Keeler Johnson's picks and plays for May 19

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares his picks and plays for Wednesday, May 19 at Canterbury Park, Indiana Grand, and Thistledown, including a pair of possible singles in Canterbury’s low-takeout $91,333 Pick 5 carryover.

Today’s special offers from TwinSpires include:

• Midweek Bet Back: Receive refunds on win bets (up to $10) if your horse finishes second in select races at Indiana Grand.
• Rest of the World Bet Back: Receive refunds on win bets (up to $10) if your horse finishes second in any race at Happy Valley (Hong Kong).
• Build Your Indiana Derby Day Bankroll: Wager at least $1,000 (excluding show bets) at Indiana Grand in April, May, and/or June and receive $30 to wager at Indiana Grand on Indiana Derby day, July 7. Bet $1,000 at Indiana Grand in all three months and receive $150.
• Lone Star Million Bet Club: Wager at least $100 (excluding show bets) at Lone Star Park on any day from April 22-May 23 and receive $5 to wager at Lone Star on Lone Star Million day, May 31. Wager at least $100 every day from April 22-May 23 and earn an additional $100 bonus. Wager at least $10,000 at Lone Star from April 22-May 23 and receive an additional $500 bonus.

Picks and plays

Indiana Grand, Race 3: $5,000 claiming (six furlongs, 3:27 p.m. ET)

If you’re keen to bet a longshot at Indiana Grand, why not consider #8 Cupp of Class (12-1)? The daughter of Violence hasn’t fired in two starts over wet tracks and three starts over synthetic footing, but on fast dirt, she has a win and a second from two starts.

Cupp of Class had little difficulty breaking her maiden for a $5,000 claiming tag at Mahoning Valley, then finished second in a $5,000 claiming race at Indiana Grand. In the latter event, Cupp of Class finished 2 1/4 lengths clear of #7 Pablo’s Minx (2-1), the morning-line favorite in Wednesday’s heat.

Assuming the track comes up fast (not a guarantee, since there’s a chance of rain in the forecast), Cupp of Class can rebound from a recent no-show on a muddy track and vie for victory at a big price.

To take advantage of the Midweek Bet Back offer, we’ll place a $10 win bet on Cupp of Class, then bet her over Pablo’s Minx in the exacta.

$10 to win on #8 Cupp of Class
$5 exacta: 8 with 7
Total: $15

Indiana Grand, Race 7: Swifty Sired Fillies S. (5 1/2 furlongs, 5:31 p.m. ET)

#9 Hungarian Princess (3-5) towers over this field of Indiana-breds from a Brisnet Speed rating standpoint.

Whereas none of her rivals have ever reached the 70 Brisnet Speed rating plateau, Hungarian Princess has posted figures in the 70-79 range in five of her six starts, including a pair of sprint stakes victories at Indiana Grand last fall.

Hungarian Princess is undefeated in three sprints against Indiana-breds and won each by a minimum of 4 3/4 lengths. She kicked off 2021 with a runner-up effort in an unrestricted allowance at Indiana Grand, so the drop to the state-bred ranks should make Hungarian Princess formidable at a short price.

To capitalize on the Midweek Bet Back offer, we’ll place a $10 win bet on Hungarian Princess. #7 Pearl Tiara (8-1), the second-fastest filly on paper, can complete a cold exacta.

$10 to win on #9 Hungarian Princess
$10 exacta: 9 with 7

Thistledown, Race 8: $5,000 claiming (six furlongs, 4:20 p.m. ET)

Speed horses win 54% of 5 1/2-furlong sprints at Thistledown, yet there’s hardly any speed entered in this low-level claimer for fillies and mares.

With that in mind, we’ll take a shot with #5 Majestic Diva (6-1), who occasionally showed frontrunning speed against tougher company out west.

In December, Majestic Diva led essentially gate-to-wire in an $8,000-$7,000 claiming race at Los Alamitos, where she posted an 81 Brisnet Speed rating.

The drop in class at Thistledown should make Majestic Diva a viable threat under hot jockey Yarmarie Correa. If Majestic Diva gets out in front, she can lead the way home over #4 Jilly From Jersey (5-2).

$15 to win on #5 Majestic Diva
$5 exacta: 5 with 4
Total: $20

Carryover Watch

Canterbury Park, Race 5: $91,333 Pick 5

You absolutely don’t want to miss the Pick 5 on Wednesday at Canterbury Park. The 50-cent wager features an ultra-low 10% takeout rate, and following a series of unpredictable results Tuesday, Wednesday’s sequence features an enticing carryover of $91,333.

Maclean Robertson — Canterbury’s all-time leading trainer by wins, earnings, and win percentage — appears poised for a big evening, with horses in four of the Pick 5 races.

Let’s highlight two of Robertson’s most formidable runners, neither of them favored on the morning line. Bold bettors might consider singling these Robertson trainees to keep ticket cost down.

Race 5 (10,000 Lakes S.): #1 Hot Shot Kid (5-2)

Hot Shot Kid boasts a phenomenal 13-4-0 record from 19 starts over the Canterbury Park main track, which includes a comfortable victory over a quality field in last year’s edition of the 10,000 Lakes.

Some folks might worry about the fact Hot Shot Kid kicked off 2021 with an unremarkable fifth-place finish in an optional-claiming allowance at Oaklawn Park. But Hot Shot Kid’s 2020 debut in a similar race was even less encouraging — he finished 10th of 11th — and that didn’t prevent him from coming right back to win the 10,000 Lakes.

Hot Shot Kid can repeat the feat in 2021.

Race 6: #3 Well Read (3-1)

Since 2016, Robertson won 22 of 86 starts with first-time starters over the Canterbury Park main track, a stat that suggests Well Read can be formidable on debut.

The son of Cross Traffic has put together a lengthy work tab, culminating with five furlongs from the Canterbury starting gate in 1:01 3/5. Since morning-line favorite #7 Drama Chorus (9-5) is winless in 10 starts, with a quartet of runner-up efforts, he doesn’t seem like the type to trust at a short price.

Well Read is the more appealing play.

Good luck!