Picks: $17,329 Pick 5 carryover, KDBC/NHC Qualifier tournament

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares horse to bet in a Pick 5 carryover at Laurel Park and a TwinSpires tournament involving Fair Grounds and Tampa Bay Downs.

Laurel Park: Race 6: $17,329 Pick 5 carryover

A non-jackpot $17,329 carryover in the 50-cent Late Pick 5 is the highlight of Saturday’s card at Laurel Park.

Need a trustworthy single to build tickets around? Our best suggestion is #7 C’est Chouette (5-2) in Race 8, a $62,500 allowance optional claimer for three-year-old fillies racing one mile on dirt.

C’est Chouette has shown promise in sprints. She dominated a $45,000 maiden claimer by 4 1/4 lengths, then ran second in the Shamrock Rose S. Those efforts earned back-to-back 77 Brisnet Speed ratings, which stack up well in Race 8.

As a daughter of Gun Runner out of a mare by Smart Strike, C’est Chouette has the pedigree to relish stretching out over one mile. Her main rival, #5 Noble Status (3-1), is a deep closer who may fall farther off the pace than ideal, so we feel confident recommending C’est Chouette as a single.

$1,000 Fair Grounds/Tampa Bay Downs KDBC/NHC Qualifier tournament

The Saturday cards at Fair Grounds and Tampa Bay Downs are the focus of a KDBC/NHC Qualifier tournament on TwinSpires.com.

Bettors must wager their entire $500 bankroll across at least six races (minimum $40 per race) between Fair Grounds and Tampa Bay Downs. The prizes include as many as two entries into the National Horseplayers Championship (NHC); multiple entries into the Kentucky Derby Betting Challenge (KDBC) may be awarded as well.

At Tampa, one of the feature events on the card is Race 6, the Gasparilla S. for three-year-old fillies sprinting seven furlongs on dirt. #3 Tessellate (1-1) is the heavy favorite after smashing the 6 1/2-furlong Juvenile Fillies Sprint S. at Gulfstream Park by 13 lengths, earning a flashy 96 Brisnet Speed rating that towers over the Gasparilla field.

We suggest tournament bettors play Tessellate on top of cold exacta and trifecta tickets using Tampa maiden winner #4 Lightscape (3-1) and the stakes-placed #2 Love Like Lucy (9-2) underneath.

• $30 Exacta: 3 with 4
• $10 Trifecta: 3 with 4 with 2
  Total: $40

At Fair Grounds, three stakes are on the agenda. One is Race 5, the Bob F. Wright Memorial S. for Louisiana-bred fillies and mares dashing six furlongs on dirt.

#5 Secret Faith (3-5) is a head away from being unbeaten in 12 starts against Louisiana-breds. She’s an obvious favorite, but she’s had a few close battles with #1 Blue Fire (9-5), the only Louisiana-bred to ever defeat Secret Faith. They finished only half a length apart when 1-2 in the six-furlong Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Sprint S. at Fair Grounds last month, and Blue Fire—who is rounding back to peak form—may be able to turn the tables on Saturday.

We suggest boxing Secret Faith and Blue Fire in the top two slots of a trifecta using #6 Six String (6-1) for third place.

• $20 Trifecta: 1,5 with 1,5 with 6 ($40)

Good luck!