Keeler Johnson's picks and plays for Aug. 24

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares $75 worth of picks and plays for Tuesday, Aug. 24 at Thistledown, Colonial Downs, and Canterbury Park, plus horses of note in the $3,407 jackpot 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.
• Midweek Bet Back: Receive refunds on win bets (up to $10) if your horse finishes second in select races at Parx.

Picks and plays

Thistledown, Race 1: $7,500 claiming (one mile, 12:50 p.m. ET)

There is hardly any speed in this claiming route for Ohio-breds, which should lend an advantage to #2 Tejate (3-1).

The five-year-old mare broke her maiden with a gate-to-wire lead in a 6 1/2-furlong sprint during the spring, so we know she can thrive with a pacesetting trip. She also finished second at this track, distance, and class level July 13, when she was beaten just 1 1/2 lengths after she carved out the pace.

Tejate enters off a rallying, fourth-place finish in a six-furlong sprint, so the stretch back out in trip figures to help her chances.

Trainer Alejandro Murillo Rodriguez strikes at a 24% rate with horses who transition from sprints to routes, so let’s bet Tejate to win and play her over #6 Sweet Chelsea (5-2) in a small exacta.

$20 to win on #2 Tejate
$5 exacta: 2 with 6
Total: $25

Colonial Downs, Race 2: $20,000 maiden claiming (one mile on turf, 2:13 p.m. ET)

There aren’t any standouts among the experienced runners in this two-turn turf route for juveniles, so let’s think outside the box with first-time starter #6 The Region (6-1).

Certainly The Region has the pedigree to enjoy a route on grass. His sire, Point of Entry, won five Grade 1 races between 1 1/8 miles and 1 1/2 miles on turf, and Point of Entry's progeny include graded turf winners Point Me By, Analyze It, Admission Office, Corelli, and Lotus Land.

The Region has put together an encouraging work tab and will pick up jockey Joe Rocco, a 27% winner at Colonial Downs this meet.

Let’s take a shot, bet The Region to win, and play him over #1 Xy Time (3-1) in the exacta.

$20 to win on #6 The Region
$5 exacta: 6 with 1

Canterbury Park, Race 3: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 7:09 p.m. ET)

Canterbury’s all-time leading trainer, McLean Robertson, appears to have this maiden sprint for Minnesota-bred juvenile fillies surrounded.

#1 Summer Fireflys (2-1) is the morning-line favorite, after she finished second in her debut, a five-furlong dash at Canterbury. Since Robertson strikes at a 26% rate with second-time starters, Summer Fireflys figures to show improvement Tuesday.

But Robertson also entered the first-time starter #2 Lucy’s Lookin Left (7-2), who will be ridden by jockey Alex Canchari, a 21% winner when he teams with Robertson over the last two months.

The work tab for Lucy’s Lookin Left isn’t flashy, but Robertson has compiled a 3-1-1 record from nine starts (33%) with debut juveniles on dirt at Canterbury this meet, which suggests Lucy’s Lookin Left can fire a strong shot right out of the gate.

We’ll favor Summer Fireflys with a win bet, then add Lucy’s Lookin Left for an exacta play.

$20 to win on #1 Summer Fireflys
$5 exacta: 1 with 2
Total: $25

Carryover watch

Presque Isle Downs, Race 3: $3,407 Pick 6 jackpot (5:35 p.m. ET)

The Pick 6 jackpot continues to build at Presque Isle Downs and sits at $3,407 for Tuesday’s card.

If you’re planning to play along with Tuesday’s Pick 6, here are a handful of horses worth playing (or opposing) across the sequence.

Best single: Race 7, #3 Driftwood (5-2)

There is only one clear frontrunner entered in this 1 1/8-mile allowance, and that’s morning-line favorite Driftwood.

The four-year-old gelding is remarkably consistent and has posted Brisnet Speed ratings in the 75-83 range in seven of his last eight starts. He enters Tuesday’s race in strong form, as he wired a one-mile, $20,000 claimer at Presque Isle on July 27.

Driftwood has set the pace in each of his last three starts and is has trained sharply for trainer Ron Potts, a 21% winner at the meet. If Driftwood shakes loose on an uncontested lead, he may be impossible to catch.

Live longshot: Race 6, #4 Dynaform (10-1)

Dynaform might not be the most logical choice in this $8,500 claimer. He has faced easier $4,000 starter allowance company at Mountaineer recently and has never run over a synthetic track.

But Dynaform has improved his Brisnet Speed ratings significantly since he was claimed by trainer Jose Lopez, and he has hit the board in his last four starts, including a trio of routes.

He fits quite well in Tuesday’s field, from a Brisnet Speed rating perspective, and if he handles the switch to Tapeta, Dynaform might spring a double-digit surprise.

Vulnerable favorite: Race 8, #9 Fly Friendly Sky (2-1)

Although Fly Friendly Sky boasts a 4-0-3 record from 11 starts over the Presque Isle Tapeta, he isn’t guaranteed to fire a winning shot in this six-furlong, $5,000 claimer.

Fly Friendly Sky is nine years old and ran below form in his 2021 debut. He has also been beaten in his last two starts (including his 2020 finale) by #6 Samurai Zip (3-1).

On his best day, Fly Friendly Sky is fast enough to compete, but he’ll need improvement off his 2021 debut to reach the winner’s circle.

Good luck!