Keeler Johnson’s Freeplay Game Selections: May 15-16

(Coady Photo/Churchill Downs)

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:

May 15: Featured Race: Hollywood Wildcat S.

Prize Pool

$250 TwinSpires Racing Free Bet

Goal

To pick the top three finishers in Friday’s Hollywood Wildcat S. at Gulfstream Park.

Analysis

#3 Tonalist’s Shape (8-5) is the most accomplished runner in this 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies, having won the Forward Gal (G3) and Davona Dale (G2) at Gulfstream during the winter. But Tonalist’s Shape faltered badly when stretching out around two turns in the Mar. 28 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), failing to flashy any early speed before retreating to finish seventh. With only three modest workouts to her credit since then, I’m not certain Tonalist’s Shape will be ready for a peak effort on Friday.

Instead, I’ll favor #8 Cheermeister (7-2), a two-time graded stakes winner over the Gulfstream turf course. While Cheermeister has never run on dirt, this speedy daughter of Bodemeister is bred to enjoy the main track, and her front-running style should ensure she doesn’t have to deal with kickback.

#6 Vigilantes Way (8-1), a stoutly-bred daughter of Medaglia d’Oro conditioned by Shug McGaughey, can also be in the mix at a nice price. This Phipps Stable homebred showed tactical speed when pulling away to win a 7-furlong maiden special weight at Tampa Bay Downs on Apr. 4 and should relish the opportunity to stretch out around two turns.

The Play

1st: #8 Cheermeister (7-2)
2nd: #6 Vigilantes Way (8-1)
3rd: #3 Tonalist’s Shape (8-5)

May 16: Saturday Special

Prize Pool

$100 Bonus Cash

Goal

To pick the top four finishers in Saturday’s 11th race at Churchill Downs.

Analysis

Hot trainer Wesley Ward excels at conditioning turf sprinters and appears to hold a strong hand in this 5 1/2-furlong grass dash for 3-year-old fillies. The speedy duo of #4 Karak (4-1) and #11 Chili Petin (5-1) competed at Royal Ascot last summer, and all signs suggest they’re sitting on big efforts. Certainly they both ran well at Turfway Park this winter (Karak dominated the Cincinnati Trophy S. while Chili Petin cruised to victory in an allowance race), and they’ve trained sharply in preparation for their return at Churchill Downs.

Of the pair, I prefer Karak, who posted a 97 Brisnet Speed rating while crushing the Cincinnati Trophy by 8 1/2 lengths. Chili Petin warrants respect too, but there’s a ton of speed in Saturday’s field, and since she’s drawn post 11, I’m concerned she’ll endure a tough trip dueling for the lead while racing wide.

For this reason, I’ll take a stand against Chili Petin. I’ll play Karak on top and use the late-running duo of #8 Fashionable Lady (10-1) and #10 Fly So Pretty (7-2) underneath, hoping the expected fast pace provides them with a favorable setup to finish in the money: