Wednesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Tampa and Turf Paradise

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Wednesday, Jan. 28 at Tampa Bay Downs and Turf Paradise, including a cold 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.

Today’s TwinSpires tournaments include:

• $40 Tampa Bay Downs Challenge
• $120 Tampa Bay Downs Feeder to 1/31 Southwest KDBC Qualifier

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Tampa Bay Downs: Race 6: $25,000 Starter Optional Claiming (6 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 2:50 p.m. ET)

#2 Authentic Wave (5-2) was much the best in a $35,000 starter optional claimer at Gulfstream Park last month, charging from midfield to win the seven-furlong sprint by 6 1/4 lengths. 

Authentic Wave has run as fast on the Brisnet Speed rating scale as #4 Ridgie (7-5), the favorite to win Race 6 after finishing third in Tampa’s seven-furlong Gasparilla S. We’re willing to bet Authentic Wave can spring a mild surprise under Tampa’s top jockey Samuel Marin.

Let’s play an exacta accordingly.

Selections

• #2 Authentic Wave (5-2)
• #4 Ridgie (7-5)
• #3 Questnbled’cisions (9-2)

Wagers

• $25 Exacta: 2 with 4

Turf Paradise: Race 7: $10,000-$8,500 Claiming (1 1/16 miles on turf, 6:01 p.m. ET)

#4 For A Laugh (3-1) has won three straight starts on turf, including a pair of $8,000-$6,250 claimers at Turf Paradise. His Brisnet Speed ratings are strong, and his early speed should be an asset in this largely paceless field. For A Laugh has every chance to snag a third straight win.

Let’s bet For A Laugh to win and single him to start a double wager.

Selections

• #4 For A Laugh (3-1)
• #1 Brother Reid (4-1)
• #5 Summer Lover (8-1)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #4 For A Laugh
• $10 Double: 4 with 4
  Total: $30

Turf Paradise: Race 8: $8,500 Maiden Claiming (six furlongs on dirt, 6:29 p.m. ET)

#4 Flash That Smile (9-2) has shown decent form sprinting against California-breds at Santa Anita. Two starts back, she finished third by three-quarters of a length in a $50,000 maiden claimer.

Flash That Smile hasn’t run since June, but sharp workouts at Turf Paradise (including a bullet five furlongs in :59 1/5) should have her fit for a competitive return, especially while dropping in class at Turf Paradise.

At 9-2, Flash That Smile is worthy of a win bet. We’ll also single her to conclude our double wager.

Selections

• #4 Flash That Smile (9-2)
• #9 Swiss Dancer (7-2)
• #8 Curlin’s Song (5-2)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #4 Flash That Smile

Good luck!