Keeler Johnson's picks and plays Dec. 13

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Tuesday, Dec. 13 at Mahoning Valley, Zia Park, and Mountaineer, along with horses to single in the $4,750 Pick 5 carryover at Turf Paradise.

Today’s special offers from TwinSpires include:

• Trifecta Tuesday: Receive a 15% bonus on trifecta winnings excluding stake amount; up to $25 per day.

Picks and Plays

Mahoning Valley: Race 2: $5,000 Claiming (six furlongs, 1:13 p.m. ET)

In a race without much speed on paper, #1 Uhavetobekittenme (3-1) is an appealing play. The four-year-old gelding routinely sets or presses the pace and ran third in a $7,500 claimer at Thistledown three starts back.

Uhavetobekittenme has misfired in a couple of recent allowance runs at Mahoning Valley, but dropping down to the $5,000 claiming level can send Uhavetobekittenme to the winner’s circle under hot jockey Fernando Salazar Becerra, a 20% winner at Mahoning this meet.

#7 Call Papa (5-2), runner-up over this track, distance, and class level two starts back, can edge the consistent #4 Gotiger Special (7-2) for runner-up honors.

Selections

• #1 Uhavetobekittenme (3-1)
• #7 Call Papa (5-2)
• #4 Gotiger Special (7-2)

Wagers

• $15 to win on #1 Uhavetobekittenme
• $10 Exacta: 1 with 7
• $5 Trifecta: 1 with 7 with 4
  Total: $30

Zia Park: Race 3: $5,000 Claiming (one mile and 70 yards, 2:54 p.m. ET)

#1 Brickbat (4-1) ran strongly in a $5,000 claimer over this track and distance two starts back, rallying from a couple lengths off the early pace to win by 1 3/4 lengths over #8 Pasamonte Man (5-2) and #5 Digger’s Gold (10-1).

That effort produced a solid 77 Brisnet Speed rating, equal to the career-best number posted by morning line favorite #3 I’magambler (2-1), who recently won a $5,000 claimer at Zia Park. If Brickbat brings his A-game in his first start for hot trainer H. Ray Ashford Jr. (a 22% winner with new claiming acquisitions), he can spring a mild surprise.

Selections

• #1 Brickbat (4-1)
• #3 I’magambler (2-1)
• #8 Pasamonte Man (5-2)

Wagers

• $18 to win on #1 Brickbat
• $6 Exacta: 1 with 3,8 ($12)
  Total: $30

Mountaineer: Race 2: Maiden Special Weight (six furlongs, 7:25 p.m. ET)

#5 Christina Ann (5-2) posted a 70 Brisnet Speed rating when finishing eighth in her debut against maiden special weight company over the Tapeta track at Gulfstream Park. Considering none of her Tuesday rivals have posted a Brisnet Speed rating higher than 65, Christina Ann figures to find the competition easier at Mountaineer.

Christina Ann is adding Lasix for her first run under the care of hot trainer Eric Reed, a 30% winner at Mountaineer this meet. She’s also picking up jockey Alex Gonzalez, a 22% winner at Mountaineer. All signs suggest Christina Ann is ready to defeat local filly #6 Maize Loved Laffy (7-2), runner-up twice against maiden special weight competition at Mountaineer.

Selections

• #5 Christina Ann (5-2)
• #6 Maize Loved Laffy (7-2)
• #8 Springtime d’Oro (4-1)

Wagers

• $25 Exacta: 5 with 6

Carryover Watch

Turf Paradise, Race 6: $4,750 Pick 5 carryover (9:55 p.m. ET)

Originally, the $4,750 Pick 5 carryover up for grabs at Turf Paradise was slated to be dispersed on Monday. But Monday’s card was canceled due to rain, which means the $4,750 carryover is on the table for Tuesday instead.

Looking for singles to build tickets around? We’ve analyzed the entries for the 50-cent wager and identified a pair of possibilities:

Race 5: $15,000 Allowance Optional Claiming (one mile on turf): #6 Curious Inji (4-1)

Many bettors figure to throw their support behind morning line favorite #7 Street Shadow (3-1), who rallied sharply to finish second by a neck in a $20,000 allowance optional claimer over this course and distance last month. But Street Shadow is a late runner with a 1-for-18 lifetime record; can she be trusted to deliver a winning effort?

We’re actually keen to support #6 Curious Inji (4-1) at a slightly better price. The four-year-old filly is more tactical than Street Shadow and outkicked her rival to win a $20,000 allowance optional claimer racing one mile over the Turf Paradise lawn during the spring, prevailing by 1 1/2 lengths.

Curious Inji subsequently misfired in two starts at Canterbury Park, but she’s been freshened for her return to Turf Paradise and is picking up jockey Aldo Arboleda, a 26% winner teaming up with hot trainer Jose Silva Jr. over the last two months. If Curious Inji strikes as a 4-1 single, we’ll be off to a great start in the Pick 5.

Race 9: $8,500 Claiming (7 1/2 furlongs on turf): #2 Brotherly Love (5-2)

Conditioned by hot trainer Justin Evans (a 26% winner at Turf Paradise this meet), Brotherly Love looks like a perfect fit for this $10,000-$8,500 claimer.

Brotherly Love ran second in a $20,000-$15,000 claimer over this course and distance on Nov. 23, beaten only a neck after carving out the pace. That effort came just eight days after Brotherly Love ran second in a $10,000-$8,500 claimer racing one mile over the Turf Paradise lawn.

Evans wins at a 33% rate with horses dropping multiple levels down the class ladder, and hot jockey Luis Negron (a 29% winner teaming up with Evans over the last two months) is named to ride. The form lines and trainer/jockey stats suggest Brotherly Love is a viable single to conclude the Pick 5.

Good luck!