Thursday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Lone speed at 20-1

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Thursday, June 26 at Horseshoe Indianapolis, Aqueduct, and Churchill Downs, including a 20-1 longshot.

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• New Players $200 Sign-Up Bonus: Open your TwinSpires.com account using the offer code BET200 to start earning a $200 bonus.
• 5x Points on Harness Racing: Receive 5x points on all wagers at harness tracks (excluding show bets) each Wednesday and Thursday from May 7 through June 26.
• Churchill Downs Triple Rewards Points: Receive triple rewards point on all wagers (excluding show bets) at Churchill Downs from Wednesday through Friday.
• British Racing $10 Money Back: Receive up to $10 back on your first single-horse win wager if your horse runs second in selected British races from May 17 through Aug. 31.

Today’s TwinSpires tournaments include:

• $40 Horseshoe Indianapolis Challenge
• $120 Horseshoe Indianapolis Feeder to 7/5 Indiana Derby KDBC/NHC Qualifier
• $50 Churchill Downs Challenge
• $240 Churchill Downs Bonus Feeder to 6/27 Churchill Downs SFBC Qualifier

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 2: Maiden Special Weight (one mile on dirt, 2:41 p.m. ET)

#2 Globalist (2-1) ran well in his April 24 debut over this track, distance, and class level. After settling a couple lengths off the pace, he closed ground to finish second by a neck against Brotha Keny, who returned to win a $25,000 allowance optional claimer at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Trainer Brad Cox wins at a 26% rate with second-time starters, and since Globalist has shown more tactical speed than deep-closing favorite #4 Steeze (9-5), we’ll count on Globalist to spring a slight surprise.

Selections

• #2 Globalist (2-1)
• #4 Steeze (9-5)
• #1 Coffee Talk (3-1)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #2 Globalist
• $10 Exacta: 2 with 4
  Total: $30

Aqueduct: Race 6: $50,000 Maiden Claiming (1 1/8 miles on turf, 3:34 p.m. ET)

There’s almost no pace entered in this field, so we’ll take a shot backing #8 Jackpot Julie (20-1). On May 26, she dueled for command through the opening six furlongs of a 1 1/16-mile contest over this course and distance before tiring to finish eighth.

That effort marked Jackpot Julie’s first start off a long layoff. If she escapes with an uncontested lead in her second start back, she has a shot to spring an upset over deep-closing favorite #9 Starlight Dancer (8-5).

Selections

• #8 Jackpot Julie (20-1)
• #9 Starlight Dancer (8-5)
• #4 Purest Performance (7-2)

Wagers

• $15 to win on #8 Jackpot Julie
• $5 Exacta: 8 with 9
  Total: $20

Churchill Downs: Race 6: $125,000 Allowance Optional Claiming (1 1/16 miles on dirt, 7:25 p.m. ET)

#6 Gowells Delight (6-5) has run well against fierce competition this year. She recorded top-three finishes in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) and Rachel Alexandra (G2) behind future Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Good Cheer, and she finished a pacesetting sixth in the Edgewood (G2) against four-time graded stakes winner Nitrogen.

Gowells Delight exits a runner-up finish in a one-mile $125,000 allowance optional claimer at Churchill Downs. She was beaten only a neck, pulled 15 lengths clear of the third-place finisher, and earned a career-best 93 Brisnet Speed rating. That’s the highest number belonging to any filly in Thursday’s field.

Chances are, Gowells Delight’s second try at the allowance level will yield a victory. Let’s bet her over #1 Cue the Duckboats (8-1) and #4 Chasten (5-2) in the exacta.

Selections

• #6 Gowells Delight (6-5)
• #1 Cue the Duckboats (8-1)
• #4 Chasten (5-2)

Wagers

• $18 Exacta: 6 with 4
• $12 Exacta: 6 with 1
  Total: $30

Good luck!