Wednesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Churchill’s $8,344 Super High 5 carryover

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Wednesday, June 2 at Saratoga and Churchill Downs, including tickets for Churchill’s $8,344 Super High 5 carryover.

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.
• 25% Double Down at Assiniboia Downs: Hit two double wagers at Assiniboia Downs to receive a 25% boost on all winning double wagers (up to $25 for the day) at Assiniboia each racing Tuesday and Wednesday until June 24.
• $1,500 Late Pick 5 Hit It & Split It at Horseshoe Indianapolis: Hit the Late Pick 5 at Horseshoe Indianapolis to split a $1,500 prize pool each racing Wednesday in June.

Today’s TwinSpires tournaments include:

• $64 Belmont at Saratoga Bet and Set Feeder to 6/4 Belmont at Saratoga SFBC Qualifier
• $40 Churchill Downs Challenge
• $100 Churchill Downs Challenge
• $120 Churchill Downs Feeder to 6/13 Churchill Downs SFBC Qualifier
• $40 Belmont at Saratoga Challenge
• $100 Belmont at Saratoga Challenge
• $200 Belmont at Saratoga Feeder to 6/7 Churchill Downs BCBC Qualifier
• $80 Penn National Feeder to 6/5 Belmont at Saratoga Bonus Feeder

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Saratoga: Race 3: Mount Vernon S. (1 1/16 miles on turf, 1:45 p.m. ET)

Aside from a couple of misfires against Grade 1 competition, #4 Five G (5-2) has competed with aplomb dating back to November 2024. She’s won the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) and Cash Run S. on dirt, but she’s also run well on turf, dominating a maiden special weight by four lengths before running a close second in the Tepin S. behind future Saratoga Oaks (G2) winner Laurelin.

Five G’s maiden win came against fellow New York-breds. Returning to the New York-bred ranks for the Mount Vernon should make Five G a formidable win threat. Let’s bet her to win and play her over #3 Awesome Czech (9-5) in an exacta.

Selections

• #4 Five G (5-2)
• #3 Awesome Czech (9-5)
• #6 National Archive (8-1)

Wagers

• $24 to win on #4 Five G
• $6 Exacta: 4 with 3
  Total: $30

Churchill Downs: Race 6: Maiden Special Weight (six furlongs on dirt, 3:18 p.m. ET)

Since 2023, trainer Brendan Walsh has gone 2-for-6 (33%) debuting three-year-olds in dirt sprints at Churchill Downs. This lofty win percentage suggests #2 Twirling Aces (9-2) has a chance to factor on debut.

Twirling Aces is a daughter of Candy Ride, who sires a strong 16% winners from first-time starters. Twirling Aces enters off a pair of fast half-mile workouts at Churchill Downs (including one from the starting gate in :47 1/5), so she appears to have some ability.

Let’s place a win bet on Twirling Aces.

Selections

• #2 Twirling Aces (9-2)
• #5 By La Rina (3-1)
• #7 Mighty Nora (4-1)

Wagers

• $30 to win on #2 Twirling Aces

Saratoga: Race 8: Mike Lee S. (seven furlongs on dirt, 4:38 p.m. ET)

#9 Bravaro (5-2) is dropping down in class and distance after recording top-four finishes in the Holy Bull (G3), Fountain of Youth (G2), and Wood Memorial (G2) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Bravaro is 2-for-2 facing New York-breds in one-turn races. He’s returning to those conditions for the Mike Lee, and we’re confident he’ll bounce back with a winning run.

#1 Sculcos Folly (3-1), who has dominated each of his last three starts, can battle with #7 Arctic Beast (5-1) to complete the exacta and trifecta.

Selections

• #9 Bravaro (5-2)
• #1 Sculcos Folly (3-1)
• #7 Arctic Beast (5-1)

Wagers

• $11 Exacta: 9 with 1,7 ($22)
• $4 Trifecta: 9 with 1,7 with 1,7 ($8)
  Total: $30

Carryover Watch

Churchill Downs: Race 1: $8,344 Super High 5 carryover (12:45 p.m. ET)

The highlight of Wednesday’s card at Churchill Downs is an $8,344 carryover in the $1 Super High 5.

Super High 5 wagering is offered in all races with at least seven horses. Assuming there aren’t any scratches from the seven-horse field in Wednesday’s first race, that’s where the carryover will be dispersed.

Wager

• $1 Super High 5: 4 with 5 with 1,3 with 1,3,7 with 1,3,6,7 ($8)
• $1 Super High 5: 4 with 1,3 with 5 with 1,3,7 with 1,3,6,7 ($8)
• $1 Super High 5: 4 with 1,3 with 1,3,7 with 5 with 1,3,6,7 ($8)
• $1 Super High 5: 4 with 1,3 with 1,3,7 with 1,3,6,7 with 5 ($8)
  Total: $32

Race 1 is a $12,500 claimer for older horses racing one mile on dirt. #4 Midnight West (8-5) is the morning-line favorite and a compelling win contender. The six-year-old gelding has lots of early speed and has run well in recent starts against tougher competition at Oaklawn Park, finishing fifth in a $45,000 claimer, fifth in a $30,000 allowance optional claiming, and sixth in a $55,000 claimer.

Those efforts yielded sharp Brisnet Speed ratings of 83, 84, and 81. None of the other Race 1 entrants have earned more than one 81+ Brisnet Speed rating in their last three starts apiece (with the highest rating in the sample being 83), so Midnight West’s speed and consistency should make him tough to beat while dropping in class. We’ll key Midnight West on top of our tickets.

Underneath, we’ll emphasize #5 Bolt At Midnight (5-2). He’s been in sharp form as of late, finishing second in three straight starts. Last time out, he was beaten only a neck in a $12,500 claimer at Oaklawn while earning an 80 Brisnet Speed rating. A top-five finish appears likely.

#3 Hoodlum (6-1) finished only one length behind Bolt At Midnight when third in that $12,500 claimer. His best Brisnet Speed ratings are fast enough to factor for a top-five finish.

The same goes for #1 King of Hollywood (9-2). He earned an 80 Brisnet Speed rating when finishing a pacesetting fourth in a $25,000 claimer at Churchill Downs last month. Trainer Kent Sweezey wins at a 24% rate with horses dropping multiple levels down the class ladder, so King of Hollywood is a logical contender while facing easier competition.

Toward the bottom of our tickets, we’ll add #7 Slim Slow Slider (8-1), who has finished sixth and eighth in his last two starts against $35,000 and $25,000 claiming competition. #6 Nip N Tuck (20-1), fourth in a recent $12,500 claimer at Churchill, is the last horse we’ll use.

Good luck!