Tuesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Golden Decree can improve

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Tuesday, July 14 at Horseshoe Indianapolis and Assiniboia Downs, along with tickets for the $341 Super High 5 carryover at Thistledown.

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.
• 15% Odds Boost at Horseshoe Indianapolis: Opt in to receive a 15% odds boost (up to $25 for the day) on your winning single-horse win wagers at Horseshoe Indianapolis each racing Tuesday in July.
• $2,000 Exacta Hit It & Split It at Presque Isle Downs: Opt in and hit two exactas at Presque Isle Downs for a chance to split a $2,000 prize pool each racing Tuesday in July.
• 25% Double Down at Assiniboia Downs: Opt in and hit two double wagers to receive a 25% boost on all winning double wagers at Assiniboia Downs each racing Tuesday and Wednesday until July 29.

Today’s TwinSpires tournaments include:

• $80 Parx Feeder to 7/17 Ellis Park Haskell Challenge Bonus Qualifier
• $40 Horseshoe Indianapolis Challenge
• $88 Horseshoe Indianapolis Feeder to 7/17 Saratoga SSBC Bonus Feeder
• $60 Mountaineer Bet and Set Feeder to 7/26 Saratoga NHC Qualifier
• $40 Mountaineer Challenge

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 1: Maiden Special Weight (five furlongs on dirt, 2:10 p.m. ET)

Unraced two-year-old gelding #1 C J’s Bopers (6-1) has put together a series of fast workouts at Horseshoe Indianapolis for trainer Stephen Fosdick, who wins at a respectable 15% rate with first-time starters.

On June 24, C J’s Bopers clocked half a mile in :47 4/5. On July 3, he traveled the same distance in :48 1/5. And last Thursday, he clocked a half-mile from the starting gate in :47 1/5.

At 6-1, C J’s Bopers is worthy of a win bet. We’ll also single him to start a small daily double.

Selections

• #1 C J’s Bopers (6-1)
• #2 Winsweptwill (6-1)
• #7 Q’s Best Bet (5-1)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #1 C J’s Bopers
• $5 Double: 1 with 1
  Total: $25

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

#1 Golden Decree (4-1) ran well when debuting over this track, distance, and class level on May 21. He made a strong midrace move into the teeth of a :44.98 half-mile and led in midstretch before weakening late to finish third by 1 1/4 lengths.

Hot trainer Brad Cox wins at a 28% rate with second-time starters, and Fernando De La Cruz (a 25% winner teaming up with Cox over the last two months) is named to ride, so Golden Decree has a strong chance to shine on Tuesday.

Let’s bet Golden Decree to win and single him to conclude our daily double.

Selections

• #1 Golden Decree (4-1)
• #6 Bridgesong (6-1)
• #3 Altimeter (5-1)

Wagers

• $25 to win on #1 Golden Decree

Assiniboia Downs: Race 3: Jack Hardy S. (7 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 9:25 p.m. ET)

#4 What a Force (7-5) was much the best in the six-furlong Chantilly S. at Assiniboia Downs last month. Despite setting a fast pace, she powered clear in the homestretch to triumph by 4 1/4 lengths, in the process defeating many of the fillies she’ll face in the Jack Hardy.

We’ll count on What a Force to maintain her superiority even while stretching out over 7 1/2 furlongs. We’ll bet her on top of longshot #1 Lisa Connects (20-1) in an exacta.

Lisa Connects never factored when finishing fifth in the Chantilly, but stretching out in distance should help her chances. Don’t forget, she broke her maiden in a $17,500 maiden claimer racing one mile and 70 yards at Gulfstream Park.

Selections

• #4 What a Force (7-5)
• #1 Lisa Connects (20-1)
• #6 Steal Your Soul (7-2)

Wagers

• $15 Exacta: 4 with 1

Carryover Watch

Thistledown: Race 8: $341 Super High 5 carryover (4:20 p.m. ET)

Tuesday’s 20-cent “Buckeye 5” Super High 5 at Thistledown features a $341 carryover for Tuesday’s card.

The Buckeye 5 is available to play in Tuesday’s eighth race, a $7,500 claimer for Ohio-bred fillies and mares who haven’t won two races in the last year. The 5 1/2-furlong dirt dash has drawn nine entries, so there are 15,120 possible Super High 5 outcomes to analyze.

Race 8 is tricky to handicap because many of the entrants have been taking turns beating each other. However, #7 Lady Lottie (7-2) looks like a trustworthy contender to build tickets around.

Wagers

• 20-cent Super High 5: 7 with 4,5,6 with 1,4,5,6,8 with 1,4,5,6,8 with 1,4,5,6,8 ($14.40)
• 20-cent Super High 5: 4,5,6 with 7 with 1,4,5,6,8 with 1,4,5,6,8 with 1,4,5,6,8 ($14.40)
• 20-cent Super High 5: 4,5,6 with 1,4,5,6,8 with 7 with 1,4,5,6,8 with 1,4,5,6,8 ($14.40)
  Total: $43.20

Lady Lottie has been a picture of consistency in three starts at this track and class level this year. On May 12, in her return from a three-month layoff, Lady Lottie ran second by two lengths against #6 Tale of the Lyon (4-1). On June 8, she rallied to finish second again, beaten one length by #1 Dolce Marie (6-1). Then on June 23, Lady Lottie turned the tables on Tale of the Lyon and Dolce Marie to win by three-quarters of a length.

Lady Lottie typically closes from midfield, and her running style should fit well in Race 8, which contains ample pace on paper. A top-three finish appears likely, so we’ll bet the Super High 5 accordingly, counting on Lady Lottie to finish either first, second, or third.

Underneath, we’ll emphasize Tale of the Lyon, #4 National Diamond (5-2), and #5 Shakeurskinnylegs (10-1) while adding Dolce Marie and #8 Feeling Easy (5-1) in some slots.

Shakeurskinnylegs is particularly intriguing at a price. She kicked off 2026 with a third-place finish behind Dolce Marie and Lady Lottie on June 8, when she was beaten only two lengths for first price. She then wired a $7,500 claimer for fillies and mares who hadn’t won a race in the last year, prevailing by one length with a respectable 70 Brisnet Speed rating.

If Shakeurskinnylegs finishes in the top two or three on Tuesday at double-digit odds, that should boost the Super High 5 payoff.

Good luck!