Keeler Johnson's picks and plays Oct. 25

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Tuesday, Oct. 25 at Presque Isle Downs and Finger Lakes, along with a ticket for the $3,724 Pick 4 carryover at Mahoning Valley.

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

Presque Isle Downs: Race 7: $40,000 Allowance Optional Claiming (one mile and 70 yards on Tapeta, 4:12 p.m. ET)

Trainer John Bourke has been on fire at Presque Isle over the last month, compiling a stellar 13-5-3-3 record equating to a 38% win rate and an 85% in-the-money rate.

Bourke can keep his momentum rolling with #8 Goodie Goomer (4-1). The four-year-old gelding has won his last two starts at Presque Isle in comfortable fashion, nabbing a six-furlong allowance before stretching out over 1 1/16 miles to grab a $40,000 allowance optional claimer by 1 3/4 lengths.

The latter victory yielded a career-best 91 Brisnet Speed rating, so we’ll count on Goodie Goomer to win right back over #9 Carrothers (8-5), who likewise won a $40,000 allowance optional claimer in his most recent Presque Isle run.

#5 Whiskey Double (9-2) can complete a trifecta capitalizing on the Trifecta Tuesday promotion.

• $18 to win on #8 Goodie Goomer
• $8 Exacta: 8 with 9
• $4 Trifecta: 8 with 9 with 5
  Total: $30

Presque Isle Downs: Race 8: Mark McDermott S. (six furlongs on Tapeta, 4:39 p.m. ET)

#5 Gordian Knot (7-5) is a logical favorite after opening his career with two easy victories, including a two-length score in the Prince Lucky S. at Parx Racing. But Gordian Knot has never run over a synthetic track, so switching to Tapeta at Presque Isle is a question mark.

Let’s try to beat Gordian Knot with #10 Dawgmentality (4-1). The son of Smarty Jones exits a runner-up effort in the Fitz Dixon Jr. Memorial Juvenile S. against non-state-restricted company at Presque Isle. Dawgmentality is dropping into the Pennsylvania-bred ranks for the Mark McDermott, and his proven affinity for Tapeta may give him the edge he needs to upset Gordian Knot.

We’ll bet Dawgmentality to win and key him over Gordian Knot in the exacta.

• $20 to win on #10 Dawgmentality
• $10 Exacta: 10 with 5
  Total: $30

Finger Lakes: Race 3: Tin Cup Chalice S. (six furlongs, 2:08 p.m. ET)

#4 Allure of Money (1-1) is the heavy morning line favorite after dominating a one-mile and 40-yard maiden special weight at Finger Lakes by 11 3/4 lengths, earning a 76 Brisnet Speed rating that tops Tuesday’s field.

But in his debut sprinting at Finger Lakes, Allure of Money was beaten two lengths by #3 Macdonough (4-1), who posted a respectable 74 Brisnet Speed rating. Since Tuesday’s test is also a sprint, Macdonough should have every chance to maintain his supremacy over Allure of Money while offering four times the price on the morning line.

• $20 to win on #3 Macdonough
• $10 Exacta: 3 with 4
  Total: $30

Carryover Watch

Mahoning Valley, Race 5: $3,724 Pick 4 carryover (2:37 p.m. ET)

Pick 4 carryovers aren’t a common occurrence, but an unpredictable series of results on Monday at Mahoning Valley has triggered a $3,724 carryover for Tuesday’s 50-cent Pick 4 at the Ohio racetrack.

Let’s take a race-by-race look at the sequence, then assemble a ticket for less than $20:

Race 5: Allowance (six furlongs)

#1 Seeking the Money (8-1) misfired when finishing last over this class level on Oct. 12, but two starts back she ran second in an identical race, earning a sharp 65 Brisnet Speed rating. Seeking the Money has actually posted several ratings in the 65-67 range, a plateau few of her rivals have managed to reach. She should have every chance to spring a surprise against #4 Consecutive Run (6-1), #7 Double Edged (4-1), and #8 Starliteslew (9-2).

Race 6: $7,500 Starter Allowance (six furlongs)

#5 Reno Touch (7-5) is unbeaten and unchallenged in three starts this year, most recently romping by 3 3/4 lengths in a 5 1/2-furlong allowance at Thistledown. She’s improved her Brisnet Speed rating with every start this season and looms as a logical single for the hot jockey/trainer duo of Jeffrey Sanchez and Michael Rone, who have gone 4-for-6 (67%) teaming up together over the last two months.

Race 7: $25,000 Allowance Optional Claiming (six furlongs)

#1 Wapakoneta Phil (4-1) and #4 Royal’d (3-1) ran 1-2 in a $16,000 claimer at Thistledown earlier this month, earning strong Brisnet Speed ratings of 88 and 84. They’re logical threats alongside #7 McGraw (9-2), who posted an 84 Brisnet Speed rating when nabbing a recent six-furlong allowance at Thistledown.

Race 8: $10,000 Claiming (six furlongs)

Morning line favorites #4 Out My Dear (5-2) and #7 I Got Hope (3-1) are dropping in class out of $16,000 claimers at Thistledown and should be tough at the $10,000 level. But don’t dismiss #1 Barefoot Beach (4-1), victorious in two of her last three runs and a winner at the $10,000 level one month ago.

• 50-cent Pick 4: 1,4,7,8 with 5 with 1,4,7 with 1,4,7 ($18)

Good luck!