Tuesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Arizona Breeders’ Futurity exacta

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Tuesday, Dec. 9 at Turf Paradise, including an exacta in a division of the Arizona Breeders’ Futurity.

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• 5x Points at Northfield Park: Receive 5x rewards points on all wagers (excluding show bets) at Northfield Park each Tuesday in December.

Today’s TwinSpires tournaments include:

• $40 Parx Challenge
• $300 Parx Feeder to 12/13 Turfway Synthetic Betting Championship
• $100 Mountaineer Feeder to 12/20 Gun Runner KDBC Qualifier

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Turf Paradise: Race 2: $4,500 Maiden Claiming (six furlongs on dirt, 3:43 p.m. ET)

#1 Naturally Blonde (4-5) might be a 0-for-11 maiden, but she’s been facing tougher competition in California. She’s recorded half a dozen top-four finishes in maiden special weights for California-breds, and in eight of her last nine starts she’s earned Brisnet Speed ratings in the 71-86 range.

None of Naturally Blonde’s rivals at Turf Paradise have ever posted a Brisnet Speed rating higher than 70, so dropping into a $4,500 maiden claimer should send Naturally Blonde to the winner’s circle for hot trainer Justin Evans. We’ll single her to start a cold double wager, then bet her over fellow California raider #3 Royal Dusty (4-1) in an exacta.

Selections

• #1 Naturally Blonde (4-5)
• #3 Royal Dusty (4-1)
• #2 Lani’s Sweetheart (6-1)

Wagers

• $35 Double: 1 with 4
• $15 Exacta: 1 with 3
  Total: $50

Turf Paradise: Race 3: $8,500 Claiming (5 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 4:11 p.m. ET)

Justin Evans can pick up another win with #4 Major Tom (2-1). The five-year-old gelding has recorded four straight top-four finishes in California, including a near-miss second in an $8,000 claimer and a solid third in a $12,500 claimer.

The competition should be easier at Turf Paradise, setting the stage for Major Tom to deliver a comfortable win over #2 Strength of Autism (5-2). We’ll single Major Tom to conclude our double wager, then key him on top of an exacta.

Selections

• #4 Major Tom (2-1)
• #2 Strength of Autism (5-2)
• #7 Don’t Hit Me Bash (7-2)

Wagers

• $15 Exacta: 4 with 2

Turf Paradise: Race 6: Arizona Breeders’ Futurity (six furlongs on dirt, 5:38 p.m. ET)

#3 Rascally Rabbit (4-5) opened her career with back-to-back wins at Prairie Meadows. She dominated a maiden special weight against fellow fillies by 10 lengths over a next-out winner, then conquered males by a neck in a $100,000 allowance optional claimer.

Rascally Rabbit enters the Arizona Breeders’ Futurity off quick workouts at Turf Paradise, suggesting she’s ready to pick up where she left off. #2 Hidden Beauty (5-1), a first-time starter from the hot barn of Robertino Diodoro, can round out the exacta.

Selections

• #3 Rascally Rabbit (4-5)
• #2 Hidden Beauty (5-1)
• #8 Lotsa Kitty (4-1)

Wagers

• $20 Exacta: 3 with 2

Good luck!