Keeler Johnson's picks and plays Dec. 27

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Tuesday, Dec. 27 at Turf Paradise, including a trifecta capitalizing on the Trifecta Tuesday promotion.

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

Turf Paradise: Race 3: $4,000 Claiming (4 1/2 furlongs, 3:28 p.m. ET)

Pacesetters have gone 8-for-12 (67%) in 4 1/2-furlong dirt sprints at Turf Paradise this meet, and horses starting from post 1 have prevailed at a 17% rate over this configuration. These stats bode well for #1 Master Ruler (6-1), a pure speedster drawn on the rail.

Master Ruler is flat-out fast. He’s set the pace in four of his last five starts, including when second in a 4 1/2-furlong allowance at Arizona Downs. More recently, the seven-year-old gelding wired a pair of $20,000/$15,000 claimers sprinting a mere two furlongs at Arizona Downs.

At 6-1, Master Ruler is worth supporting in hopes of a gate-to-wire victory. We’ll throw #6 Rousing Rubble (5-2) and #7 Ready to Forgive (4-1) into the mix for exacta and trifecta tickets.

Selections

• #1 Master Ruler (6-1)
• #6 Rousing Rubble (5-2)
• #7 Ready to Forgive (4-1)

Wagers

• $20 to win: #1 Master Ruler
• $5 Exacta: 1 with 6, 7 ($10)
• $2.50 Trifecta: 1 with 6, 7 with 6, 7 ($5)
  Total: $30

Turf Paradise: Race 5: $8,500 Claiming (one mile on turf, 4:26 p.m. ET)

#5 Guest Check (3-1) ran a strong race over this course and class level on Dec. 13. The four-year-old gelding closed strongly from behind a modest pace, gaining 2 1/2 lengths in the final furlong to finish second by 1 1/2 lengths.

Guest Check previously showed a bit more tactical speed when launching a challenge from midfield in a fast-paced test over this course, distance, and class level Nov. 15. In his third try over the Turf Paradise grass course, Guest Check can snatch victory over #2 Our Valley (6-1) and #6 Solander (6-1).

Selections

• #5 Guest Check (3-1)
• #6 Solander (6-1)
• #2 Our Valley (6-1)

Wagers

• $18 to win: #5 Guest Check
• $7 Exacta: 5 with 6
• $5 Exacta: 5 with 2
  Total: $30

Turf Paradise: Race 8: $20,000 Allowance Optional Claiming (7 1/2 furlongs on turf, 5:55 p.m. ET)

Southern California raider #6 Man Friday (3-1) hasn’t run in nearly 14 months, but trainer Vladimir Cerin wins at a respectable 17% rate with horses returning form layoffs of 90 days or more. Even better, Cerin wins at a 27% rate with shippers.

Man Friday’s California form is encouraging. Prior to a troubled seventh-place finish in the Let It Ride S. at Del Mar, his most recent effort, Man Friday won a $50,000 claimer at Del Mar and a $100,000 allowance optional claimer at Santa Anita.

Jockey Harry Hernandez (a 21% winner at Turf Paradise this meet) has gone 1-for-2 (50%) teaming up with Cerin over the last two months, so let’s bet Man Friday to win and play him over #1 Shinny (5-1) and #3 Major Attraction (9-2) in the exacta.

Selections

• #6 Man Friday (3-1)
• #1 Shinny (5-1)
• #3 Major Attraction (9-2)

Wagers

• $20 to win: #6 Man Friday
• $5 Exacta: 6 with 1, 3 ($10)
  Total: $30

Good luck!