Wednesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Mott trainee at Presque Isle Downs

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Wednesday, May 20, at Horseshoe Indianapolis and Presque Isle Downs, including a Riley Mott trainee who has been facing tough competition.

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.
• 15% Odds Boost Horseshoe Indianapolis: Receive a 15% odds boost (up to $25) on your winning single-horse win wagers at Horseshoe Indianapolis each racing Wednesday in May.

Today’s TwinSpires tournaments include:

• $88 Parx Bet and Set Feeder to 5/29 Churchill Downs Bonus Feeder
• $100 Horseshoe Indianapolis Feeder to 5/23 Churchill Downs NHC Qualifier
• $40 Horseshoe Indianapolis Challenge
• $40 Presque Isle Downs Challenge
• $68 Penn National Bet and Set Feeder to 5/23 Churchill Downs Bonus Feeder

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 1: Maiden Special Weight (one mile on dirt, 2:10 p.m. ET)

#7 Crazy Sexy Cool (7-2) has competed exclusively in sprints at Horseshoe Indianapolis, recording a trio of top-three finishes from four starts. Stretching out in distance for her third start of the season could be a recipe for victory, especially while wearing blinkers for the first time, which is a 21% winning move for trainer Tianna Richardville.

Let’s try a win bet on Crazy Sexy Cool, then key her over logical favorite #5 Jogger (5-2) in an exacta.

Selections

• #7 Crazy Sexy Cool (7-2)
• #5 Jogger (5-2)
• #4 Abra Abra (9-2)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #7 Crazy Sexy Cool
• $5 Exacta: 7 with 5
  Total: $25

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 2: $12,500 Claiming (six furlongs on dirt, 2:41 p.m. ET)

#1 Zoomaha (9-2) has lots of early speed and has run well a couple of times on the Kentucky circuit. Last September, she ran second in a $30,000 maiden claimer at Churchill Downs. In December, she trounced a $15,000 maiden claimer at Turfway Park by 3 1/2 lengths.

The latter performance earned Zoomaha an 84 Brisnet Speed rating, the highest number in Wednesday’s field. She’s adding Lasix for her three-year-old debut and picking up hot jockey Marcelino Pedroza Jr., so let’s bet Zoomaha to win. 

Selections

• #1 Zoomaha (9-2)
• #6 Pickle Shoes (2-1)
• #2 I’m a Cookie Lover (9-5)

Wagers

• $25 to win on #1 Zoomaha

Presque Isle Downs: Race 1: Maiden Special Weight (one mile on Tapeta, 3:30 p.m. ET)

#4 Whine Country (9-5) has competed twice in maiden special weights at Gulfstream Park. He’s faced quality competition and exits a fourth-place finish on turf.

Trainer Riley Mott wins at a 22% rate with horses switching from turf to synthetic, and in 2025, Mott compiled an excellent 5-for-16 (31%) record saddling experienced horses at Presque Isle Downs.

We’ll bet Whine Country to win and key him on top of first-time starter, #1 Hey Kenny (3-1), in an exacta.

Selections

• #4 Whine Country (9-5)
• #1 Hey Kenny (3-1)
• #3 St. Emilion (5-2)

Wagers

• $35 to win on #4 Whine Country
• $5 Exacta: 4 with 1
  Total: $40

Good luck!