Keeler Johnson's Freeplay Game Selections: Apr. 10

Test your handicapping acumen with daily Freeplay games on TwinSpires! These free-to-play handicapping contests challenge you to pit your abilities against fellow horseplayers in a fun, no-pressure environment. You can hone your skills, share your plays on social media, and maybe even claim a prize—now that’s a winning combination!

Need some help getting started? Racing analyst Keeler Johnson is ready to share his plays for this week’s contest action:

Apr. 10: Hi-5 Friday

Prize

$500 Bonus Cash

Goal

To pick the top five finishers in Friday’s 9TH race at Oaklawn Park.

Analysis

#4 Candy Cornell (5-2) delivered a big win over this track and 6-furlong distance last month for high-percentage trainer Robertino Diodoro, scoring by four lengths with a 100 Brisnet Speed rating. The son of Candy Ride has tactical speed coupled with the ability to rate and should win right back if he brings his A-game.

Candy Cornell’s stiffest competition could come from the stretch-running #2 Nifty (7-2), a lightly-raced 4-year-old making his second start of the season for the high-profile team of trainer Larry Jones and Fox Hill Farm. He’s not as fast as the favorite on paper, but there should be enough pace for Nifty to rally and finish on the board.

For third place, we’ll get creative. The speedy #5 Malpais (20-1) showed promise early in his career, earning a 101 Brisnet Speed rating for an allowance victory at Fair Grounds before going on to claim the Robert Hilton Memorial S. at Charles Town. He’s training sharply and is eligible to improve while switching back to dirt and making his first start as a gelding. Hot jockey Martin Garcia has the mount.

We’ll round out our play with #6 There and Back (8-1), a delicate 5-year-old entering off a 6-furlong allowance win at Fair Grounds, and #8 Hilton Magic (12-1), a speedy though somewhat inconsistent stakes-placed runner who will try to stretch his speed on the front end.

The Play

1st: #4 Candy Cornell
2nd: #2 Nifty
3rd: #5 Malpais
4th: #6 There and Back
5th: #8 Hilton Magic

Good luck!

Racing