Monday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: T’ Ray can win Tapeta return

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Monday, June 1 at Finger Lakes, Presque Isle Downs, and Assiniboia Downs, including a pair of exactas.

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Today’s TwinSpires tournaments include:

• $80 Parx Feeder to 6/5 Belmont at Saratoga Bonus Feeder
• $40 Parx Challenge
• $46 Presque Isle Downs Bet and Set Feeder to 6/4 Belmont at Saratoga SFBC Qualifier
• $64 Mountaineer Feeder to 6/12 Churchill Downs Bonus Feeder
• $40 Mountaineer Challenge

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Finger Lakes: Race 6: Maiden Special Weight (six furlongs on dirt, 3:25 p.m. ET)

#6 Poppy’s Ticket (4-1) has recorded a trio of top-three finishes while competing on the New York Racing Association circuit. Along the way, he’s earned Brisnet Speed ratings as high as 86 and 82.

The par winning Brisnet Speed rating for Monday’s conditions is only 76, so Poppy’s Ticket figures to find the competition easier at Finger Lakes. He’s a logical win threat for the red-hot jockey/trainer duo of Andre Worrie and Chris Englehart (41% winners teaming up together over the last two months), so let’s place a win bet on the gray gelding and play him over #9 Senor Poncho (6-1) in a small exacta.

Selections

• #6 Poppy’s Ticket (4-1)
• #9 Senor Poncho (6-1)
• #4 Kings Dancer (3-1)

Wagers

• $30 to win on #6 Poppy’s Ticket
• $5 Exacta: 6 with 9
  Total: $35

Presque Isle Downs: Race 1: $15,000 Maiden Claiming (one mile on Tapeta, 3:30 p.m. ET)

#3 T’ Ray (6-1) ran well in his lone previous try in a route race on Tapeta. In a one-mile $15,000 maiden claimer at Turfway Park, he dueled for the lead before weakening slightly to finish second.

Even in defeat, T’ Ray earned a respectable 71 Brisnet Speed rating, which is only one point lower than the par winning number for Monday’s conditions at Presque Isle Downs. Returning to Tapeta after a misfire on dirt should put T’ Ray in win contention for red-hot trainer Scooter Davis, who has gone 5-for-12 (42%) at Presque Isle this meet.

A win bet is in order.

Selections

• #3 T’ Ray (6-1)
• #1 Speaker’s Lobby (5-2)
• #2 Leo Q (5-1)

Wagers

• $30 to win on #3 T’ Ray

Assiniboia Downs: Race 1: $7,500 Maiden Claiming (5 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 8:30 p.m. ET)

The fastest horse in this field from a Brisnet Speed rating standpoint is #3 Run Matteo Run (3-1). In six of his seven starts at Woodbine, he’s earned Brisnet Speed ratings in the 68-74 range, which tower over the par winning number (63) for Monday’s conditions.

Run Matteo Run’s pedigree suggests he’ll handle switching from Tapeta to dirt, so let’s bet him to win and key him over #1 Red Dirt Alley (7-5) in an exacta.

Selections

• #3 Run Matteo Run (3-1)
• #1 Red Dirt Alley (7-5)
• #5 Cashflow (2-1)

Wagers

• $27 to win on #3 Run Matteo Run
• $8 Exacta: 3 with 1
  Total: $35

Good luck!