Wednesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Exacta at Assiniboia

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Wednesday, July 1 at Presque Isle Downs and Assiniboia Downs, along with horses to single in the $5,049 Pick 5 carryover at Delaware Park.

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.

Today’s TwinSpires tournaments include:

• $80 Parx Feeder to 7/10 Saratoga KDBC/NHC Bonus Feeder
• $120 Presque Isle Downs Feeder to 7/4 Saratoga SSBC Qualifier
• $40 Presque Isle Downs Challenge
• $60 Mountaineer Bet and Set Feeder to 7/5 Saratoga NHC Qualifier
• $40 Mountaineer Challenge

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Presque Isle Downs: Race 1: $7,500 Maiden Claiming (one mile and 70 yards on Tapeta, 3:30 p.m. ET)

#5 Grab the Spark (9-2) has competed exclusively against tougher competition on dirt. Last time out, he finished sixth in a $20,000 maiden claimer sprinting six furlongs at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Linda Rice has compiled a strong 6-3-2-0 (50%) record at Presque Isle this meet, and she wins at a lofty 32% rate with horses dropping multiple levels down the class ladder. These stats suggest Grab the Spark will be formidable while dropping into a $7,500 maiden claimer at Presque Isle.

At 9-2, a win bet is in order. We’ll also key Grab the Spark over #2 Tinseltown (5-2) in an exacta.

Selections

• #5 Grab the Spark (9-2)
• #2 Tinseltown (5-2)
• #3 Leo Q (7-2)

Wagers

• $25 to win on #5 Grab the Spark
• $5 Exacta: 5 with 2
  Total: $30

Presque Isle Downs: Race 3: $15,000 Maiden Claiming (one mile on Tapeta, 4:24 p.m. ET)

#2 T’ Ray (2-1) exits a solid runner-up finish over this track, distance, and class level. He carved out the pace for seven furlongs and was beaten only 2 1/4 lengths by Buck’s Howl, the betting favorite dropping in class off a close runner-up finish in a $17,500 maiden claimer at Gulfstream Park.

T’ Ray appears to be meeting an easier field on Wednesday, setting the stage for a breakthrough victory. It’s encouraging to note he’s trained by Scooter Davis, who has compiled a stellar 13-for-31 (42%) record at Presque Isle this meet.

Let’s place a large win bet on T’ Ray.

Selections

• #2 T’ Ray (2-1)
• #5 Alexander K (5-2)
• #4 Talkin Tough (3-1)

Wagers

• $40 to win on #2 T’ Ray

Assiniboia Downs: Race 1: $7,500 Claiming (six furlongs on dirt, 8:30 p.m. ET)

#2 He Knows We Know (8-5) has finished first or second in three of his last four starts against $7,500 claiming competition at Assiniboia Downs. He comes off a close second-place effort, for which he earned a career-best 71 Brisnet Speed rating, and he should be tough to beat while dropping in class under hot jockey Kerron Khelawan.

#5 Twolefttoload (2-1), winner of two straight $7,500 claimers at Assiniboia to wrap up 2025, can round out the exacta in his 2026 debut.

Selections

• #2 He Knows We Know (8-5)
• #5 Twolefttoload (2-1)
• #6 Mini Glazed Donut (6-1)

Wagers

• $20 Exacta: 2 with 5

Carryover Watch

Delaware Park: Race 3: $5,049 Pick 5 carryover (12:00 p.m. ET)

Delaware Park will attempt to beat a summer heatwave by moving up post times on Wednesday. The card gets underway at 11:00 a.m. ET, and there’s a $5,049 carryover up for grabs in the 50-cent Pick 5 beginning in Race 3.

Post time for Race 3 is noon ET, so West Coast bettors can enjoy carryover action bright and early at 9:00 p.m. PT.

We’ve analyzed the entries and identified a pair of logical singles to build tickets around:

Race 5: #3 Starmetal (2-1)

Race 5 is a $25,000 maiden claimer for three-year-olds racing one mile and 70 yards on turf. Starmetal is a compelling favorite while dropping in class.

During the winter at Fair Grounds, Starmetal recorded top-four finishes in a trio of $50,000 maiden optional claimers on turf. Then—after finishing sixth in a grass maiden special weight at Keeneland—Starmetal ran his best race to date in a maiden special weight over the Laurel Park turf course, rallying to finish third with an 80 Brisnet Speed rating.

None of the other horses entered in Race 5 have earned a Brisnet Speed rating higher than 79, nor a number higher than 70 on turf. Starmetal appears well-spotted to break his maiden while descending into the claiming ranks. It helps that he’ll be ridden by jockey Gavin Ashton, who has gone 4-for-13 (31%) at Delaware Park this meet.

Race 7: #6 Drop Shot (9-5)

The Pick 5 wraps up in Race 7, a maiden special weight for three-year-olds and older horses racing 1 1/16 miles on turf. Drop Shot looms as the horse to beat.

Drop Shot has spent his first six starts competing in maiden special weights on turf in Kentucky, Florida, and New York. He’s recorded a trio of top-four finishes, including a third in a one-mile contest at Keeneland. Last time out, he ran seventh (beaten only 2 3/4 lengths) racing one mile at Saratoga.

Drop Shot figures to find the competition easier at Delaware Park. His last two Brisnet Speed ratings (a pair of 80s) are two of the three highest numbers earned by horses entered in Race 7. There should be enough pace in Race 7 to set up Drop Shot’s late rally, so he’s a solid choice to single in the Pick 5.

Good luck!