Wednesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: 12-1 at Turfway Park

Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Wednesday, Feb. 18 at Turf Paradise and Turfway Park, including a 12-1 longshot.

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.
• 3 for $3,000 Exacta Hit It & Split It at Turfway Park: Hit three exactas (in different races) at Turfway Park for a chance to split a $3,000 prize pool each racing Wednesday in February.

Today’s TwinSpires tournaments include:

• $200 Tampa Bay Downs Feeder to 2/21 Oaklawn KDBC/NHC Qualifier
• $40 Tampa Bay Downs Challenge
• $40 Turfway Park Challenge
• $160 Turfway Park Feeder to 3/1 Rebel KDBC Qualifier

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Turf Paradise: Race 7: Luke Kruytbosch S. (one mile on turf, 6:05 p.m. ET)

Only one horse in this field is a proven winner on turf: #4 Need the Purse (7-2). He’s started twice in $30,000 maiden optional claimers over the Turf Paradise lawn. In his first try, he ran second by one length against Daneyko, who later won the Riley Allison Derby. Then in his second turf start, Need the Purse romped by 6 3/4 lengths.

Need the Purse’s affinity for grass gives him a strong chance to prevail in the Luke Kruytbosch. Let’s bet him to win and key him over his Tripe Crown-nominated stablemate #6 Independence Rise (5-2) in an exacta.

Selections

• #4 Need the Purse (7-2)
• #6 Independence Rise (5-2)
• #7 Senor Tequilas (8-1)

Wagers

• $25 to win on #4 Need the Purse
• $5 Exacta: 4 with 6
  Total: $30

Turfway Park: Race 5: $15,000 Maiden Claiming (one mile on Tapeta, 7:55 p.m. ET)

#9 Dokkodo (12-1) is an intriguing first-time starter from the barn of Doug Cowans. Cowans strikes at a 24% rate with horses debuting in maiden claimers, and since 2021 he’s gone 2-for-5 (40%) debuting horses in route races at Turfway Park.

A long series of workouts should have Dokkodo fit to debut over one mile, so we’ll bet him to win and hope his double-digit morning-line odds hold up.

Selections

• #9 Dokkodo (12-1)
• #3 Phila Street (3-1)
• #1 Stoic Sage (8-1)

Wagers

• $25 to win on #9 Dokkodo

Turfway Park: Race 8: Maiden Special Weight (one mile on Tapeta, 9:25 p.m. ET)

#7 Up Country (3-1) is an intriguing newcomer to Turfway Park. He’s cracked the exacta in his last two starts running long against maiden special weight competition at Churchill Downs, earning sharp Brisnet Speed ratings of 85 and 88.

If Up Country handles the switch to Tapeta, he can spring a mild upset over logical favorites #9 Sumood (9-5) and #6 Susan’s Boy (5-2). We’ll bet exacta and trifecta tickets accordingly.

Selections

• #7 Up Country (3-1)
• #9 Sumood (9-5)
• #6 Susan’s Boy (5-2)

Wagers

• $10 Exacta: 7 with 6,9 ($20)
• $2.50 Trifecta: 7 with 6,9 with 6,9 ($5)
  Total: $25

Good luck!