Monday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Speed is the key for Availability

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Monday, Nov. 18 at Mahoning Valley, Turf Paradise, and Zia Park.

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Best Bets and Quick Picks

Mahoning Valley: Race 4: $5,000 Maiden Claiming (one mile and 70 yards on dirt, 2:08 p.m. ET)

There’s very little speed in this field, and possible pacesetter #1 Turbo Trip (9-2) might not want to run this far, so we’ll throw our support behind #7 Availability (5-2). The three-year-old gelding often shows tactical speed, and two starts back he finished third in a one-mile maiden special weight at Thistledown.

A win bet on Availability is the way we’ll play.

Selections

• #7 Availability (5-2)
• #4 Convert (9-5)
• #1 Turbo Trip (9-2)

Wagers

• $30 to win on #7 Availability

Turf Paradise: Race 7: $50,000 Allowance Optional Claiming (six furlongs on dirt, 5:04 p.m. ET)

#3 A Thousand Miles (3-1) has placed in multiple stakes at Emerald Downs. Last time out, she squared off against males in the Gottstein Futurity and finished second by a neck, earning a 73 Brisnet Speed rating.

Now A Thousand Miles is returning to the filly ranks for a $50,000 allowance optional claimer. None of her rivals have posted a Brisnet Speed rating higher than 71, so A Thousand Miles looms as a logical win threat.

#2 Sapello La Fina (5-2), a capable sprinter who finished ahead of A Thousand Miles in an August stakes, can complete the exacta.

Selections

• #3 A Thousand Miles (3-1)
• #2 Sapello La Fina (5-2)
• #1 Welcometohollywood (7-2)

Wagers

• $15 to win on #3 A Thousand Miles
• $15 Exacta: 3 with 2
  Total: $30

Zia Park: Race 8: $15,000 Maiden Claiming (5 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 5:21 p.m. ET)

#4 Ulooklikeuloveme (5-2) looks ready to win on debut for trainer Dick Cappellucci. The two-year-old filly enters off a fast half-mile workout from the Zia Park starting gate in :46 4/5, and she’ll be guided by hot jockey Harry Hernandez, a 30% winner teaming up with Cappellucci over the last two months.

Let’s keep things simple with a win bet on Ulooklikeuloveme.

Selections

• #4 Ulooklikeuloveme (5-2)
• #5 Bonnie Mae’s Mark (9-5)
• #2 Sis Spender (4-1)

Wagers

• $30 to win on #4 Ulooklikeuloveme

Good luck!