-1) can battle with Tampa Bay Downs shipper #8 Maclean’s Bella (4-1) to complete the exacta.

• $20 to win on #2 Temporarily
• $5 Exacta: 2 with 7,8 ($10)
  Total: $30

Good luck!