Monday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: $20 exacta at Horseshoe Indianapolis

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Monday, Sept. 28 at Horseshoe Indianapolis, including a cold $20 exacta.

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 September.

Today’s TwinSpires tournaments include:

• $60 Presque Isle Downs Bet and Set Feeder to 10/2 Keeneland KFC Bonus Feeder
• $200 Horseshoe Indianapolis Feeder to 10/4 Keeneland BCBC/NHC Qualifier
• $40 Horseshoe Indianapolis Challenge
• $40 Mountaineer Challenge
• $80 Mountaineer Feeder to 10/3 Keeneland BCBC/NHC Bonus Feeder

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 2: Maiden Special Weight (one mile on dirt, 2:41 p.m. ET)

#1 First Laugh (8-5) looks like a strong threat to win first time out for trainer Brad Cox, who strikes at a 24% rate with horses debuting over one mile or farther.

First Laugh enters off a lengthy work tab highlighted by five furlongs in 1:00 4/5 at Horseshoe Indianapolis, and he’s a son of Upstart, who sires a sharp 15% winners from first-time starters.

Let’s key First Laugh on top of a cold exacta using #5 Kaki (5-1) for second place.

Selections

• #1 First Laugh (8-5)
• #5 Kaki (5-1)
• #4 Prank At Dawn (3-1)

Wagers

• $20 Exacta: 1 with 5

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 4: Maiden Special Weight (5 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 3:43 p.m. ET)

#4 Basil (5-1) might be an 0-for-11 maiden, but he’s run well in a couple of recent sprints at this track and class level, and he doesn’t appear to be facing the toughest field on Monday. Key rival #6 Unresponsive (9-5) has done his best work running long and failed to factor in his lone sprint start, finishing well behind Basil.

A win bet on Basil is in order.

Selections

• #4 Basil (5-1)
• #5 Power Driven (5-1)
• #6 Unresponsive (9-5)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #4 Basil

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 8: Maiden Special Weight (one mile on turf, 5:47 p.m. ET)

#5 Steel Golden (5-2) showed some ability when making his turf debut in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Colonial Downs last month. He pressed a slow pace and took over the lead in midstretch before weakening late to finish second by 1 1/4 lengths.

Trainer Aaron West wins at a 43% rate with horses racing on turf for the second time, suggesting Steel Golden is a serious win threat under hot jockey Emmanuel Esquivel. We’ll bet him to win and key him over #4 Prince of Grace (3-1) and #6 Titan King (10-1) in exacta tickets.

Selections

• #5 Steel Golden (5-2)
• #4 Prince of Grace (3-1)
• #6 Titan King (10-1)

Wagers

• $22 to win on #5 Steel Golden
• $5 Exacta: 5 with 4
• $3 Exacta: 5 with 6
  Total: $30

Good luck!