Keeler Johnson's picks and plays of July 18

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Tuesday, July 18 at Horseshoe Indianapolis, Presque Isle Downs, and Assiniboia Downs, including a bevy of exactas.

Today’s special offers from TwinSpires include:

• Trifecta Tuesday: Receive a 15% bonus on trifecta winnings excluding stake amount; up to $25 per day.

Picks and Plays

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 4: $12,500 Maiden Claiming (five furlongs, 4:03 p.m. ET)

#8 Simply Complicated (6-1) is dropping in class after finishing second in a $20,000 maiden claimer sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs over the Horseshoe Indianapolis main track. Since Tuesday's contest has been rained off the turf, Simply Complicated—with her affinity for dirt and solid tactical speed—looms as the runner to beat.

#2 Mahomebred (7-2), runner-up in a $10,000 maiden claimer at Churchill Downs last time out, can complete a cold exacta.

Selections

• #8 Simply Complicated (6-1)
• #2 Mahomebred (7-2)
• #5 Dream Trap (12-1)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #8 Simply Complicated
• $10 Exacta: 8 with 2
  Total: $30

Presque Isle Downs: Race 6: Maiden Special Weight (4 1/2 furlongs on Tapeta, 5:15 p.m. ET)

#6 Hector (7-2) looks ready to win for trainer Ron Potts, who has gone 6-for-28 (21%) debuting juveniles at Presque Isle Downs since 2018. A two-year-old son of Maclean’s Music (who sires a sharp 16% winners from first-time starters), Hector enters off a pair of fast half-mile workouts at Presque Isle, including a bullet move from the starting gate in :46 4/5.

At 7-2, Hector is worth betting to win and playing over #2 Uncle Kenny (3-1) in the exacta.

Selections

• #6 Hector (7-2)
• #2 Uncle Kenny (3-1)
• #7 Face Down (5-1)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #6 Hector
• $10 Exacta: 6 with 2
  Total: $30

Assiniboia Downs: Race 6: Canada S. (7 1/2 furlongs, 10:40 p.m. ET)

#4 Burrow Down (2-1) is unbeaten in four starts at Assiniboia Downs, highlighted by a trio of blowout stakes wins last year. The daughter of Connect recently returned to Assiniboia with a gritty triumph in the La Verendrye S. sprinting six furlongs, a distance possibly shorter than her best.

Stretching back out over 7 1/2 furlongs (the distance over which she obliterated the 2022 Jack Hardy S. by 12 1/2 lengths) should allow Burrow Down to record a fifth victory from as many starts at Assiniboia. Let’s key her over #2 Melisandre (5-2) and #7 Texas Rain (25-1) in the exacta.

Selections

• #4 Burrow Down (2-1)
• #2 Melisandre (5-2)
• #7 Texas Rain (25-1)

Wagers

• $20 Exacta: 4 with 2
• $10 Exacta: 4 with 7
  Total: $30

Good luck!