Tuesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Bartender faces older foes

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Tuesday, Sept. 15 at Finger Lakes, Horseshoe Indianapolis, and Assiniboia Downs, including a three-year-old facing older rivals.

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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.
• 15% Profit Boost Tokens at Horseshoe Indianapolis: Opt in to receive five 15% Profit Boost Tokens (maximum payout $25 per token) for win wagers at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Tuesday, Sept. 1.

Today’s TwinSpires tournaments include:

• $72 Presque Isle Downs Bet and Set Feeder to 9/18 Churchill Downs BCBC Bonus Feeder
• $40 Horseshoe Indianapolis Challenge
• $200 Horseshoe Indianapolis Feeder to 9/19 Churchill Downs BCBC Qualifier
• $40 Mountaineer Challenge
• $80 Mountaineer Feeder to 9/25 Churchill Downs KFC/BCBC Bonus Feeder

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Finger Lakes: Race 3: Allowance (six furlongs on dirt, 1:53 p.m. ET)

#3 Toscano (4-1) has been competing on the New York Racing Association circuit. Troubled starts racing one mile at Saratoga didn’t help his chances in his last two runs, but there’s solid form further back in his racing record. Three starts back, he earned a sharp 90 Brisnet Speed rating when fourth in a seven-furlong allowance for New York-breds at Saratoga.

Taking his game to Finger Lakes should help Toscano rebound. It’s worth noting he was claimed out of his last race by Ilkay Kantarmaci, a 29% winner at Finger Lakes this meet.

A win bet is in order.

Selections

• #3 Toscano (4-1)
• #1 In the Chase (2-1)
• #5 Skyler’s Starship (8-5)

Wagers

• $25 to win on #3 Toscano

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 4: Maiden Special Weight (one mile on dirt, 3:43 p.m. ET)

#3 Red So O Lo (5-2) took a nice step forward when switching from turf to dirt for a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Horseshoe Indianapolis last month. He closed a lot of ground to finish third, beaten only 1 1/2 lengths while earning a respectable 73 Brisnet Speed rating.

You can make a case that morning-line favorite #5 Troubleonthegreen (3-2) wants to run shorter than one mile, so let’s take a chance keying Red So O Lo on top of an exacta using Troubleonthegreen and #6 Unresponsive (3-1) for second place.

Selections

• #3 Red So O Lo (5-2)
• #5 Troubleonthegreen (3-2)
• #6 Unresponsive (3-1)

Wagers

• $12 Exacta: 3 with 5,6 ($24)

Assiniboia Downs: Race 6: Manitoba Matron S. (1 1/8 miles on dirt, 11:00 p.m. ET)

#4 Bartender (5-1) has been competing well against fellow three-year-old fillies. Two starts back, she rallied to win the one-mile Manitoba Oaks at Assiniboia Downs. Last time out, she finished third in the Century Casino Oaks at Century Mile, earning a career-best 92 Brisnet Speed rating.

None of the other Manitoba Matron entrants have earned a Brisnet Speed rating higher than 89, so Bartender is a logical win threat even while facing older rivals. Let’s bet her to win and key her over multiple stakes winner #2 Dontgiveupthefight (4-5) in an exacta.

Selections

• #4 Bartender (5-1)
• #2 Dontgiveupthefight (4-5)
• #7 Yankee Doodle (4-1)

Wagers

• $15 to win on #4 Bartender
• $15 Exacta: 4 with 2
  Total: $30

Good luck!