Wednesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Double at Tampa Bay Downs

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Wednesday, March 4 at Tampa Bay Downs and Turf Paradise, including a 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:

• $200 Tampa Bay Downs Feeder to 3/7 Tampa Bay Derby/Oaklawn KDBC Qualifier
• $40 Tampa Bay Downs Challenge
• $40 Turfway Park Challenge
• $160 Turfway Park Feeder to 3/14 Virginia Derby/Oaklawn KDBC Qualifier

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Tampa Bay Downs: Race 6: $25,000 Maiden Claiming (5 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 3:18 p.m. ET)

#7 Peppapete (6-5) was compromised by a slow pace in his debut sprinting six furlongs over this track, distance, and class level. Even still, he gobbled up ground to finish third, beaten only 1 1/4 lengths.

Peppapete subsequently stepped up in class for a $32,000 maiden claimer. He raced closer to an honest pace before staying on to finish third by 1 1/2 lengths.

Dropping back down the class ladder should make Peppapete tough to beat. Let’s single him to start a double wager, then key him over #3 They Call Me Sue (9-5) in an exacta.

Selections

• #7 Peppapete (6-5)
• #3 They Call Me Sue (9-5)
• #1 Grandpa’s Ace (8-1)

Wagers

• $20 Double: 7 with 6
• $10 Exacta: 7 with 3
  Total: $30

Tampa Bay Downs: Race 7: $32,000 Allowance Optional Claiming (1 1/16 miles on turf, 3:56 p.m. ET)

#6 Spirit Prince (7-5) ran well over this track, distance, and class level on Jan. 17. He rallied from off the pace to finish second, beaten only half a length.

Trainer Miguel Clement has been on fire at Tampa, going 10-for-25 (40%) since Nov. 19, and jockey Samuel Marin has gone 5-for-10 (50%) teaming up with Clement over the last two months. We’ll count on Spirit Prince to keep their momentum going, singling him to conclude our double wager and keying him over #9 Soliway (12-1) and #2 Keep It Easy (7-2) in an exacta.

Selections

• #6 Spirit Prince (7-5)
• #9 Soliway (12-1)
• #2 Keep It Easy (7-2)

Wagers

• $8 Exacta: 6 with 2,9 ($16)

Turf Paradise: Race 7: $5,000 Starter Allowance (7 1/2 furlongs on turf, 6:13 p.m. ET)

#7 Baie Longue (5-2) has been competing well over the Turf Paradise turf course. In December and January, he scored back-to-back wins in $20,000 and $25,000 allowance optional claimers, earning sharp Brisnet Speed ratings of 82 and 81 that are higher than the par winning number (80) for Wednesday’s conditions.

If you forgive Baie Longue’s recent eighth-place finish against tougher competition in the Walter R. Cluer Memorial S., he’s a logical choice to win this $5,000 starter allowance. Let’s bet him over #5 Little Trouble (4-1) and #2 Sonic Speed (5-1) in an exacta.

Selections

• #7 Baie Longue (5-2)
• #5 Little Trouble (4-1)
• #2 Sonic Speed (5-1)

Wagers

• $12 Exacta: 7 with 2,5 ($24)

Good luck!