Keeler Johnson's picks and plays of July 6

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Thursday, July 6 at Horseshoe Indianapolis and Charles Town, including a trio of exactas.

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• Hoosier Park $1,000 Pick 4 Hit It & Split It: Hit the late Pick 4 on Thursdays at Hoosier Park to win your share of a $1,000 weekly jackpot.

Picks and Plays

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 6: Maiden Special Weight (five furlongs, 4:45 p.m. ET)

#6 The Kid Pataky (3-1) has posted a trio of bullet workouts at Horseshoe Indianapolis, including half a mile from the starting gate in :47 1/5. As a daughter of early-maturing Arlington-Washington Futurity (G3) winner Pataky Kid (who sires 22% winners from first-time starters), The Kid Pataky has the pedigree to excel as a juvenile, so her 3-1 morning line odds are enticing.

A win bet on The Kid Pataky is in order, and for good measure we’ll play her over #1 Rafaella (5-1) and #11 J’s Naughty Kitten (7-2) in the exacta.

Selections

• #6 The Kid Pataky (3-1)
• #1 Rafaella (5-1)
• #11 J’s Naughty Kitten (7-2)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #6 The Kid Pataky
• $5 Exacta: 6 with 1,11 ($10)
  Total: $30

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 8: $20,000 Allowance Optional Claiming (six furlongs, 5:47 p.m. ET)

#5 One for Richie (4-5) is the heavy morning line favorite, but the seven-year-old gelding enters off seven straight defeats. Last time out, he finished fourth in a $40,000 allowance optional claimer sprinting six furlongs at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Dropping into a $20,000 allowance optional claimer can help One for Richie rebound, but he doesn’t appear unbeatable at a short price. #1 Insolito (5-1) is an appealing alternative. After competing on Tapeta during the winter at Turfway Park, Insolito switched to dirt for a $50,000 maiden claimer at Keeneland, where he led for most of the journey to dominate by 3 1/4 lengths.

Insolito followed up with a half-length defeat in a $50,000 claimer at Churchill Downs. If One for Richie fails to bring his A-game, Insolito is a logical choice to steal top honors at a nice price.

Selections

• #1 Insolito (5-1)
• #5 One for Richie (4-5)
• #4 A Few too Many (10-1)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #1 Insolito
• $10 Exacta: 1 with 5
  Total: $30

Charles Town: Race 4: Maiden Special Weight (4 1/2 furlongs, 8:25 p.m. ET)

Pacesetters have been dominant in 4 1/2-furlong sprints at Charles Town this meet, winning at a 50% rate from a large sample size of 264 races. This bodes well for #7 Cupid’s Song (3-1), one of only two obvious speed horses in this contest for West Virginia-bred maidens.

Whereas the other speed horse, #3 Uncle Press (12-1), has been tracking and pressing modest paces in longer 6 1/2-furlong contests, Cupid’s Song dueled for command in a 4 1/2-furlong dash on Jan. 6 at Charles Town, leading into midstretch before weakening late to finish second by 1 1/4 lengths. The three-year-old gelding posted a bullet half-mile workout from the Charles Town starting gate in preparation for his return, and trainer Cynthia McKee wins at a 50% rate with second-time starters, so all signs suggest Cupid’s Song is a standout in Thursday’s field.

We’ll bet Cupid’s Song to win and key him over #5 Gold Fiber (5-2) and #2 Harley Sioux (9-2) in the exacta.

Selections

• #7 Cupid’s Song (3-1)
• #5 Gold Fiber (5-2)
• #2 Harley Sioux (9-2)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #7 Cupid’s Song
• $5 Exacta: 7 with 2,5 ($10)
  Total: $30

Good luck!