Keeler Johnson's picks and plays Nov. 8

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Tuesday, Nov. 8 at Mahoning Valley, Horseshoe Indianapolis, and Zia Park, including a trifecta focusing 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) on every Tuesday through Nov. 29.

Picks and Plays

Mahoning Valley: Race 4: $10,000 Claiming (one mile, 2:09 p.m. ET)

Trainer Glenroy Brown has been on fire at Mahoning Valley this meet, starting off with a 5-3-1-0 (60%) record. Brown’s hot streak bodes well for #9 Professional (12-1) in this one-mile claimer.

Two starts back, Professional ran third in a $5,000 claimer racing one mile at Thistledown, beaten 4 3/4 lengths after pressing the pace and briefly leading. Claimed out of that race by Brown, Professional returned eight days later for an $8,000 starter optional claimer sprinting six furlongs at Thistledown, in which he fell far behind a fast pace before rallying belatedly to finish fourth behind a pair of next-out winners.

Stretching back out in distance may help Professional rebound in his second start for Brown. Throw in hot jockey Luis Batista (a 24% winner at Mahoning this meet), and Professional is worth betting to win and keying over #5 Cumber (8-1) and #6 Youvesaiditall (7-2) in the exacta.

• $20 to win on #9 Professional
• $5 Exacta: 9 with 5,6 ($10)
  Total: $30

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 3: Maiden Special Weight (one mile, 3:30 p.m. ET)

In a race containing very little speed on paper, #1 Outstandingjustice (9-5) looks like a standout. The bay colt has cracked the trifecta in four of his six starts over this track and class level, and in his first try racing one mile on Oct. 18, Outstandingjustice vied for early command before weakening to finish second by only a neck.

Outstandingjustice figures to shake loose on an uncontested lead in his second try over one mile, setting the stage for a winning run. We’ll key him over #4 Nine Pointer (4-1) in a cold exacta.

• $20 Exacta: 1 with 4

Zia Park: Race 7: Maiden Special Weight (six furlongs, 4:42 p.m. ET)

#3 Wild On Ice (6-1) is training like he’s ready to win on debut for trainer Joel Marr, who strikes at a solid 18% rate with first-time starters. The son of Tapizar has cranked out three bullet workouts at Zia Park since the middle of September, culminating with a swift half-mile from the starting gate in :46 2/5.

Jockey Ken Tohill has won at a 21% rate teaming up with Marr over the last two months (and at a 25% rate over the last two weeks), so Wild On Ice has plenty of positive angles in his corner. At 6-1, Wild On Ice is worth betting to win and playing over #1 Auspice (5-2), #4 Blue Jean Bourbon (2-1), and #7 Decoration Day (10-1) in a trifecta capitalizing on the Trifecta Tuesday promotion.

• $20 to win on #3 Wild On Ice
• $2.50 Trifecta: 3 with 4 with 1,7 ($5)
• $2.50 Trifecta: 3 with 1,7 with 4 ($5)
  Total: $30

Good luck!