Wednesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Baby Max drops in class

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Wednesday, March 11 at Turf Paradise and Turfway Park, including a cold 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.
• 5x Rewards Points at Tampa Bay Downs: Receive 5x rewards points on all wagers at Tampa Bay Downs each racing Wednesday in March.

Today’s TwinSpires tournaments include:

• $40 Tampa Bay Downs Challenge
• $160 Tampa Bay Downs Feeder to 3/14 Virginia Derby/Oaklawn KDBC Qualifier
• $40 Turfway Park Challenge
• $200 Turfway Park Feeder to 3/21 Louisiana Derby/Jeff Ruby KDBC Qualifier

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Turf Paradise: Race 5: $6,250 Claiming (six furlongs on dirt, 6:09 p.m. ET)

#6 Great King (2-1) has been on a roll at Turf Paradise. He’s finished second, first, and first in his last three starts against $4,000 claiming competition, earning Brisnet Speed ratings of 82, 80, and 86 that meet or exceed the par winning number (80) for Wednesday’s conditions.

Let’s bet Great King on top of an exacta using #2 Winter Falcon (5-2) for second place.

Selections

• #6 Great King (2-1)
• #2 Winter Falcon (5-2)
• #1 Hail State (5-1)

Wagers

• $20 Exacta: 6 with 2

Turfway Park: Race 6: $62,500 Allowance Optional Claiming (one mile on Tapeta, 8:25 p.m. ET)

#3 Baby Max (2-1) has cracked the exacta in five of his six starts at Turfway Park. Last year, he won the Leonatus S. and ran second in the John Battaglia Memorial. Last month, he ran second in the Dust Commander S.

Dropping in class for a $62,500 allowance optional claimer should send Baby Max back to the Turfway winner’s circle. We’ll bet him to win, key him on top of an exacta using the improving #1 First Strike (3-1) for second place, and single him to start a double wager.

Selections

• #3 Baby Max (2-1)
• #1 First Strike (3-1)
• #9 Prince of Power (5-2)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #3 Baby Max
• $5 Exacta: 3 with 1
• $5 Double: 3 with 6
  Total: $30

Turfway Park: Race 7: Maiden Special Weight (one mile on Tapeta, 8:55 p.m. ET)

Triple Crown nominee #6 Givethedevilhisdue (5-2) showed promise when debuting in a six-furlong maiden special weight over this track. He rallied from the back half of the field to finish second, beaten only 1 1/4 lengths while earning a respectable 80 Brisnet Speed rating.

Trainer Cherie DeVaux wins at a 23% rate with horses running long for the first time, so Givethedevilhisdue is eligible to improve while stretching out over one mile. A win bet is in order.

Selections

• #6 Givethedevilhisdue (5-2)
• #3 Winter Holiday (3-1)
• #8 Question Answered (7-2)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #6 Givethedevilhisdue

Good luck!