Keeler Johnson's picks and plays for Aug. 23

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Monday, Aug. 23 at Thistledown and Colonial Downs, plus suggested singles for the $2,943 Pick 6 carryover at Presque Isle Downs.

Today’s special offers from TwinSpires include:

• Build Your Virginia Derby Day Bankroll: For every day you wager at least $100 at Colonial Downs from July 26-Aug. 30, receive $5 to wager at Colonial Downs on Virginia Derby day, Aug. 31.

Picks and plays

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

#5 Amadevil (8-5) absolutely towers over the field in this allowance sprint for Ohio-bred fillies and mares.

Trained by David Wolochuk, Amadevil obliterated fellow state-breds in her first two starts at Thistledown, where she wired a maiden special weight by 24 1/4 lengths and an allowance by 11 3/4.

Both of those efforts earned Brisnet Speed ratings of 95, which stamps Amadevil as the fastest filly in Monday’s field, by far. She should have little difficulty winning her third start.

Coupled entrymates #1 Gonnabegood (3-1) and #1A Rainbow Ship (3-1) can battle with recent Thistledown allowance winners #2 Front Circle (7-2) and #3 Lexy Anna (10-1) to complete the trifecta.

$10 trifecta: 5 with 1 with 2,3 ($20)
$10 trifecta: 5 with 2,3 with 1 ($20)
Total: $40

 

Thistledown, Race 8: $7,500 maiden claiming (six furlongs, 4:20 p.m. ET)

#3 El Mezcalito (2-1) has cracked the top three a couple times against maiden special weight company and owns the highest Brisnet Speed ratings in this field. The drop to the $7,500 maiden claiming level should make the favorite formidable at a short price.

#6 Dynamite Cloud (5-2) can complete a cold exacta. The four-year-old gelding has already placed twice in $7,500 maiden claiming sprints at Thistledown, so the conditions of Monday’s heat should suit him.

With only four starts under his belt, it’s possible we haven’t seen Dynamite Cloud’s best yet. He has improved his Brisnet Speed rating with every run.

$30 exacta: 3 with 6

Colonial Downs, Race 7: Seeking the Pearl S. (seven furlongs, 4:33 p.m. ET)

Three-time graded stakes winner #4 Frank’s Rockette (3-5) has been a picture of consistency, cracking the exacta in 13 of her 15 starts. A versatile filly who typically sets or tracks the pace, Frank’s Rockette arrives at Colonial Downs off a comfortable victory in the six-furlong Saylorville S. at Prairie Meadows.

There isn’t an abundance of speed in the Seeking the Pearl field, so Frank’s Rockette figures to sit a perfect trip and win for fun at a short price. We’ll confidently play her on top of an exacta using the consistent New York allowance competitor #3 Finding Fame (9-2) for second place.

$30 exacta: 4 with 3

Carryover watch

Presque Isle Downs, Race 3: $2,943 jackpot Pick 6 carryover (5:35 p.m. ET)

Looking for singles to play in Monday’s $2,943 jackpot Pick 6 carryover at Presque Isle Downs? Then you’ve come to the right place!

Short-priced singles might not be the best way to sweep the 20-cent jackpot-style wager, which pays out its carryover only if a single winning ticket is sold. Achieving this uncommon feat requires a perfect blend of longshot winners, not short-priced favorites.

But string together six winners in a row, and you can catch a respectable consolation prize.

Here are two suggested singles to get you started.

Race 3: #5 Village Queen (8-5)

Trainer Timothy Hamm has put together an extraordinary record at Presque Isle this meet, with 18 wins from 38 starts (47%). He can pick up another victory with Village Queen in this $15,000 maiden claiming sprint for fillies and mares.

After she placed against $50,000 claiming company at Keeneland during the spring, Village Queen ran a big race in her Presque Isle debut Aug. 5. Favored at 3-5 in a $17,500 maiden claimer, Village Queen battled to victory by a head, only to be disqualified to second place for drifting out and bumping the runner-up.

If Village Queen runs a similar race, she can secure a breakthrough victory under jockey Pablo Morales, who has 13 wins from 19 starts (68%) riding for Hamm over the last two months.

Race 7: #3 Cadet Connelly (9-5)

After he competed reasonably well on dirt and turf in Florida, Cadet Connelly stepped up his game considerably when he switched to Tapeta for a one-mile and 70-yard allowance last month.

After he tracked a slow early pace, the four-year-old gelding kicked away to win by 2 3/4 lengths, for a career-best 87 Brisnet Speed rating.

Cadet Connelly has trained sharply since and will pick up Morales for his second start of the summer.

Trainer Maria Bowersock has been hot this meet, with a 29% win rate, and Cadet Connelly figures to secure an easy lead in this small, paceless field.

Good luck!