Tuesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Mardi Gras at Fair Grounds

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Tuesday, Feb. 17 at Fair Grounds, including a daily double.

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.
• Double Rewards Points at Miami Valley: Receive double rewards points on all wagers at Miami Valley each racing Sunday through Wednesday in February.
• 25% Odds Boost at Fair Grounds: Receive a 15% odds boost (up to $25) on your winning single-horse win wagers at Fair Grounds on Monday, Feb. 16 and Tuesday, Feb. 17.

Today’s TwinSpires tournaments include:

• $40 Fair Grounds Challenge
• $200 Fair Grounds Feeder to 2/21 Oaklawn KDBC/NHC Qualifier

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Fair Grounds: Race 4: Maiden Special Weight (1 1/16 miles on turf, 3:15 p.m. ET)

Trainer Cherie DeVaux has been on fire with first-time starters at Fair Grounds this meet, going 5-for-16 (31%). That includes a 2-for-4 (50%) tally with horses debuting in turf routes.

These stats bode well for #5 Mount Vernon (3-1), an unraced three-year-old trained by DeVaux. Mount Vernon’s dam, Ayers Rock, has already foaled two turf winners from two starters, including Mount Vernon’s stakes-placed full-sister La Traviesa.

Under red-hot jockey Jose Ortiz, Mount Vernon is a compelling win contender. Let’s bet him to win and key him over #2 Citatus (9-2) and #8 Jarrett (7-2) in an exacta.

Selections

• #5 Mount Vernon (3-1)
• #2 Citatus (9-2)
• #8 Jarrett (7-2)

Wagers

• $22 to win on #5 Mount Vernon
• $4 Exacta: 5 with 2,8 ($8)
  Total: $30

Fair Grounds: Race 8: Mardi Gras S. (5 1/2 furlongs on turf, 5:15 p.m. ET)

#7 Lotsandlotsofcandy (2-1) is the morning line favorite after winning four of her last five starts, but she’s never raced on grass, and her dam (Lotsandlotsofhope) hasn’t foaled a turf winner from six starters.

#6 Shining Star (5-2) can spring the mildest of upsets. She’s 2-for-2 on turf, winning back-to-back allowances at Horseshoe Indianapolis and Fair Grounds by 7 1/4 lengths and 4 1/4 lengths. Those wins earned sharp Brisnet Speed ratings of 95 and 92.

Let’s bet Shining Star to win and single her to start a daily double.

Selections

• #6 Shining Star (5-2)
• #7 Lotsandlotsofcandy (2-1)
• #5 Civetta (6-1)

Wagers

• $24 to win on #6 Shining Star
• $6 Double: 6 with 3
  Total: $30

Fair Grounds: Race 9: Maiden Special Weight (six furlongs on dirt, 5:45 p.m. ET)

This field of Louisiana-bred three-year-olds hasn’t come up especially tough on paper, so let’s take a chance backing first-time starter #3 My Touch (4-1).

A full-brother to Louisiana-bred superstar Touchuponastar, My Touch breezed a bullet half-mile from the Fair Grounds starting gate in :48 last month and is slated to be ridden by Fair Grounds’ leading jockey Jose Ortiz.

Let’s bet My Touch to win and single him to conclude our double bet.

Selections

• #3 My Touch (4-1)
• #9 A Hint of Scandel (7-2)
• #8 Dirty Straight Up (9-2)

Wagers

• $24 to win on #3 My Touch

Good luck!