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 Santa Anita, 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

Santa Anita: Race 5: Eddie Logan S. (one mile on turf, 5:00 p.m. ET)

#4 Stark Contrast (8-5) has been a force to reckon with racing one mile on turf. After breaking his maiden and following up with a win in the Zuma Beach (G3), he finished second against international competition in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), beaten only three-quarters of a length.

Dropping in class for the Eddie Logan should make Stark Contrast tough to beat. Let’s key him over the Grade 1-placed #2 Plutarch (2-1) in a cold exacta, then single him to start a double wager. 

Selections

• #4 Stark Contrast (8-5)
• #2 Plutarch (2-1)
• #1 Third Beer (8-1)

Wagers

• $25 Exacta: 4 with 2
• $10 Double: 4 with 2
  Total: $35

Santa Anita: Race 6: Maiden Special Weight (six furlongs on dirt, 5:30 p.m. ET)

#2 Tommy Norris (7-2) has knocked heads with several next-out winners while sprinting over this class level. Three starts back, he ran third in a 5 1/2-furlong dash to Ocean Bear, who subsequently won an allowance and the Golden State Juvenile S.

If you draw a line through Tommy Norris’ recent defeat racing one mile in the King Glorious S., his form is hard to knock. Dropping back down in class and distance can send him to the winner’s circle, so we’ll bet Tommy Norris to win and single him to conclude our double bet.

Selections

• #2 Tommy Norris (7-2)
• #3 Joker Went Wild (3-1)
• #5 Red Hot (5-2)

Wagers

• $25 to win on #2 Tommy Norris

Santa Anita: Race 8: Maiden Special Weight (six furlongs on dirt, 6:30 p.m. ET)

Unraced two-year-old #3 Red Cherry (5-1) has the pedigree to win from an early age. Her dam, Harbor Mist, won the Anne M. Clare S. at age two and previously foaled Crazy Hot, winner of the Generation Portion S. as a juvenile.

Red Cherry has put together a promising work tab highlighted by a bullet five furlongs in 1:00 3/5. She’s trained by John Sadler (a respectable 15% winner with horses debuting in maiden special weights), so let’s bet Red Cherry to win and hope her 5-1 morning-line odds hold up.

Selections

• #3 Red Cherry (5-1)
• #5 Cherry Cider (5-2)
• #6 Little Opal (8-1)

Wagers

• $25 to win on #3 Red Cherry

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!