Wednesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Class drop can help Givemethebeat

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Wednesday, June 18 at Churchill Downs and Presque Isle Downs, including a two-year-old dropping in class.

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 on Harness Racing: Receive 5x points on all wagers at harness tracks (excluding show bets) each Wednesday and Thursday from May 7 through June 26.
• Assiniboia Downs 25% Double Down: Hit two double wagers in a single day at Assiniboia Downs to receive a 25% boost on all winning double wagers at Assiniboia (up to $25 for the day) every Tuesday and Wednesday in June.
• Churchill Downs Triple Rewards Points: Receive triple rewards point on all wagers (excluding show bets) at Churchill Downs from Wednesday through Friday.
• British Racing $10 Money Back: Receive up to $10 back on your first single-horse win wager if your horse runs second in selected British races from May 17 through Aug. 31.

Today’s TwinSpires tournaments include:

• $150 Royal Ascot Cash Feeder to 6/21 Royal Ascot Challenge
• $50 Churchill Downs Challenge
• $120 Churchill Downs Feeder to 7/5 Indiana Derby KDBC/NHC Qualifier
• $120 Assiniboia Downs Feeder to 6/27 Churchill Downs SFBC Qualifier

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Churchill Downs: Race 2: $50,000 Maiden Claiming (five furlongs on dirt, 1:14 p.m. ET)

#6 Givemethebeat (3-1) has knocked heads with tough rivals in her first two starts against maiden special weight company. First she finished fifth behind next-out Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies S. winner Lennilu in a 4 1/2-furlong sprint at Keeneland. Then she ran fifth against next-out Astoria S. heroine Sassy C W in a 4 1/2-furlong dash at Churchill.

Dropping in class for a $40,000 maiden claimer should be all Givemethebeat needs to visit the winner’s circle. Let’s bet her to win and single her to start a double wager.

Selections

• #6 Givemethebeat (3-1)
• #4 Dragon Navy (4-1)
• #2 Charcoal Queen (10-1)

Wagers

• $15 to win on #6 Givemethebeat
• $15 Double: 6 with 6
  Total: $30

Churchill Downs: Race 3: $12,500 Starter Allowance (six furlongs on dirt, 1:43 p.m. ET)

#6 Busk (9-5) has been unstoppable since being claimed by trainer Manuel Chavez in March. He’s rattled off four consecutive victories at four different tracks, winning a $7,500 claimer, a pair of $10,000 starter allowances, and a $10,000 starter optional claimer by margins from 1 3/4 lengths to seven lengths.

Busk brings sharp Brisnet Speed ratings into this $12,500 starter allowance and has every chance to record a fifth straight victory. We’ll single him to end our double wager, then add a win bet for good measure.

Selections

• #6 Busk (9-5)
• #2 Turn Up the Trees (3-1)
• #3 Cowan (5-2)

Wagers

• $30 to win on #6 Busk

Presque Isle Downs: Race 5: Maiden Special Weight (4 1/2 furlongs on Tapeta, 5:18 p.m. ET)

Since 2023, trainer Kevin Rice has gone 6-for-19 (32%) saddling experienced juveniles at Presque Isle Downs. This bodes well for #3 Judy Chop (6-1), who debuted with a third-place finish in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight over the Woodbine Tapeta track last month.

Judy Chop has since posted three workouts at Presque Isle Downs, and she’s picking up hot apprentice jockey Brooke Bays, who rides with a favorable seven-pound weight allowance. All these stats suggest Judy Chop is worthy of a win bet.

Selections

• #3 Judy Chop (6-1)
• #5 Thank You Amy (4-1)
• #6 Rizz (3-1)

Wagers

• $30 to win on #3 Judy Chop

Good luck!