Best bets for Sunday tournaments at Tampa and Fair Grounds

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for a trio of TwinSpires tournaments involving the Sunday cards at Tampa Bay Downs and Fair Grounds.

$200 Tampa Bay Downs Feeder to 2/7 Sam F. Davis KDBC/NHC Qualifier

This Feeder tournament requires bettors to wager their entire $100 bankroll across at least five races (minimum $10 per race) at Tampa Bay Downs. Assuming there are at least 10 entries, the winner will receive an entry into the Feb. 7 $1,000 Sam F. Davis KDBC/NHC Qualifier tournament on TwinSpires.

If you want to build your bankroll early, we have a bet to recommend in Race 1, a $5,000 claimer for fillies and mares who haven’t won two races since Aug. 1. The six-furlong dirt dash looks ripe for conquest by #7 Bramble Bush (9-5). She’s finished second in her last two starts sprinting against $6,250 and $8,000 claiming competition at Tampa and should be tough to beat while dropping in class and picking up hot jockey Samy Camacho.

We suggest betting Bramble Bush on top of a trifecta using #3 Foxy Lady (3-1) and #4 Captured Darling (7-2) underneath. Both are dropping in class and bring competitive Brisnet Speed ratings to the table.

• Tampa Bay Downs Race 1: $5 Trifecta: 7 with 3,4 with 3,4 ($10)

$70 Fair Grounds Challenge
$160 Fair Grounds Feeder to 2/14 Risen Star KDBC Qualifier

Fair Grounds is the focus of two tournaments. The Challenge tournament requires betting your $50 bankroll across at least five races at Fair Grounds, with cash prizes up for grabs. The Feeder tournament boosts the bankroll to $80, and at least $8 must be wagered in a given race for it to count toward the five-race minimum.

The higher stakes for the Feeder tournament come with a greater reward. Assuming there are 10 or more entries, at least one entry into the Feb. 14 Risen Star KDBC Qualifier tournament on TwinSpires will be awarded.

Whether you choose to play the Challenge or the Feeder, you can build your bankroll early with a daily double starting in Race 1, a six-furlong $5,000 claimer for Louisiana-breds who have never won two races. #1 Louisiana Wildlife (9-5) finished a strong second over this track, distance, and class level last month, beaten only 2 1/4 lengths by a next-out winner while pulling 11 1/4 lengths clear of the third-place finisher.

A similar performance on Sunday should make Louisiana Wildlife tough to beat, so we’ll single him to start our double.

The second leg is Race 2, a $50,000 starter optional claimer for three-year-old fillies racing one mile and 70 yards. #5 You’re In Heaven (7-5) trounced a six-furlong $75,000 maiden optional claimer at Oaklawn Park last time out, setting a fast pace on her way to victory by 6 1/4 lengths. The 88 Brisnet Speed rating she earned towers over Sunday’s field, and her pedigree suggests stretching out around two turns won’t be an issue. We suggest singling You’re In Heaven in the double.

• Fair Grounds Race 1: $10 Double: 1 with 5

Good luck!