Monday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: A pair of 3-1 shots

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Monday, March 11 at Mahoning Valley, Will Rogers Downs, and Turf Paradise, including win bets on a couple of 3-1 shots.

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Best Bets and Quick Picks

Mahoning Valley: Race 7: Allowance (5 1/2 furlongs, 3:43 p.m. ET)

#9 Wildcat Express (3-1) has tons of early speed and regularly puts it to good use. He’s led all the way to win six of his last eight starts, including a couple of $8,000 starter allowances sprinting 5 1/2-furlongs against Ohio-bred company at Mahoning Valley.

Those victories yielded strong Brisnet Speed ratings of 89 and 90. Wildcat Express was subsequently beaten to second place in a non-state-restricted six-furlong allowance at Mahoning, but he set a strong pace that day and earned another 89 Brisnet Speed rating even in defeat. He holds a Brisnet Speed rating advantage against Monday’s field and should be tough to catch under hot jockey Jose Bracho.

We’ll place a win bet on Wildcat Express, then add in a small exacta using #5 Moester (7-2) for second place.

Selections

• #9 Wildcat Express (3-1)
• #5 Moester (7-2)
• #1 Mutiny (6-1)

Wagers

• $25 to win on #9 Wildcat Express (3-1)
• $5 Exacta: 9 with 5
  Total: $30

Will Rogers Downs: Race 5: $30,000 Handicap (one mile, 4:03 p.m. ET)

#2 Mandolin Wind (9-5) broke his maiden racing one mile at Will Rogers Downs last spring, and he’s improved a lot since then. On Nov. 17, he pressed the pace on his way to winning a one-mile $20,000 claimer at Remington Park by 6 3/4 lengths. On Dec. 9, he charged from a couple lengths off the pace to win an allowance over the same track and distance by 5 3/4 lengths.

Those victories produced strong Brisnet Speed ratings of 87 and 89. Mandolin Wind looks ready to win right back while sticking to his preferred one-mile trip, so we’ll bet him to win and throw in an exacta using #4 United Patriot (6-2) for second place.

Selections

• #2 Mandolin Wind (9-5)
• #4 United Patriot (6-1)
• #5 Tommyhawk (8-5)

Wagers

• $22 to win on #2 Mandolin Wind
• $8 Exacta: 2 with 4
  Total: $30

Turf Paradise: Race 7: $20,000 Allowance Optional Claiming (six furlongs, 7:14 p.m. ET)

#2 Blessed Angel (3-1) has won three straight $16,000 and $20,000 claimers at Santa Anita, Los Alamitos, and Turf Paradise. She led all the way in two of them, including a 5 1/2-furlong sprint at Turf Paradise in which she set strong fractions of :22.09 and :44.12.

That victory produced a strong 91 Brisnet Speed rating, the highest number in Monday’s field. Blessed Angel has every chance to record a fourth straight victory for hot trainer Vann Belvoir (a 25% winner at Turf Paradise this meet), so a large win bet is in order.

Selections

• #2 Blessed Angel (3-1)
• #1 Sailing Along (4-1)
• #7 Alberta Sun (7-2)

Wagers

• $30 to win on #2 Blessed Angel

Good luck!