Keeler Johnson's picks and plays for Oct. 25

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Monday, Oct. 25 at Mahoning Valley and Indiana Grand, including a trio of exacta wagers.

Picks and plays

Mahoning Valley, Race 2: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 1:12 p.m. ET)

#7 Estilo Diferente (2-1) put together a string of solid Brisnet Speed ratings at Delaware Park this year. The daughter of Uncle Mo hit the board in all four of her starts and put up a trio of Brisnet Speed ratings in the 63-69 range.

Estilo Diferente should find the competition a bit easier at Mahoning Valley, where none of her rivals have posted Brisnet Speed ratings better than 62.

She'll also her first start for trainer Jose Atala (a 28% winner with horses racing for the first time under his care), and we have a recipe for victory.

A win bet on Estilo Diferente will be our first order of business. Then we’ll give fast-working longshot #2 Team Hot Line (12-1) a try for second place in the exacta.

$25 to win on #7 Estilo Diferente
$5 exacta: 7 with 2
Total: $30

Mahoning Valley, Race 3: $5,000 claiming (six furlongs, 1:40 p.m. ET)

#5 Double D’s Revenge (3-1) has been on an upward ascent since she was transferred to the care of trainer John Brown. The five-year-old mare cracked the trifecta in her last two starts, against $7,500 claiming company at Thistledown, and posted competitive Brisnet Speed ratings of 72 and 73.

Double D’s Revenge fell just a neck short of victory in her latest attempt, and the move to Mahoning Valley should trigger a winning effort. Her record over this oval stands 5-3-1 from 14 starts, compared to her 1-1-2 mark from 15 starts at all other tracks.

The consistent speedster #3 Fortunate Gina (2-1) can complete the exacta.

$20 to win on #5 Double D’s Revenge
$5 exacta: 5 with 3
Total: $25

Indiana Grand, Race 7: Maiden special weight (six furlongs, 5:31 p.m. ET)

#9 Erase (5-2) ran strongly in his debut, a 5 1/2-furlong sprint at Indiana Grand on Oct. 5.

The Brad Cox trainee settled about four lengths off the early tempo, then rallied to finish second, 1 1/2 lengths behind the winner, and earned a 67 Brisnet Speed rating (tied for the best in Monday’s field).

Cox has six wins from 18 starts (33%) with experienced juveniles at Indiana Grand this meet and strikes at a 26% rate overall with second-time starters, so all signs suggest Erase can produce an improved performance in his second run under colors.

We’ll bet Erase to win and play him over #2 Imperial Cause (8-1) and #6 Rowley’s Dream (4-1) in the exacta.

$20 to win on #9 Erase
$5 exacta: 9 with 2,6
Total: $30

Good luck!