Wednesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Tampa’s $63,841 Pick 5 carryover

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Wednesday, Dec. 31, at Turf Paradise, along with a horse to single in the $63,841 Pick 5 carryover at Tampa Bay Downs.

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 Points at Tampa Bay Downs: Receive 4x rewards points on all wagers at Tampa Bay Downs each Wednesday in December.

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Turf Paradise: Race 3: $8,500 Claiming (five furlongs on dirt, 4:15 p.m. ET)

#3 Curlin’s Lil Gal (2-1) has been freshened since July, when she ran third behind a pair of next-out winners in a non-state-restricted $10,000 claimer at Prairie Meadows. She’s since been transferred to the care of hot trainer Isaiah Ortiz, a 30% winner with horses starting for the first time under his care.

Curlin’s Lil Gal has competed well at Turf Paradise in the past; when last seen over this track in February, she ran third in a $20,000 claimer. Dropping into an $8,500 claimer for Arizona-breds should be all Curlin’s Lil Gal needs to visit the winner’s circle.

We’ll load up with a large win bet on Curlin’s Lil Gal.

Selections

• #3 Curlin’s Lil Gal (2-1)
• #6 Charmz (5-1)
• #7 Top Review (4-1)

Wagers

• $40 to win on #3 Curlin’s Lil Gal

Turf Paradise: Race 6: Allowance (one mile on dirt, 5:45 p.m. ET)

Three-year-old #1 Time to Fly (3-1) has finished fifth in his last two starts sprinting, but he’s more effective as a route racer. He’s won multiple stakes around two turns, and in a one-mile $40,000 allowance optional claimer at Prairie Meadows during the summer, he finished second to the capable four-year-old Happy Strike, who was in the midst of a four-race win streak at the time.

Rejoining the three-year-old ranks for a one-mile allowance at Turf Paradise should suit Time to Fly just fine. Take note, he boasts a 6-3-2-0 record at Turf Paradise, which includes a 5 1/4-length romp in the 1 1/16-mile Gene Fleming Breeders’ Derby.

Let’s bet Time to Fly to win and single him to start a double wager.

Selections

• #1 Time to Fly (3-1)
• #4 Benandonner (7-2)
• #3 Honor the Giants (6-1)

Wagers

• $25 to win on #1 Time to Fly
• $5 Double: 1 with 9
  Total: $30

Turf Paradise: Race 7: $12,500 Allowance Optional Claiming (7 1/2 furlongs on turf, 6:15 p.m. ET)

#9 Hurricane Cloud (5-1) has been out of form in recent starts, but he’s been facing tougher competition and exits a $50,000 allowance optional claimer at Del Mar.

After competing almost exclusively in California since 2022, Hurricane Cloud figures to find the competition at Turf Paradise more manageable. His best Brisnet Speed ratings from this year are easily good enough to beat this field, so let’s place a win bet on Hurricane Cloud.

Selections

• #9 Hurricane Cloud (5-1)
• #5 The Black Strat (3-1)
• #2 King Elvis (4-1)

Wagers

• $15 to win on #9 Hurricane Cloud

Carryover Watch

Tampa Bay Downs: Race 5: $63,841 Pick 5 carryover (2:20 p.m. ET)

Tampa Bay Downs is closing out 2025 on a high note. The 50-cent Late Pick 5 features an enticing non-jackpot carryover worth $63,841 for Wednesday’s card.

A competitive sequence is on the agenda. Before scratches, the Pick 5 sequence contains 55 horses (averaging 11 per race) and 145,600 possible outcomes.

If you’re looking for a single to build tickets around, look no further than #3 Brooklyn Styles (6-5), the heavy favorite to win Race 7.

Race 7 is a one-mile maiden special weight for two-year-olds racing one mile on turf. Some bettors may hesitate to single Brooklyn Styles since he was beaten 2 1/4 lengths when second over this course, distance, and class level on Dec. 12. But dig deeper, and Brooklyn Styles’ strength becomes apparent.

Brooklyn Styles didn’t receive anything resembling a clear trip on Dec. 12. After rating off the pace in fourth place, he was advancing nicely along the inside when forced to steady in traffic. He regrouped to launch another bid, but got stopped even harder, and at the worst possible moment. Just as the ultimate winner, Mr Mo’s Magic, was launching a sweeping outside rally to take the lead, Brooklyn Styles had nowhere to run and gave up many lengths of ground.

To Brooklyn Styles’ credit, he re-rallied yet again and gained 3 3/4 lengths through the final furlong to snatch second place. With a clear run, there’s a strong chance he would have beaten Mr Mo’s Magic.

Chances are, Brooklyn Styles will work out a clean trip on Wednesday. Take note, he’s picking up jockey Marin Samuel, the runaway leading rider at Tampa Bay Downs this meet with 28 wins (twice as many as his closest pursuer).

Throw in the fact that Brooklyn Styles is trained by Miguel Clement (who has compiled a flashy 6-3-1-2 record at Tampa this meet), and the chestnut colt is hands-down the horse to beat in Race 7. We feel confident recommending Brooklyn Styles as a Pick 5 single.

Good luck!