Wednesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Katar seeks a rebound

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Wednesday, April 1 at Turf Paradise, including plays in the Cactus Wren S. and Cactus Flower S.

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Today’s TwinSpires tournaments include:

• $40 Tampa Bay Downs Challenge
• $200 Tampa Bay Downs Feeder to 4/4 Blue Grass KDBC Qualifier

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Turf Paradise: Race 3: Cactus Wren S. (6 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 5:11 p.m. ET)

#4 Katar (7-2) boasts a 12-8-1-1 record at Turf Paradise, which includes multiple stakes wins. In 2024, he smashed the Cactus Wren S. by 8 3/4 lengths with a sharp 86 Brisnet Speed rating. Then he took the six-furlong Lyman and Bradley Rollins S. by 11 1/4 lengths, stopping the timer in a fast 1:07.70 to earn a 93 Brisnet Speed rating.

Katar has been freshened since competing without success in three races at Canterbury Park last summer. He enters the Cactus Wren off fast workouts (including a bullet five furlongs in :58 1/5) for hot trainer Robertino Diodoro, suggesting he’ll fire a strong shot in his comeback.

A win bet is in order.

Selections

• #4 Katar (7-2)
• #3 Time to Fly (1-1)
• #1 Ez Iz Onzaway (4-1)

Wagers

• $30 to win on #4 Katar

Turf Paradise: Race 7: Maiden Special Weight (one mile on turf, 7:05 p.m. ET)

#2 Definitely Prbable (5-2) is shipping in from California, where she was last seen finishing third in a six-furlong $32,000 maiden claimer on dirt. Her lone turf race to date wasn’t bad either—she finished sixth by 5 3/4 lengths in a $50,000 maiden claimer racing one mile.

Even though Race 7 is a maiden special weight, not a maiden claimer, Definitely Prbable may find the competition easier. The Brisnet Speed rating she earned in her turf start (76) is equal to the par winning number for Wednesday’s conditions.

Let’s place a win bet on Definitely Prbable and single her to start a double wager.

Selections

• #2 Definitely Prbable (5-2)
• #5 Golden Goose (3-1)
• #10 Fly Farther (5-1)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #2 Definitely Prbable
• $10 Double: 2 with
  Total: $30

Turf Paradise: Race 8: Cactus Flower S. (6 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 7:38 p.m. ET)

#6 Squeeze the Day (8-5) has won three straight six-furlong sprints at Turf Paradise. Last time out, he took the ATBA Sales S. by three lengths, equaling his career-best 84 Brisnet Speed rating.

Squeeze the Day appears well-spotted to snag a fourth straight win in the Cactus Flower. Let’s bet him over #2 Lucky Burglar (4-1) in an exacta.

Selections

• #6 Squeeze the Day (8-5)
• #2 Lucky Burglar (4-1)
• #7 Lotsa Lace (6-1)

Wagers

• $25 Exacta: 6 with 2

Good luck!