Tuesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Two stakes at Zia Park

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Tuesday, Dec. 16 at Zia Park and Turf Paradise, including a pair of stakes.

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.
• 5x Points at Northfield Park: Receive 5x rewards points on all wagers (excluding show bets) at Northfield Park each Tuesday in December.

Today’s TwinSpires tournaments include:

• $100 Parx Feeder to 12/20 Gun Runner KDBC Qualifier
• $40 Parx Challenge

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Zia Park: Race 1: Lea County S. (6 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 1:45 p.m. ET)

#1 Country Club Crush (9-5) survived a duel to win last month’s New Mexico Classic Lassie S. at Zia Park by a neck. In the process, she defeated all four of the rivals she’ll face in the Lea County.

We’ll bank on Country Club Crush to maintain her supremacy on Tuesday, singling her to start a double wager and keying her on top of #2 Mark’s Sassy Girl (1-1) and #4 Caprock Cutie (3-1) in a trifecta.

Selections

• #1 Country Club Crush (9-5)
• #2 Mark’s Sassy Girl (1-1)
• #4 Caprock Cutie (3-1)

Wagers

• $15 Trifecta: 1 with 2 with 4
• $15 Double: 1 with 1
  Total: $30

Zia Park: Race 2: Hobbs Fall Classic S. (6 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 2:12 p.m. ET)

#1 Bully Boy (6-5) is improving with every start. Last time out, he closed from behind a hot pace to take the New Mexico Classic Juvenile S. by 2 1/2 lengths over proven stakes winner #8 Speed Merchant (5-2).

Another quick tempo may unfold in the Hobbs Fall Classic, setting the stage for Bully Boy and Speed Merchant to run 1-2 again. We’ll bet an exacta accordingly.

Selections

• #1 Bully Boy (6-5)
• #8 Speed Merchant (5-2)
• #5 Cash Waterfall (5-1)

Wagers

• $15 Exacta: 1 with 8

Turf Paradise: Race 5: $30,000 Maiden Optional Claiming (about 7 1/2 furlongs on turf, 5:06 p.m. ET)

#5 Minister Confessor (7-2) competed respectably in a couple of turf maiden special weights at Delaware Park during the summer, finishing second and third.

Returning to grass at Turf Paradise (where the competition might be a bit easier) can land Minister Confessor his first victory. At 7-2, he’s worthy of a large win bet.

Selections

• #5 Minister Confessor (7-2)
• #2 Standard Pressure (5-1)
• #6 Run Your Mouth (5-2)

Wagers

• $40 to win on #5 Minister Confessor

Good luck!