Wednesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Gold On Black at 9-2

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Wednesday, Oct. 21 at Belmont Park, Keeneland, and Horseshoe Indianapolis, including a trifecta.

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.
• 4x Rewards Points at Keeneland: Opt in and receive 4x rewards points on all wagers at Keeneland each racing Wednesday from Oct. 7 through Oct. 21.
• $2,000 Exacta Hit It and Split It at Horseshoe Indianapolis: Opt in and hit two exactas at Horseshoe Indianapolis for a chance to split a $2,000 prize pool each racing Wednesday in October.
• 4% Cash Back on Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge: Opt in and receive 4% cash back on your Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC) entry purchased through TwinSpires when you have previously competed in any BCBC qualifier, hosted by TwinSpires or any other operator.

Today’s TwinSpires tournaments include:

• $72 Keeneland Bet and Set Feeder to 10/24 Keeneland BCBC Bonus Feeder
• $40 Keeneland Challenge
• $200 Keeneland Feeder to 10/24 Keeneland BCBC Bonus Qualifier
• $150 Keeneland Challenge
• $50 Belmont Park Challenge
• $200 Belmont Park Feeder to 10/25 Churchill Downs BCBC Bonus Qualifier
• $80 Charles Town Feeder to 10/23 Keeneland BCBC Bonus Feeder
• $40 Charles Town Challenge

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Belmont Park: Race 1: $40,000 Maiden Claiming (seven furlongs on dirt, 1:10 p.m. ET)

#1 Midnight Rocket (4-5) has only run twice. He recently returned from a one-year layoff to finish sixth out of 12 runners in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Belmont Park.

Descending in class for trainer Bill Mott (a powerful 31% winner with horses dropping from maiden special weight to maiden claiming company) should make Midnight Rocket tough to beat. Let’s key him over #6 Show Me the Munny (3-1) and #3 Big Time Story (5-2) in a trifecta.

Selections

• #1 Midnight Rocket (4-5)
• #6 Show Me the Munny (3-1)
• #3 Big Time Story (5-2)

Wagers

• $15 Trifecta: 1 with 3,6 with 3,6 ($30)

Keeneland: Race 5: Maiden Special Weight (1 1/16 miles on dirt, 3:08 p.m. ET)

#2 Jackpot Rocket (3-1) has finished third in his first two starts sprinting at Saratoga. His latest effort came in a fast race, and he earned a sharp 87 Brisnet Speed rating that tops Wednesday’s field.

As a son of Tapit, Jackpot Rocket has the potential to improve while stretching out over 1 1/16 miles. Let’s bet him to win and play him over #7 Justification (10-1) in an exacta.

Selections

• #2 Jackpot Rocket (3-1)
• #7 Justification (10-1)
• #6 Solar Horizon (9-2)

Wagers

• $25 to win on #2 Jackpot Rocket (3-1)
• $5 Exacta: 2 with 7
  Total: $30

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 5: Maiden Special Weight (one mile on dirt, 4:19 p.m. ET)

#3 Gold On Black (9-2) finished last by 25 1/2 lengths in his latest start, but that was a seven-furlong maiden special weight won in runaway fashion by next-out Champagne (G1) winner U. S. S. Valor. Gold On Black finished only 10 lengths behind third-place finisher Mystik Bayou, who returned to win a Belmont Park maiden special weight by 4 1/4 lengths.

Gold On Black should find the competition easier at Horseshoe Indianapolis, where trainer Riley Mott has compiled a strong 23% win rate this meet.

Let’s place a win bet on Gold On Black and bet him over #5 Bermuda (5-2) in an exacta.

Selections

• #3 Gold On Black (9-2)
• #5 Bermuda (5-2)
• #7 Start the Disco (2-1)

Wagers

• $25 to win on #3 Gold On Black
• $5 Exacta: 3 with 5
  Total: $30

Good luck!