Monday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Stakes at Finger Lakes

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for three stakes on Monday, Sept. 21 at Finger Lakes.

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:

• $82 Presque Isle Downs Bet and Set Feeder to 9/26 Laurel Park Autumn Challenge
• $40 Horseshoe Indianapolis Challenge
• $200 Horseshoe Indianapolis Feeder to 9/26 Churchill Downs KFC/BCBC Qualifier
• $40 Mountaineer Challenge
• $80 Mountaineer Feeder to 9/25 Churchill Downs KFC/BCBC Bonus Feeder

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Finger Lakes: Race 2: Lady Finger S. (5 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 1:24 p.m. ET)

The fastest horse in this field from a Brisnet Speed rating perspective is #5 Sun Kissed Bliss (8-5). She debuted in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight for New York-breds at Saratoga, in which she led all the way to trounce nine rivals by 5 1/2 lengths with a 77 Brisnet Speed rating.

Sun Kissed Bliss has a strong chance to bring her record to 2-for-2 in the Lady Finger. We’ll single her to start a daily double.

Selections

• #5 Sun Kissed Bliss (8-5)
• #3 Sweet Sugar Pie (7-2)
• #2 Pwr of Persistence (3-1)

Wagers

• $30 Double: 5 with 1

Finger Lakes: Race 3: Aspirant S. (5 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 1:53 p.m. ET)

#1 Covered Option (5-2) was much the best in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Saratoga last month. After tracking the pace in third place, he took over to crush nine rivals by 8 1/4 lengths, earning a flashy 86 Brisnet Speed rating.

None of the other Aspirant entrants have earned a Brisnet Speed rating higher than 78, so we’ll single Covered Option to conclude our double wager, then bet him over #4 D I Wire (2-1) in an exacta.

Selections

• #1 Covered Option (5-2)
• #4 D I Wire (2-1)
• #7 Comical Mischief (5-1)

Wagers

• $10 Exacta: 1 with 4

Finger Lakes: Race 7: Ontario County S. (six furlongs on dirt, 3:49 p.m. ET)

#5 Valentine Crusader (5-1) competed twice at Saratoga last year. He finished second in a pair of maiden special weights, beaten only a nose each time. In his second start, he earned an 89 Brisnet Speed rating, the highest number belonging to any horse entered in the Ontario County.

Valentine Crusader hasn’t raced in 13 months, but he’s posted quick workouts in advance of his return, including a bullet half-mile in :46 at Belmont Park. Trainer Amelia Green has been hot at Finger Lakes this meet, going 3-for-5 (60%), so let’s take a shot betting Valentine Crusader to win.

Selections

• #5 Valentine Crusader (5-1)
• #7 Stickupwithoutagun (2-1)
• #3 Three Thirteen (4-1)

Wagers

• $25 to win on #5 Valentine Crusader

Good luck!