Tuesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Last Move can finish first in debut

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Tuesday, June 16 at Horseshoe Indianapolis and Presque Isle Downs, including horses to bet in the $1,807 Super High 5 carryover at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

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.
• 25% Double Down at Assiniboia Downs: Hit two double wagers to receive a 25% boost (up to $25 per day) on all winning double wagers at Assiniboia Downs each racing Tuesday and Wednesday until June 24.
• Royal Ascot $10 Bet Back: Receive a Bonus Bet up to $10 back on your first single-horse win wager if your horse finishes second or third in selected races at Royal Ascot from Tuesday through Saturday.

Today’s TwinSpires tournaments include:

• $100 Royal Ascot Challenge
• $96 Parx Feeder to 6/25 Churchill Downs SFBC Bonus Feeder
• $80 Horseshoe Indianapolis Feeder to 6/19 Churchill Downs KDBC/BCBC Bonus Feeder
• $40 Horseshoe Indianapolis Challenge
• $55 Mountaineer Bet and Set Feeder to 6/28 Churchill Downs Haskell Challenge Qualifier
• $40 Mountaineer Challenge

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 2: $15,000 Maiden Claiming (5 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 2:41 p.m. ET)

#4 Rioja Alta (5-2) has competed three times against maiden special weight competition at Horseshoe Indianapolis. He showed speed each time, and on May 25 he led by daylight through much of a 5 1/2-furlong contest before weakening to finish second by three-quarters of a length.

Dropping in class for a $15,000 maiden claimer should make Rioja Alta a formidable win contender. Let’s bet him to win and key him over the improving #3 Midnight Legacy (4-1) in an exacta.

Selections

• #4 Rioja Alta (5-2)
• #3 Midnight Legacy (4-1)
• #7 Mega Wich (3-1)

Wagers

• $25 to win on #4 Rioja Alta
• $5 Exacta: 4 with 3
  Total: $30

Presque Isle Downs: Race 1: Maiden Special Weight (4 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 3:30 p.m. ET)

#2 Last Move (8-1) is an unraced daughter of hot young stallion Early Voting, who is siring 60% winners from first-time starters.

Last Move’s work tab isn’t especially eye-catching, but she’s trained by Phil Schoenthal, who wins at a solid 19% rate with first-time starters. Throw in the presence of hot jockey Antonio Gallardo (a 25% winner at Presque Isle this meet), and there’s a lot to like about Last Move.

At 8-1, a win bet is in order.

Selections

• #2 Last Move (8-1)
• #5 Almighty One (5-2)
• #4 Castle Dark (8-1)

Wagers

• $25 to win on #2 Last Move

Presque Isle Downs: Race 4: Maiden Special Weight (six furlongs on Tapeta, 4:51 p.m. ET)

#3 Popcorn N Peaches (3-1) ran well in her 2026 debut. Facing seven rivals in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Presque Isle, she closed a lot of ground from off the pace to finish third, only three-quarters of a length behind runner-up #6 Out in the Cold (2-1).

If Popcorn N Peaches moves forward in her second start of the season, she can turn the tables on Out in the Cold. Let’s place a win bet and an exacta accordingly.

Selections

• #3 Popcorn N Peaches (3-1)
• #6 Out in the Cold (2-1)
• #2 Voodoo (7-2)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #3 Popcorn N Peaches
• $10 Exacta: 3 with 6
  Total: $30

Carryover Watch

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 9: $1,807 Super High 5 carryover (6:15 p.m. ET)

If you’re a fan of Quarter Horse racing, you’ll want to check out Tuesday’s ninth race at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The afternoon finale is a 300-yard maiden special weight for two-year-olds, and there’s a $1,807 carryover up for grabs in the 10-cent “Grand High 5” Super High 5.

Race 9 contains 11 entries before scratches, including one also-eligible entrant. A maximum of 10 horses will be allowed to start, generating 30,240 possible Super High 5 outcomes.

Here are five horses worth including on your tickets:

#2 Kv Power (8-1): Trainer Claudio Barraza has done well saddling two-year-old Quarter Horses at Horseshoe Indianapolis this meet, compiling a 12-2-2-1 (17%) tally. Kv Power, an unraced gray gelding, has posted a couple of 250-yard workouts from the Horseshoe Indianapolis starting gate and warrants respect as a midrange longshot.

#3 Eagle N Flight (6-1): Eagle N Flight has twice worked one furlong from the Horseshoe Indianapolis starting gate, traveling in :12.63 and :12.32. Trainer Anthony Cunningham has gone 28-4-3-3 (14%) saddling two-year-old Quarter Horses at Horseshoe Indianapolis this year, suggesting Eagle N Flight has a solid shot to factor for a top-three finish in his debut.

#4 Hes Tough (7-2): Hes Tough misfired in his latest start, but when he debuted in a 250-yard maiden special weight on May 2 at Horseshoe Indianapolis, he finished a solid fourth, beaten only one length. A rebound to that level of form could put Hes Tough in contention for victory.

#8 Scarlets Habit (6-1): The second unraced Cunningham trainee in this field, Scarlets Habit is a filly facing males, but don’t underestimate her chances. She’s worked furlongs from the Horseshoe Indianapolis starting gate in :12.30 and :12.47, and she’s slated to be ridden by Luz Daniel Martinez, the co-leading Quarter Horse jockey at Horseshoe Indianapolis this meet.

#10 Tempt N Tell (9-2): Trainer Tim Eggleston has compiled a strong 6-for-26 (23%) record saddling Quarter Horse juveniles at Horseshoe Indianapolis this meet. Tempt N Tell worked a furlong in :12.19 over this track five days ago and has Horseshoe Indianapolis’ co-leading Quarter Horse jockey Luis Eduardo Luna Diaz named to ride, so there’s a lot to like about his chances.

Good luck!