Keeler Johnson's picks and plays for May 9

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares $90 worth of picks and plays for Monday, May 9 at Horseshoe Indianapolis, including a trio of exactas.

Picks and Plays

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 2: Maiden Special Weight (5 1/2 furlongs, 3:01 p.m. ET)

#5 Climber (5-2) didn’t show much in four starts last season, but she stepped forward significantly when returning from a long layoff on April 27. After carving out the pace in a five-furlong maiden special weight at Horseshoe Indianapolis, Climber stayed on to finish second with a career-best 69 Brisnet Speed rating.

A repeat of this frontrunning journey can place Climber in win contention for hot trainer Genaro Garcia, who has gone 6-for-28 (21%) to start the Horseshoe Indianapolis meet. We’ll box Climber in a large exacta with key pace rival #2 Z Zs Red (3-1), who earned a 70 Brisnet Speed rating when finishing second by a nose in a five-furlong maiden special weight at Horseshoe Indianapolis last month.

• $15 Exacta box: 2,5 ($30)

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 5: Maiden Special Weight (7 1/2 furlongs on turf, 4:34 p.m. ET)

Most of the entrants in this maiden test for fillies and mares have yet to race on turf. That includes morning line favorite #3 Captaire (9-5), who hasn’t run since finishing fourth by 20 lengths in her debut at Del Mar last summer.

We’ll throw out support behind #6 Lazara (8-1), who has run twice on turf. After finishing ninth with a troubled start in her debut racing 1 1/16 miles at Tampa Bay Downs, Lazara improved to finish third over the same course, distance, and class level, earning a solid 75 Brisnet Speed rating.

Lazara’s promising grass experience can give her an advantage over #5 Connectthecauseway (6-1) and #10 Cold Call (8-1) in the race to the finish line.

• $20 to win on #6 Lazara
• $5 Exacta: 6 with 5,10 ($10)
  Total: $30

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 7: Allowance (one mile on turf, 5:36 p.m. ET)

#7 Choctaw Bingo (8-1) won twice over this turf course last season and has posted eight straight Brisnet Speed ratings in the 77-85 range. The four-year-old filly boasts plenty of tactical speed and kicked off her 2022 campaign with a decent third-place finish in a $25,000 allowance optional claimer over the synthetic Tapeta track at Turfway Park.

Returning to turf can trigger a winning run from Choctaw Bingo, whose trainer—Rey Hernandez—wins at a lofty 20% rate with horses running back for the second time following a layoff. At 8-1, Choctaw Bingo is worth betting to win and keying over Keeneland shipper #10 Lolloping (5-2) in the exacta.

• $20 to win on #7 Choctaw Bingo
• $10 Exacta: 7 with 10
  Total: $30

Good luck!