Friday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Bayou Brigid intrigues at 8-1

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Friday, June 20 at Aqueduct, Churchill Downs, and Gulfstream Park, along with analysis of the $11,299 Pick 5 carryover at Monmouth Park.

Today’s special offers from TwinSpires include:

• New Players $200 Sign-Up Bonus: Open your TwinSpires.com account using the offer code BET200 to start earning a $200 bonus.
• British Racing $10 Money Back: Receive up to $10 back on your first single-horse win wager if your horse runs second in selected British races from May 17 through Aug. 31.
• Churchill Downs Triple Rewards Points: Receive triple rewards point on all wagers (excluding show bets) at Churchill Downs from Wednesday through Friday.
• 10x Points at Meadowlands: Receive 10x reward points on all wagers (excluding show bets) at The Meadowlands each Friday and Saturday in June.
• Hastings Selected Races $10 Money Back: Receive up to $10 back on your first single-horse win bet if your horse runs second or third in select races at Hastings on June 20 and June 27.
• Los Alamitos 15% Win Bonus: Receive a 15% bonus (up to $25 per day) on your winning single-horse win wagers at Los Alamitos each racing date in June and July.

Today’s TwinSpires tournaments include:

• $200 Royal Ascot Cash Feeder to 6/21 Royal Ascot Challenge
• $70 Churchill Downs Challenge
• $200 Churchill Downs Bonus Feeder Friday to 6/21 Churchill Downs SFBC Qualifier
• $120 Charles Town Feeder to 6/27 Churchill Downs SFBC Qualifier

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Aqueduct: Race 1: Maiden Special Weight (5 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 1:10 p.m. ET)

High-percentage trainer Brad Cox has compiled an excellent 10-for-37 (27%) record saddling juveniles on dirt during “Belmont at the Big A” meets at Aqueduct. That includes a 7-for-26 (27%) record with experienced juveniles.

Thus, we’re keen to support Cox’s second-time starter #5 Prince of Broadway (7-2) in this maiden special weight for two-year-old fillies. The daughter of Volatile debuted in a five-furlong maiden special weight over a muddy Aqueduct main track, and she rallied nicely from fifth place to finish third.

Cox wins at a 26% rate with second-time starters, so there’s a good chance Prince of Broadway will improve on Friday. A win bet is in order.

Selections

• #5 Prince of Broadway (7-2)
• #1 Ella Grace (5-2)
• #3 Street Sue (7-2)

Wagers

• $25 to win on #5 Prince of Broadway

Churchill Downs: Race 2: Maiden Special Weight (five furlongs on turf, 1:14 p.m. ET)

#6 Thebabeslayer (6-1) debuted with a deceptively good try over this course, distance, and class level on May 23. He had to steady and check on a couple of occasions while rallying from off the pace, but nevertheless passed several rivals to finish third.

The 75 Brisnet Speed rating Thebabeslayer earned tops Friday’s field, and since Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen wins at a lofty 28% rate with second-time grass starters, Thebabeslayer is worthy of a win bet.

#4 Longshoreman (6-5) can complete the exacta.

Selections

• #6 Thebabeslayer (6-1)
• #4 Longshoreman (6-5)
• #9 Signatory Man (4-1)

Wagers

• $15 to win on #6 Thebabeslayer
• $15 Exacta: 6 with 4
  Total: $30

Gulfstream Park: Race 2: Maiden Special Weight (five furlongs on turf, 1:20 p.m. ET)

#1 Bayou Brigid (8-1) ran well when debuting over this course, distance, and class level last month. After rating in midfield behind a blazing pace, she passed a few rivals to finish second against the stakes-experienced Monster.

If Bayou Brigid improves at all in her second start, she can spring an 8-1 surprise. Let’s bet her to win and hope her odds hold up.

Selections

• #1 Bayou Brigid (8-1)
• #3 Augustinian (2-1)
• #8 Drama (3-1)

Wagers

• $25 to win on #1 Bayou Brigid

Carryover Watch

Monmouth Park: Race 1: $11,299 Pick 5 carryover (2:00 p.m. ET)

The betting highlight of Friday’s card at Monmouth Park is a non-jackpot carryover worth $11,299 in the 50-cent Early Pick 5.

Race 1 is a $16,000 maiden claimer for fillies and mares racing 1 1/16 miles on turf. #6 Pass Failed (5-2) is the favorite while dropping in class off a seventh-place finish in a $40,000 maiden claimer at Monmouth. However, #9 Michaela (3-1)—runner-up in a $16,000 maiden claimer racing one mile over the Tampa Bay Downs turf last month—is a logical alternative under hot jockey Samuel Marin.

Race 2 is a $16,000 starter optional claimer for fillies and mares racing one mile on dirt. Only seven horses have entered, so it’s one of the easier races to handicap. #6 Tavin (5-2) brings sharp Brisnet Speed ratings to the table, but she’s finished second or third in each of her last five starts (mostly in sprints), so she’s not exactly a winning machine. Rivals like #3 Dixie Groove (3-1) and #7 Fast Kimmie (3-1)—the latter shipping in from New York—have chances to challenge on their best day.

Trainer Chad Brown has been on fire at Monmouth this meet, going 9-for-24 (38%), and he has a strong chance to win Race 3, a maiden special weight for fillies and mares racing 1 1/16 miles on turf. Brown has entered #5 Rescue Me (6-1), who is adding Lasix off a long series of workouts leading up to her 2025 debut, and #8 High Note (5-2), a capable dirt runner trying grass for the first time. If anyone can upend the Brown trainees, it might be #3 Restless Dreamer (4-1), who finished a troubled fourth over this course, distance, and class level on May 25.

Race 4 is a $5,000 starter allowance taking place over 5 1/2 furlongs on dirt. #1 Magical Warrior (3-1) has won his last two starts at the $5,000 claiming level and looms a logical win threat in his first start for trainer Jamie Ness, a 28% winner with new claiming acquisitions. His main rival is #4 Face Abarrio (2-1), runner-up to the red-hot He’s in Charge in a $5,000 starter allowance sprint at Monmouth last month.

The Early Pick 5 wraps up in Race 5, a $12,500 claimer for fillies and mares dashing five furlongs on turf. #1 On the Payroll (8-5) is dropping in class out of $25,000 claimers and won a 5 1/2-furlong turf allowance at Monmouth last year, so it’s easy to see why she’s the favorite. But #6 Bold Baby (4-1) has the Brisnet Speed rating to factor if she thrives in her turf debut, and the main-track-only entrants #9 Awesome Pic (9-2) and #10 Bertie’s Cause (4-1) are must-use contenders if this race gets rained off the turf.

Good luck!