Monday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Authentic Charm at 5-1

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Monday, Nov. 3 at Zia Park, Horseshoe Indianapolis, and Mountaineer, including a first-time starter at 5-1.

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.
• 5x Points at Woodbine Mohawk: Receive 5x points on all wagers (excluding show bets) at Woodbine Mohawk each Monday in November.

Today’s TwinSpires tournaments include:

• $40 Horseshoe Indianapolis Challenge
• $100 Horseshoe Indianapolis Feeder to 11/8 Churchill Downs CBC Qualifier
• $100 Mountaineer Feeder to 11/16 Churchill Downs KDBC Qualifier

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Zia Park: Race 1: Maiden Special Weight (five furlongs on dirt, 2:05 p.m. ET)

Since 2020, trainer Joel Marr has compiled a sharp 9-for-34 (26%) record saddling experienced juveniles at Zia Park.

This bodes well for #3 Authentic Charm (5-1), who is making her first start for Marr after finishing fifth, eighth, and ninth in maiden special weights on the Kentucky circuit. She figures to find the competition easier at Zia Park, setting the stage for an upset victory over first-time starter #7 Coffee Connection (3-5).

Selections

• #3 Authentic Charm (5-1)
• #7 Coffee Connection (3-5)
• #4 Velvet Billet (8-1)

Wagers

• $22 to win on #3 Authentic Charm
• $8 Exacta: 3 with 7
  Total: $30

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 8: $20,000 Maiden Claiming (5 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 5:47 p.m. ET)

#3 Justice Addition (7-2) trained for her debut in Kentucky and made her first racing appearance in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Keeneland. Unfortunately, after dueling for half a mile, she tired to finish eighth.

Dropping sharply in class for a $20,000 maiden claimer at Horseshoe Indianapolis should help Justice Addition carry her speed to the winner’s circle for hot trainer Brad Cox, a 28% winner with horses descending from maiden special weight to maiden claiming company.

A large win bet is in order.

Selections

• #3 Justice Addition (7-2)
• #10 Spirit Moves Me (6-1)
• #4 My Raquel (9-2)

Wagers

• $40 to win on #3 Justice Addition

Mountaineer: Race 1: Maiden Special Weight (six furlongs on dirt, 7:00 p.m. ET)

#5 Springs (4-1) has shown flashes of ability competing in California. Two starts back, he ran second (beaten only three-quarters of a length) in a six-furlong $12,500 maiden claimer at Los Alamitos. He’s since been transferred to the care of trainer Jose Silva, who strikes at a 30% rate with horses running for the first time under his care.

Although Springs is technically climbing the class ladder into a maiden special weight, the shift to Mountaineer makes him a good fit for Monday’s six-furlong dash. The par winning Brisnet Speed rating for these conditions is only 74, and Springs earned a 76 at Los Alamitos.

Let’s bet Springs to win and key him over Kentucky raider #9 Frosty Beer (9-5) in an exacta.

Selections

• #5 Springs (4-1)
• #9 Frosty Beer (9-5)
• #4 Briarcliff (12-1)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #5 Springs
• $10 Exacta: 5 with 9
  Total: $30

Good luck!