Tuesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Josefina can win second start

February 4th, 2025

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Tuesday, Feb. 4 at Mahoning Valley and Turf Paradise, including two cold exactas.

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Best Bets and Quick Picks

Mahoning Valley: Race 1: Maiden Special Weight (six furlongs on dirt, 12:15 p.m. ET)

#2 Josefina (2-1) ran well in her debut over this track, distance, and class level on Dec. 27. After dropping off the early pace, she gained 5 1/4 lengths through the final furlong to finish third, beaten only a neck for second place by #7 Shanghai Delight (5-2).

Trainer Israel Acevedo wins at a strong 31% rate with second-time starters, so Josefina is eligible to move forward and turn the tables on Shanghai Delight in their rematch. Let’s bet a cold exacta accordingly.

Selections

  • #2 Josefina (2-1)
  • #7 Shanghai Delight (5-2)
  • #6 Sunny Lion (6-1)

Wagers

  • $20 Exacta: 2 with 7

Turf Paradise: Race 3: $20,000 Allowance Optional Claiming (six furlongs on dirt, 3:21 p.m. ET)

Former Southern California campaigner #5 Joe Don Looney (2-1) has been in improving form since transferring to Turf Paradise under the care of high-percentage trainer Justin Evans.

First, Joe Don Looney rallied to finish second by one length in a six-furlong $16,000 allowance optional claimer, beaten only by next-out winner Run Rudolf. Then he wired a 6 1/2-furlong sprint over the same class level by five lengths.

Joe Don Looney can record a second straight victory even while stepping up to the $20,000 allowance optional claiming level. We’ll bet him to win and play him over #1 Ruggs (5-2) in the exacta. 

Selections

  • #5 Joe Don Looney (2-1)
  • #1 Ruggs (5-2)
  • #3 Ultimate (7-2)

Wagers

  • $22 to win on #5 Joe Don Looney
  • $8 Exacta: 5 with 1
    Total: $30

Turf Paradise: Race 5: $4,500 Maiden Claiming (4 1/2 furlongs dirt, 4:19 p.m. ET)

#4 R. A. E.’s Dream (6-1) debuted in a 6 1/2-furlong $20,000 maiden claimer at Turf Paradise. He dueled for the early led before tiring to finish last.

Cutting back to 4 1/2 furlongs and dropping in class for a $4,500 maiden claimer should allow R. A. E.’s Dream to fare much better in his second start. Let’s try a win bet on this four-year-old gelding.

Selections

  • #4 R. A. E.’s Dream (6-1)
  • #5 Mongolian Ninja (5-2)
  • #7 Raider Nation (3-1)

Wagers

  • $25 to win on #4 R. A. E.’s Dream

Good luck!

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