Keeler Johnson's picks and plays April 26

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares $75 worth of picks and plays for Tuesday, April 26 at Horseshoe Indianapolis and Thistledown, including a trio of exactas.

Today’s special offers from TwinSpires include:

• Midweek Bet Back: Receive refunds on win bets (up to $10) if your horse finishes second in select races at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
• Trifecta Tuesday: Receive a 15% bonus (up to $25 per day) on winning trifecta tickets.
• Scandinavian Bet Back: Receive refunds on win bets (up to $10) if your horse finishes second in any race at Axevalla (SWE), Bollnas (SWE), or Eskilstuna (SWE).

Picks and Plays

Thistledown: Race 7: Allowance (5 1/2 furlongs, 3:50 p.m. ET)

#5 Purity (9-5) has cracked the trifecta in her last three starts over a variety of distances, surfaces, and class levels. After finishing third in a $50,000 maiden claimer racing one mile at Keeneland, Purity dropped in class for a $15,000 maiden claimer sprinting six furlongs at Churchill Downs, which she won by a neck.

Purity subsequently finished third in a $50,000 allowance optional claimer dashing six furlongs over the Turfway Park Tapeta track. Returning to dirt for her 2022 debut should make Purity tough to beat for trainer Michael Rone, who wins at a 29% rate with horses returning from layoffs of 90 days or more.

#1A Orbit Bound (15-1) and #8 Florenzia (10-1), both flashy maiden claiming winners at Mahoning Valley, have the Brisnet Speed rating to vie for exacta honors. We’ll even include them in a small trifecta aimed at pursuing the Trifecta Tuesday promotion.

• $25 to win on #5 Purity
• $5 Exacta: 5 with 1,8 ($10)
• $2.50 Trifecta: 5 with 1,8 with 1,8 ($5)
  Total: $40

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 7: $30,000 Starter Optional Claiming (5 1/2 furlongs, 5:36 p.m. ET)

#7 Vivid Verse (2-1) hasn’t missed the board in 12 starts dating back to September 2020. The six-year-old gelding was most recently a dominant 2 1/2-length winner of a $12,500 starter optional claimer over the Turfway Park Tapeta track, for which he earned a solid 89 Brisnet Speed rating.

Vivid Verse consistently throws down Brisnet Speed ratings in the 83-90 range and cracked the trifecta in both of his starts at Horseshoe Indianapolis' track last year, suggesting he’ll be a logical threat on Tuesday for trainer Cipriano Contreras. Take note, Contreras wins at an excellent 22% rate with horses transitioning from synthetic to dirt.

California shipper #8 Fight On (9-5) can complete the exacta, but our first play will be a $10 win bet on Vivid Verse, in order to capitalize on the Midweek Bet Back offer.

• $10 to win on #7 Vivid Verse
• $5 Exacta: 7 with 8
  Total: $15

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 8: Maiden Special Weight (five furlongs, 6:07 p.m. ET)

Since 2020, trainer Anthony Granitz has gone 4-for-18 (22%) saddling first-time starters at Indiana Grand. This stat bodes well for #3 Signature Street (8-1), who looms as a live longshot in this maiden dash for Indiana-bred sophomore fillies.

Signature Street spent part of spring training at Tampa Bay Downs, where she clocked a quick half-mile in :48 2/5 on April 6. But she also took a spin over the Horseshoe Indianapolis main track last week, traveling three furlongs from the starting gate in :38 4/5 over a good track.

At 8-1, Signature Street is worth betting to win and boxing with fellow first-time starter #11 Sweepinjustice (3-1) in the exacta.

• $10 to win on #3 Signature Street
• $5 Exacta box: 3,11 ($10)
  Total: $20

Good luck!