Picks: $1,000 Haskell tournament and Ellis, Colonial carryovers

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks for the $1,000 Haskell Handicapping Challenge tournament and Saturday carryovers at Ellis Park and Colonial Downs.

Monmouth Park: Races 1-14: $1,000 Haskell Handicapping Challenge

TwinSpires bettors can participate in the $1,000 Haskell Handicapping Challenge tournament, which requires betting a $500 bankroll across at least five races on Saturday at Monmouth Park. At least $100 must be wagered in a given race for that race to count toward the five-race minimum.

If you want to bank some cash early in the day, try betting #4 Navesink Pirate (9-2) in Race 1, a $16,000 maiden claimer taking place over 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Navesink Pirate made his grass debut in a one-mile $40,000 maiden claimer at Monmouth last month. He opened up a daylight lead through quick pace fractions, then tired in the final furlong to finish second.

If Navesink Pirate secures a more relaxed lead in his second turf start, he can hold off deep-closing favorite #1 Tail Risk (9-5) to spring a surprise.

Here are the tournament bets we recommend:

• $75 to win on #4 Navesink Pirate
• $25 Exacta: 4 with 1
  Total: $100

Ellis Park: Race 1: $2,866 Super High 5 carryover (12:50 p.m. ET)

Friday’s opening race at Ellis Park features a $2,866 Super High 5 carryover.

Race 1 is a maiden special weight for fillies and mares racing 1 1/16 miles on turf. #7 Define (2-1), formerly based in Europe, is a logical favorite for red-hot trainer Brendan Walsh, who has gone 10-for-19 (53%) at Ellis Park this meet.

Define has shown flashes of ability competing on turf and synthetic and is adding Lasix for her U.S. debut. Walsh wins at a 29% rate with horses shipping to the U.S., so we recommend taking a stand and keying Define on top in the Super High 5.

Colonial Downs: Race 4: $3,859 Pick 6 carryover (12:51 p.m. ET)
Colonial Downs: Race 5: $24,491 Pick 5 carryover (1:18 p.m. ET)

Because racing was canceled at Colonial Downs on Friday due to poor air quality, the $3,859 Pick 6 carryover and $24,491 Late Pick 5 carryover originally slated for Friday will instead be available to chase on Saturday—assuming, of course, air quality improves and racing proceeds as scheduled.

The Late Pick 5 overlaps with the Pick 6, and the feature event in both sequences is Race 8, the $100,000 Maggie L. Walker S. Eight fillies and mares are set to battle over one mile on the main track, and #5 Irish Maxima (3-1) is a formidable win threat.

Irish Maxima has led all the way to win three straight races. First, she trounced a seven-furlong $75,000 allowance optional claimer at Aqueduct by 4 1/4 lengths over 2025 Hurricane Bertie (G3) winner Nic’s Style. Then Irish Maxima smashed a seven-furlong $100,000 allowance optional claimer at Parx Racing by 6 1/2 lengths.

In her most recent race, Irish Maxima stepped up in class for the one-mile Ruffian (G2) at Aqueduct. She opened up a daylight lead through fast pace fractions, then dug deep in the homestretch to hang on and win by one length.

Irish Maxima brings strong Brisnet Speed ratings into the Maggie L. Walker and should be tough to catch. We recommend singling her in both the Pick 6 and the Late Pick 5.

Good luck!