Monday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Double at Will Rogers Downs

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Monday, March 23 at Will Rogers Downs and Sunland Park, including a cold daily double.

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 Rewards Points at Woodbine Mohawk: Receive 5x rewards points on all wagers at Woodbine Mohawk each racing Monday in March.

Today’s TwinSpires tournaments include:

• $40 Parx Challenge
• $200 Parx Feeder to 3/28 Arkansas Derby KDBC Qualifier

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Will Rogers Downs: Race 3: $7,500 Maiden Claiming (one mile on dirt, 3:14 p.m. ET)

#4 Empire Ranch (4-5) is dropping in class out of much tougher maiden claimers at Churchill Downs and Oaklawn Park. Last fall, he was beaten only 3 1/2 lengths when fourth in a $50,000 maiden claimer racing one mile at Churchill.

Trainer Scott Young wins at a 26% rate with horses dropping multiple levels down the class ladder, and hot jockey Floyd Wethey Jr. (a 23% winner at Will Rogers Downs this meet) is named to ride, so let’s single Empire Ranch to start a double wager.

Selections

• #4 Empire Ranch (4-5)
• #2 Mo Mesa (5-1)
• #8 Gospel Don (6-1)

Wagers

• $20 Double: 4 with 5

Will Rogers Downs: Race 4: $7,500 Starter Allowance (5 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 3:41 p.m. ET)

#5 Beau Day (3-1) has gone 2-for-2 at Will Rogers Downs this year. First, he wired a six-furlong $7,500 claimer by two lengths, earning a career-best 82 Brisnet Speed rating. Then he earned an 80 Brisnet Speed rating when surviving a speed duel to win a 5 1/2-furlong $10,000 claimer by 2 1/4 lengths.

Beau Day appears well spotted to snag a third straight win in this $7,500 starter allowance. Let’s single him to conclude our double wager, then key him over #3 Knicks Story (7-2) in an exacta.

Selections

• #5 Beau Day (3-1)
• #3 Knicks Story (7-2)
• #2 Bobwhite Bobby (2-1)

Wagers

• $15 Exacta: 5 with 3

Sunland Park: Race 10: Maiden Special Weight (5 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 6:20 p.m. ET)

#1 My Nekoda (2-1) debuted with a runner-up finish over this track, distance, and class level on Feb. 23. He was beaten only three-quarters of a length while earning a 68 Brisnet Speed rating that ranks as one of the highest numbers in Monday’s field.

Trainer Joel Marr wins at a strong 23% rate with second-time starters, so let’s place a large win bet on My Nekoda.

Selections

• #1 My Nekoda (2-1)
• #9 Made American (4-1)
• #5 Mark My Kiss (6-1)

Wagers

• $35 to win on #1 My Nekoda

Good luck!