Tuesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Exactas at Delta Downs

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Tuesday, Dec. 23 at Delta Downs and Turf Paradise, including exactas and a trifecta.

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.
• 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
• $200 Parx Feeder to 12/27 Oaklawn KDBC/NHC Qualifier

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Delta Downs: Race 1: Maiden Special Weight (five furlongs on dirt, 1:00 p.m. ET)

#2 Blackjack Mary (9-5) has flashed speed in her first two starts. She tracked the pace before tiring to finish sixth in a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Churchill Downs, then weakened after making the lead to finish third in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Remington Park.

Cutting back to five furlongs at Delta Downs should suit Blackjack Mary. Let’s bet her to win and key her over #5 Sayyoulovemebaby (3-1) in an exacta. 

Selections

• #2 Blackjack Mary (9-5)
• #5 Sayyoulovemebaby (3-1)
• #3 Sassi Idol (4-1)

Wagers

• $15 to win on #2 Blackjack Mary
• $15 Exacta: 2 with 5
  Total: $30

Delta Downs: Race 3: Maiden Special Weight (7 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 1:56 p.m. ET)

Morning-line favorites #9 Dr. Dean (5-2) and #1 Unlawful (7-2) are logical contenders, but they’ve both lost multiple times over this track and class level, suggesting they could be vulnerable to defeat by a first-time starter like #2 Mogumbeaux (9-2).

Mogumbeaux enters off a bullet five-furlong workout at Delta Downs for trainer Brett Brinkman, a 20% winner debuting juveniles at Delta Downs since 2020.

We’ll bet Mogumbeaux to win and key him on top of exacta and trifecta tickets.

Selections

• #2 Mogumbeaux (9-2)
• #9 Dr. Dean (5-2)
• #1 Unlawful (7-2)

Wagers

• $15 to win on #2 Mogumbeaux
• $10 Exacta: 2 with 9
• $5 Trifecta: 2 with 9 with 1
  Total: $30

Turf Paradise: Race 4: Maiden Special Weight (five furlongs on dirt, 4:45 p.m. ET)

Since 2020, trainer Kevin Eikleberry has compiled an exceptional 6-for-11 (55%) record debuting juveniles at Turf Paradise. All 11 of those runners got started in dirt sprints.

This bodes well for Eikleberry’s unraced two-year-old #1 Pingo (2-1). As a son of Lotsa Mischief (who sires a sharp 18% winners from first-time starters), Pingo has the pedigree to shine from an early age. Sharp workouts at Turf Paradise (including a bullet three furlongs from the starting gate in :34 4/5) cement the bay gelding as a formidable win contender.

#4 Rock’n Awesome (8-5) can complete the exacta.

Selections

• #1 Pingo (2-1)
• #4 Rock’n Awesome (8-5)
• #2 Ez Cowboy (3-1)

Wagers

• $30 to win on #1 Pingo
• $10 Exacta: 1 with 4
  Total: $40

Good luck!