Wednesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: 10-1 in Bucchero Handicap

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Wednesday, Aug. 20 at Colonial Downs and Horseshoe Indianapolis, including a 10-1 shot in the Bucchero H.

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.
• Colonial Downs $3,000 Turf Trial: Play the Colonial Downs Turf Trial (involving $10+ win bets in turf races at Colonial Downs) for a chance to split a $3,000 prize pool on Wednesdays and Thursdays in August.

Today’s TwinSpires tournaments include:

• $50 Saratoga Challenge
• $200 Saratoga Feeder to 8/23 Travers MMBC/BCBC Qualifier
• $150 Mountaineer Feeder to 8/30 Saratoga/Kentucky Downs MMBC Qualifier

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Colonial Downs: Race 1: Maiden Special Weight (5 1/2 furlongs on turf, 12:30 p.m. ET)

Longshot #3 State Conceal (30-1) is the fastest of the experienced runners in this field. The son of Silver State earned a respectable 67 when debuting in a 5 1/2-fulrong maiden special weight on dirt at Colonial Downs, then improved to a 74 when finishing fourth in the Hickory Tree S. over the same track and distance.

Dropping in class and switching to turf opens the door for State Conceal to snatch a surprise victory. A win bet is in order.

Selections

• #3 State Conceal (30-1)
• #10 Hot Cocoa (12-1)
• #2 Dynacito (2-1)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #3 State Conceal

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 3: Maiden Special Weight (1 1/16 miles on dirt, 3:12 p.m. ET)

Although this race was originally slated for turf, it’s been transferred to dirt due to rain at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

The surface switch shouldn’t bother #3 Alongcomesawoman (3-1). She showed early speed when trying dirt in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Churchill Downs last September and after taking command with five-sixteenths of a mile remaining, she tired to finish fourth.

Alongcomesawoman is eligible to improve in her three-year-old debut, especially while picking up apprentice jockey Micah Meeks, who rides with a 10-pound weight allowance. Throw in the fact trainer Eddie Kenneally wins at a 21% rate with horses returning from layoffs of 90 days or more, and Alongcomesawoman is worth betting to win and keying over #6 Crawford (2-1) in the exacta.

Selections

• #3 Alongcomesawoman (3-1) 
• #6 Crawford (2-1)
• #1 Stylish Lady (9-2)

Wagers

• $25 to win on #3 Alongcomesawoman
• $5 Exacta: 3 with 6
  Total: $30

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 8: Bucchero H. (1 1/16 miles on dirt, 5:47 p.m. ET)

The Bucchero H. was scheduled for turf, but will instead take place on dirt.

Talented three-year-old #4 Chicory Blaze (10-1) is a head and a neck away from being unbeaten in five starts. He’s been especially sharp in his last two starts at Horseshoe Indianapolis, winning the one-mile Snack H. on turf and the one-mile and 70-yard Governor’s H. on dirt.

Chicory Blaze appears fast enough to vie for victory even while facing older rivals. He’s worth betting to win at anywhere near his 10-1 morning-line odds.

Selections

• #4 Chicory Blaze (10-1)
• #6 Hoosier Daddy Now (4-1)
• #8 Funtastic Vow (5-1)

Wagers

• $25 to win on #4 Chicory Blaze

Good luck!