Keeler Johnson's picks and plays Aug. 15

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Monday, Aug. 15 at Presque Isle Downs and Assiniboia Downs, along with tickets for the $531 Pick 5 carryover at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Picks and Plays

Presque Isle Downs: Race 7: Satin and Lace S. (six furlongs on Tapeta, 4:12 p.m. ET)

#5 Boo Boo Kitty (15-1) was much the best in a $32,000 allowance optional claimer over this track and distance last month, leading all the way to score by 3 1/2 lengths with a strong 91 Brisnet Speed rating.

Only time will tell if Boo Boo Kitty can repeat the feat, but a similarly quick performance would place the improving three-year-old in the hunt for victory against #7 Tactical Pajamas (5-1) and #8 Club Car (9-5). At 15-1, isn’t she worth betting to win and keying on top in the exacta?

• $20 to win on #5 Boo Boo Kitty
• $5 Exacta: 5 with 7,8 ($10)
  Total: $30

Assiniboia Downs: Race 3: CTHS Sales S. (six furlongs, 9:35 p.m. ET)

Debutante S. winner #3 Lady Cop (7-5) and runaway maiden winner #4 I Love My Life (9-5) are the favorites in this stakes sprint for juveniles, but both are pure pacesetters who figure to engage in a duel for early supremacy.

A contested pace could benefit the maiden #1 Russian Pearl (4-1), who has finished second behind Lady Cop in each of her first two starts. Russian Pearl rallied gamely to finish just a neck away from victory in the five-furlong Debutante and has a shot to turn the tables while stretching out over six furlongs on Monday.

• $10 Exacta: 1 with 3,4 ($20)
• $5 Trifecta: 1 with 3,4 with 3,4 ($10)
  Total: $30

Carryover Watch

Horseshoe Indianapolis, Race 4: $531 Pick 5 carryover (4:03 p.m. ET)

Did you know the 50-cent Pick 5 at Horseshoe Indianapolis (with its low 11.99% takeout rate) boasts a $531 carryover for Monday’s card?

Let’s take a race-by-race look at the sequence and plan a play costing just $24:

Race 4: Allowance (5 1/2 furlongs)

#2 Mischieviousbud (5-2) has placed in his last two starts over this track and class level, earning sharp Brisnet Speed ratings of 71 and 74. He looms as a formidable win threat under hot jockey Edgar Morales (a 23% winner this meet), but #6 Spoke (3-1) is also worth including after obliterating a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Horseshoe Indianapolis by 8 1/2 lengths.

Race 5: $5,000 Claiming (six furlongs)

#2 Magnificentrevenge (3-1) has been competing with aplomb against tougher competition, finishing second in a pair of $12,500 claimers at Horseshoe Indianapolis. This looks like the perfect spot for Magnificentrevenge to secure her long-awaited second victory, although recent $10,000 maiden claiming winner #7 Rock of Cashel (8-1) might have upside for improvement.

Race 6: $40,000 Allowance Optional Claiming (five furlongs on turf)

#8 Lemos Cunha (2-1) finished second over this course, distance, and class level two starts back before coming home sixth in a stakes. But the stretch-running four-year-old may have to work hard to run down her more tactical rivals #1 Je Suis Belle (12-1) and #4 Honor That (6-1).

Race 7: $12,500 Maiden Claiming (1 1/16 miles)

#3 Indy Biz (3-1) has placed twice against maiden special weight competition at Horseshoe Indianapolis and should appreciate dropping in class for trainer Aaron West, who wins at a 32% rate with horses descending into the maiden claiming ranks for the first time. The only other horse we’ll include is #10 Prince Shim (9-2) (scratched), who has placed second in his last two starts over this track and class level.

Race 8: Maiden Special Weight (five furlongs on turf)

#1 One More Laugh (3-1) ran third in her debut sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs over the Fair Grounds turf course back in January, earning a strong 77 Brisnet Speed rating. Hot trainer Tom Amoss wins at a 22% rate with horses returning from layoffs of 90 days or more, so One More Laugh looks ready to challenge dirt-to-turf switcher #5 An Apple a Day (7-2) for top honors.

• 50-cent Pick 5: 2,6 with 2,7 with 1,4,8 with 3,10 with 1,5 ($24)

Good luck!