Thursday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Colonial Downs kicks off

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Thursday, March 12 at Colonial Downs and Turfway Park, emphasizing the opening-day action of Colonial’s three-day Virginia Derby meet.

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.
• 3 for $3,000 Exacta Hit It & Split It at Turfway Park: Hit three exacta wagers in separate races at Turfway Park to a split a $3,000 prize pool each racing Thursday in March.

Today’s TwinSpires tournaments include:

• $40 Colonial Downs Challenge
• $200 Colonial Downs Feeder to 3/28 Arkansas Derby KDBC Qualifier
• $50 Oaklawn Challenge
• $200 Oaklawn Feeder to 3/14 Virginia Derby/Oaklawn KDBC Qualifier
• $50 Turfway Park Challenge
• $200 Turfway Park Feeder to 3/21 Louisiana Derby/Jeff Ruby KDBC Qualifier

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Colonial Downs: Race 2: $62,500 Allowance Optional Claiming (one mile on dirt, 1:00 p.m. ET)

#5 Code Review (5-2) showed promise when debuting in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park, leading all the way through quick fractions to win by 1 1/2 lengths with an 81 Brisnet Speed rating.

Code Review appears likely to secure an uncontested lead while stretching out over one mile for his second start, giving him a chance to spring a mild upset over #2 I Did I Did (7-5), a stakes-experienced colt who typically rallies from behind.

Let’s bet Code Review to win and key him over I Did I Did in an exacta.

Selections

• #5 Code Review (5-2)
• #2 I Did I Did (7-5)
• #1 Close the Gate (6-1)

Wagers

• $18 to win on #5 Code Review
• $12 Exacta: 5 with 2
  Total: $30

Colonial Downs: Race 7: $100,000 Handicap (1 3/8 miles on dirt, 3:30 p.m. ET)

#2 Money Run (5-2) has been on a roll in recent starts. On Dec. 12, he wired a $12,500 starter allowance over 1 1/8 miles at Oaklawn Park by 3 1/4 lengths, earning a 99 Brisnet Speed rating. Then on Feb. 6, he again led all the way to score by 2 1/2 lengths over the same track, distance, and class level, posting a 100 Brisnet Speed rating.

Money Run finished fast in the latter win, earning a 105 Brisnet Late Pace rating that bodes well for his chances of successfully stretching out over 1 3/8 miles. Let’s place a large win bet on Money Run.

Selections

• #2 Money Run (5-2)
• #1 Digital Ops (3-1)
• #3 Stowaway (7-2)

Wagers

• $40 to win on #2 Money Run

Turfway Park: Race 7: $30,000 Maiden Claiming (1 1/16 miles on Tapeta, 8:55 p.m. ET)

#5 Knockonwood (6-1) has a shot to shine while dropping down in class. Last time out, she finished seventh against a large field in a one-mile maiden special weight at Turfway. Two starts back, she rallied to finish fourth in a 5 1/2-furlong $40,000 maiden optional claimer at Woodbine.

Thursday’s contest marks Knockonwood’s second start for trainer Joe Sharp, a 21% winner at Turfway this meet and a 20% winner with horses running back for the second time following a layoff. At 6-1, a win bet on Knockonwood is in order.

Selections

• #5 Knockonwood (6-1)
• #1 Got Gone (3-1)
• #9 Black Rose (5-2)

Wagers

• $25 to win on #5 Knockonwood

Good luck!