Tuesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Three carryovers at Indianapolis

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Tuesday, Aug. 11 at Finger Lakes, Presque Isle Downs, and Assiniboia Downs, along with analysis of Pick 4 and Pick 5 carryovers 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.
• 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 August.
• 15% Odds Boost at GBI Racing: Opt in to receive a 15% odds boost (up to $25 per day) on your winning single-horse win wagers at select GBI tracks from Monday, Aug. 10 through Monday, Aug. 31.

Today’s TwinSpires tournaments include:

• $60 Presque Isle Downs Bet and Set Feeder to 8/16 Saratoga King of the Turf Qualifier
• $88 Horseshoe Indianapolis Feeder to 8/14 Saratoga SSBC Bonus Feeder
• $40 Horseshoe Indianapolis Challenge
• $80 Mountaineer Feeder to 8/21 Saratoga KDBC/BCBC Bonus Feeder
• $40 Mountaineer Challenge

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Finger Lakes: Race 6: Maiden Special Weight (six furlongs on dirt, 3:20 p.m. ET)

#2 Start the Day (9-2) has been competing on the New York Racing Association circuit. Last time out, he finished sixth in a one-mile $20,000 maiden claimer. Two starts back, he ran sixth in a six-furlong $50,000 maiden claimer for New York-breds.

Start the Day figures to find the competition easier at Finger Lakes, giving him a shot to upset logical favorite #4 Always Packen (2-1). Let’s place a win bet and an exacta accordingly.

Selections

• #2 Start the Day (9-2)
• #4 Always Packen (2-1)
• #6 Propitious (5-1)

Wagers

• $15 to win on #2 Start the Day
• $15 Exacta: 2 with 4
  Total: $30

Presque Isle Downs: Race 1: Maiden Special Weight (six furlongs on Tapeta, 3:30 p.m. ET)

#1 Trail of Roses (3-1) ran well when making her Tapeta debut in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Presque Isle Downs last month. She carved out the pace, then stayed to finish second by half a length.

Trail of Roses finished nicely on the clock and earned a 77 Brisnet Speed rating, which is higher than the par winning number (74) for Tuesday’s conditions.

A win bet is in order.

Selections

• #1 Trail of Roses (3-1)
• #3 Fozzer (5-2)
• #2 American Surfer (7-2)

Wagers

• $30 to win on #1 Trail of Roses

Assiniboia Downs: Race 1: $3,000 Claiming (seven furlongs on dirt, 8:30 p.m. ET)

There isn’t much pace in this five-horse field, which should favor #2 Smooching (2-5). The five-year-old mare has decent tactical speed and finished second in her last two starts at this track and class level, so she’s shaping up as an excellent fit for Tuesday’s contest.

Let’s key Smooching on top of a cold trifecta using #5 Miss the Hype (3-1) and #4 Tia Suzi (6-1) underneath.

Selections

• #2 Smooching (2-5)
• #5 Miss the Hype (3-1)
• #4 Tia Suzi (6-1)

Wagers

• $20 Trifecta: 2 with 5 with 4

Carryover Watch

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 1: $1,756 Pick 5 carryover (2:10 p.m. ET)
Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 5: $1,318 Pick 5 carryover (4:14 p.m. ET)
Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 6: $1,905 Pick 4 carryover (4:45 p.m. ET)

There isn’t just one carryover up for grabs on Tuesday at Horseshoe Indianapolis. There are three.

The 50-cent Early Pick 5 has tossed up a $1,756 carryover. The prize pool for the 50-cent Late Pick 5 stands at $1,318. For good measure, the 50-cent Late Pick 4 features a $1,905 carryover.

The two Pick 5s overlap in Race 5, an allowance for Indiana-breds racing 1 1/16 miles on turf. We’re drawn to the chances of #6 Rock City Kid (7-2), who ran well when making his grass debut at this class level on July 9. He pressed and then set fast pace fractions before weakening in the final furlong of the one-mile contest to finish fourth, beaten only 4 3/4 lengths.

If Rock City Kid sets a more relaxed pace on Tuesday, he can deliver a victory for hot trainer Shannon McGovern. However, stretch-running #1 Quaint (3-1)—who finished ahead of Rock City Kid on July 9—is a logical alternative if Rock City Kid goes out too fast again.

Late Pick 5 and Late Pick 4 bettors looking for a single to build tickets around are advised to check out #4 Terre Haute (8-5) in Race 7, a $20,000 maiden claimer taking place over 1 1/16 miles on grass.

Terre Haute is dropping in class after spending his first five starts competing in maiden special weights, most recently running seventh at Ellis Park. During the spring, he finished third in a pair of two-turn grass routes at Horseshoe Indianapolis, suggesting the drop into a $20,000 maiden claimer might be all he needs to graduate.

Brisnet Speed ratings further establish Terre Haute as the horse to beat. At Ellis, he earned a 77 Brisnet Speed rating, which is equal to the highest number any of his Race 7 rivals have posted in their careers.

Throw in the fact trainer John Ennis has gone 6-for-17 (35%) at Horseshoe Indianapolis this meet, and Terre Haute is a compelling single to build tickets around.

Good luck!