Friday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Presque Isle’s $4,045 Pick 5 carryover

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Friday, Aug. 14 at Presque Isle Downs, Del Mar, and Prairie Meadows, including a ticket for Presque Isle’s $4,045 Pick 5 carryover.

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.
• 8x Rewards Points at Woodbine Mohawk: Opt in and receive 8x rewards points on all wagers at Woodbine Mohawk each racing day in August.
• Late Pick 5 Insurance at Colonial Downs: Opt in to receive up to $50 back on your Late Pick 5 wagers at Colonial Downs if you have four out of five winning legs, each racing Friday in August.
• 15% Odds Boost at Saratoga: Opt in to receive a 15% odds boost (up to $25 per day) on your winning single-horse win wagers at Saratoga each racing Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday in August.

Today’s TwinSpires tournaments include:

• $68 Saratoga Bet and Set Feeder to 8/16 Saratoga King of the Turf Qualifier
• $50 Colonial Downs Challenge
• $200 Colonial Downs Feeder to 8/22 Saratoga KDBC/BCBC Qualifier
• $400 Woodbine Bonus Qualifier Friday to 8/15 King's Plate Contest
• $240 Saratoga Bonus Feeder Friday to 8/16 Saratoga SSBC Qualifier
• $40 Saratoga Challenge
• $150 Saratoga Challenge
• $40 Charles Town Challenge
• $80 Charles Town Feeder to 8/21 Saratoga KDBC/BCBC Bonus Feeder

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Presque Isle Downs: Race 4: Maiden Special Weight (5 1/2 furlongs on Tapeta, 1:51 p.m. ET)

#1 Pretty Boy Bubba (3-1) might have won his debut dashing five furlongs at this track and class level on July 27, except he ran into traffic repeatedly around the turn and down the homestretch. Even still, he was beaten only three-quarters of a length while finishing third.

With a clean trip in his second start, Pretty Boy Bubba has a strong chance to graduate. Let’s bet him to win and key him over first-time starter #5 Walker (9-2) in an exacta.

Selections

• #1 Pretty Boy Bubba (3-1)
• #5 Walker (9-2)
• #4 Sushi Party (7-2)

Wagers

• $25 to win on #1 Pretty Boy Bubba
• $5 Exacta: 1 with 5
  Total: $30

Del Mar: Race 2: Maiden Special Weight (one mile on turf, 5:30 p.m. ET)

#5 Queenofthewild (7-2) showed some ability in a five-furlong maiden race at Navan in Ireland. She ran second by one length and finished a head better than the colt Hanney Boy, who came back to run a close third in the Tipperary S. in his next start.

Queenofthewild has since shipped to the U.S. and transferred to the care of trainer Phil D’Amato. D’Amato wins at a 24% rate with horses running long for the first time, so we’ll count on Queenofthewild to deliver victory in her route debut.

Selections

• #5 Queenofthewild (7-2)
• #4 Let Her Fly (5-2)
• #1 Janie Not Jeanie (4-1)

Wagers

• $30 to win on #5 Queenofthewild

Prairie Meadows: Race 10: Prairie Meadows Debutante S. (six furlongs on dirt, 9:51 p.m. ET)

#9 Cruisin in Harmony (10-1) crushed her debut in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Hawthorne, beating a next-out winner by 5 3/4 lengths. Then she tackled a six-furlong allowance at Ellis Park and ran second by two lengths, earning an 80 Brisnet Speed rating that stacks up well against the Prairie Meadows Debutante field.

Cruisin in Harmony looms as a viable win threat for the hot jockey/trainer duo of Victor Lara and Harry Lynch. Let’s place a win bet on the chestnut filly, then key her over unbeaten Prairie Gold Lassie S. winner #4 Wild Vekoma (5-2) in an exacta.

Selections

• #9 Cruisin in Harmony (10-1)
• #4 Wild Vekoma (5-2)
• #12 C C’s Gift (15-1)

Wagers

• $25 to win on #9 Cruisin in Harmony
• $5 Exacta: 9 with 4
  Total: $30

Carryover Watch

Presque Isle Downs: Race 1: $4,045 Pick 5 carryover (12:50 p.m. ET)

The Friday card at Presque Isle Downs includes a $4,045 carryover in the 50-cent Early Pick 5.

Here's how we'll bet the sequence:

Wager

• 50-cent Pick 5: 1,2,5 with 1,6 with 1,3,4,5,6 with 1,5 with 3,6 ($60)

Race 1: $12,500 Claiming (one mile on Tapeta)

#1 Rachael’s Wagon (9-5) and #2 Duck Hunter (2-1) finished a neck apart when second and third at this track and class level on July 27. They’re logical contenders again, but we’ll also consider July 27 fifth-place finisher #5 Gideon (4-1), who finished second at this track and class level two starts back. He has tactical speed and could sit a favorable trip in this small field.

Race 2: $5,000 Claiming (one mile and 70 yards on Tapeta)

#1 Inanna’s Quest (7-2) beat many of her Friday rivals when finishing second at this track, distance, and class level on July 27. But in June, she finished behind #6 Bravo Kitten (2-1) in a $6,250 claimer, and Bravo Kitten looms as a formidable win contender while dropping in class for high-percentage trainer Brandon Kulp.

Race 3: $25,000 Claiming (6 1/2 furlongs on Tapeta)

This six-horse field looks highly competitive on paper. We’ll spread deep with #1 Wicked Genius (9-2), #3 The Boy’s Warrior (9-5), #4 Jimmy the Hat (4-1), #5 Rocket Dragon (3-1), and #6 Saint Goar (10-1).

Race 4: Maiden Special Weight (5 1/2 furlongs on Tapeta)

As outlined previously, #1 Pretty Boy Bubba (3-1) is our top choice to win this maiden sprint for juveniles. But for Pick 5 purposes, we’ll also include #5 Walker (9-2) from the barn of S. Matthew Kintz, who wins at a solid 15% rate with horses debuting at the maiden special weight level.

Race 5: $6,250 Claiming (5 1/2 furlongs on Tapeta)

#6 Hightail Fox (5-2) is a logical favorite after finishing second by half a length at this track and class level on July 28. However, #3 Paul’s Guitar (9-2) could have upset potential. He’s struggled on dirt and turf as of late, but he won his lone start on Tapeta last December, taking a $15,000 maiden claimer at Turfway Park.

Good luck!