Tuesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Presque Isle’s $3,824 Pick 5 carryover

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Tuesday, Sept. 29 at Horseshoe Indianapolis, along with a ticket for the $3,824 Pick 5 carryover at Presque Isle Downs.

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% Profit Boost Tokens at Horseshoe Indianapolis: Opt in to receive five 15% profit boost tokens (maximum boost of $25 per token) for win wagers at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Tuesday, Sept. 29.
• 8x Rewards Points at Red Shores: Opt in and receive 8x rewards points on all wagers at Red Shores Charlottetown and Red Shores Summerside each racing day from Sept. 19 through Oct. 31.

Today’s TwinSpires tournaments include:

• $60 Presque Isle Downs Bet and Set Feeder to 10/2 Keeneland KFC Bonus Feeder
• $40 Horseshoe Indianapolis Challenge
• $200 Horseshoe Indianapolis Feeder to 10/4 Keeneland BCBC/NHC Qualifier
• $40 Mountaineer Challenge
• $80 Mountaineer Feeder to 10/3 Keeneland BCBC/NHC Bonus Feeder

Best Bets and Quick Picks

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

#4 Thunder Appeal (2-1) faltered in a couple of maiden special weights on turf in Kentucky during the summer, but perhaps switching to dirt against easier competition at Horseshoe Indianapolis will trigger a winning performance. Keep in mind, trainer Wesley Ward wins at a powerful 39% rate with horses switching from turf to dirt.

Let’s bet Thunder Appeal over #3 Big Boy Thunder (5-1) in an exacta, then single him to start a daily double ending with #3 Powerful Justice (4-5) in Race 3.

Selections

• #4 Thunder Appeal (2-1)
• #3 Big Boy Thunder (5-1)
• #1 Final Countdown (6-1)

Wagers

• $10 Exacta: 4 with 3
• $20 Double: 4 with 3
  Total: $30

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 6: Maiden Special Weight (five furlongs on turf, 4:45 p.m. ET)

#8 Practical Rose (7-2) is a first-time starter from the barn of Wesley Ward, who wins at a 20% rate with horses debuting on turf.

As a half-sister to Poppy Flower, winner of the Intercontinental (G3) sprinting on turf, Practical Rose has the pedigree to factor while debuting in a grass dash. A recent half-mile workout from the Keeneland starting gate in a quick :47 3/5 cements Practical Rose as a logical contender.

Let’s place a win bet on Practical Rose.

Selections

• #8 Practical Rose (7-2)
• #1 My Awesome Gold (12-1)
• #5 Kendom (5-1)

Wagers

• $30 to win on #8 Practical Rose

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 7: Maiden Special Weight (one mile on dirt, 5:16 p.m. ET)

#7 Hoosier Surprise (2-1) faltered in her latest start racing one mile on turf. But two starts back, when debuting in a five-furlong sprint at this track and class level, she rallied to finish third by 2 1/4 lengths.

Hoosier Surprise’s pedigree suggests she’ll handle racing one mile, so switching back to dirt might be all she needs to break her maiden. Let’s bet her to win.

Selections

• #7 Hoosier Surprise (2-1)
• #9 No Ceiling (7-2)
• #1 Red Clay Halo (9-2)

Wagers

• $25 to win on #7 Hoosier Surprise

Carryover Watch

Presque Isle Downs: Race 1: $3,824 Pick 5 carryover (3:30 p.m. ET)

After going unsolved on Monday, the 50-cent Early Pick 5 at Presque Isle Downs features a $3,824 carryover for Tuesday’s card.

Here’s how we’ll bet the sequence:

• 50-cent Pick 5: 4,5 with ALL with 1,2 with 1,5 with 1,3,6 ($72)

Race 1: $6,250 Claiming (6 1/2 furlongs on Tapeta)

#5 Pancho Slips Away (3-1) has lots of early speed, which he used to wire a $12,500 claimer sprinting six furlongs at Presque Isle last month. He’s a threat to lead all the way for hot trainer Kevin Rice (a 21% winner at Presque Isle this meet), but stretch-running stablemate #4 Youreawizard Harry (5-2) is an intriguing alternative while cutting back from routes to a sprint.

Race 2: $5,000 Claiming (6 1/2 furlongs on Tapeta)

You can make a case for any of the entrants to win this competitive claiming sprint, so we’ll hit the “ALL” button and hope a price horse emerges victorious from the six-horse field.

Race 3: $25,000 Claiming (six furlongs on Tapeta)

#2 Frosty Beer (7-2), runner-up at this track, distance, and class level on Aug. 24, is a logical win threat. But speedy frontrunner #1 Stanz Coming (3-1) could have a tactical advantage, and dropping in class out of a Presque Isle allowance might be all he needs to prevail.

Race 4: Maiden Special Weight (six furlongs on Tapeta)

#1 Hadid (3-1), fifth when debuting in a 5 1/2-furlong restricted maiden special weight at Colonial Downs, has a strong chance to shine while switching to Tapeta and adding blinkers for her second start. However, we’ll also use first-time starter #5 Hot for the Game (9-2), who has posted a series of fast workouts for hot trainer Ron Potts.

Race 5: $40,000 Allowance Optional Claiming (6 1/2 furlongs on Tapeta)

Form lines and Brisnet Speed ratings suggest #1 The Minkster (3-1), #3 Calvin’s Ride (5-2), and #6 Jimmy the Hat (7-2) all have valid win credentials in the closing leg of the Pick 5. The Minkster won the 2022 Queenston S. and 2021 Coronation Futurity over the Woodbine Tapeta track, so switching back to Tapeta after a series of efforts on turf could potentially make him dangerous.

Good luck!