Keeler Johnson's picks and plays of June 21

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Wednesday, June 21 at Horseshoe Indianapolis, along with horses to single in Pick 5 carryovers at Delaware Park and Presque Isle Downs.

Today’s special offers from TwinSpires include:

• Hoosier Park $10 Money Back: Receive refunds on win bets (up to $10) if your horse finishes second in any eligible race at Hoosier Park.

Picks and Plays

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 4: Maiden Special Weight (five furlongs, 4:03 p.m. ET)

#5 April Clover (2-1) met up with the well-meant first-time starter Crown Imperial when finishing second by two lengths over this track, distance, and class level on May 31. The speedy daughter of champion sprinter Mitole may catch an easier field in her second local start, opening the door for a winning run. The fact trainer Steve Asmussen has been on fire at Horseshoe Indianapolis this meet (going 20-7-5-6) adds to the appeal.

#10 Intermittent Fast (5-2), fifth and fourth in her first two starts against maiden special weight company on the Kentucky circuit, can complete a cold exacta.

Selections

• #5 April Clover (2-1)
• #10 Intermittent Fast (5-2)
• #6 Peggy’s Way (20-1)

Wagers

• $25 Exacta: 5 with 10

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 6: Hoosier Breeders Sophomore H. (1 1/16 miles, 5:05 p.m. ET)

#4 Bluelightspecial (9-5) boasts a 5-3-1-1 record at Horseshoe Indianapolis, which includes a couple of placings in stakes last fall. In the past, she hasn’t been up to beating #6 Corningstone (9-2), but Bluelightspecial enters off back-to-back victories with sharp Brisnet Speed ratings of 89 and 87, suggesting she’s improved this year and is ready for a winning run.

Still, it’s risky to underestimate Corningstone, whose 3-2-1-0 record at Horseshoe Indianapolis includes a 4 1/2-length score in the 2022 Miss Indiana S. and a recent 12 1/4-length demolition of a one-mile allowance. Let’s box Bluelightspecial and Corningstone in the exacta and use them both to start a double wager.

Selections

• #4 Bluelightspecial (9-5)
• #6 Corningstone (9-2)
• #10 Ekati Flatter (5-2)

Wagers

• $10 Exacta: box 4,6 ($20)
• $10 Double: 4,6 with 7 ($20)
  Total: $40

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 7: Hoosier Breeders Sophomore H. (one mile on turf, 5:36 p.m. ET)

#7 King Ice (3-1) is a head away from being undefeated in three starts over the Horseshoe Indianapolis dirt. Last fall, he nabbed a one-mile maiden special weight before rallying to win the Indiana Futurity by 1 3/4 lengths.

King Ice lost his 2023 debut, finishing second in a one-mile allowance, but his performance was encouraging. After trailing for half a mile, King Ice swept past the entire field in the span of a quarter-mile and led by three lengths at the eighth pole before weakening to finish second with a career-best 84 Brisnet Speed rating.

King Ice has trained sharply since that defeat and is dropping blinkers, a 27% winner moving for trainer George Leonard III. Let’s bet King Ice to win and single him to conclude our double wager.

Selections

• #7 King Ice (3-1)
• #4 Win Me Over (8-1)
• #1 Run Away Rojo (6-1)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #7 King Ice

Carryover Watch

Delaware Park: Race 4: $5,931 Pick 5 carryover (2:00 p.m. ET)

The Wednesday card at Delaware Park brings a $5,931 non-jackpot carryover in the 50-cent Late Pick 5.

If you want to include a live longshot to boost the potential payoff, check out #7 Bermondsey (15-1) in Race 8, a $5,000 claimer taking place over one mile and 70 yards on dirt. There isn’t much speed in the nine-horse field, and the most logical pacesetter—#8 Cosmic Treasure (8-5)—has lost his last two starts over this class level despite setting and pressing slow paces on both occasions.

A slow pace would play to the strengths of Bermondsey, who hasn’t run since November. His form was slipping at the end of last season, but he was also competing against tougher allowance company. During the spring of 2022, Bermondsey was in stellar form against claiming competition, employing pace-pressing tactics to smash a $5,000 claimer by 5 1/2 lengths before wiring a $10,000 claimer by 9 1/4 lengths.

If Bermondsey bounces back to peak form while dropping in class off the freshening, he can track Cosmic Treasure and then pounce to the winner’s circle at a big price.

Presque Isle Downs: Race 4: $1,921 Pick 5 carryover (4:21 p.m. ET)

Delaware Park isn’t the only track with a non-jackpot Pick 5 carryover up for grabs this Wednesday. Presque Isle Downs is getting in on the action with a $1,921 prize pool in their 50-cent Late Pick 5.

Looking for a single? Check out #4 Catch On Emotional (9-5) in Race 6, an allowance taking place over six furlongs on Tapeta. Only seven horses have been entered, and whereas six of them have yet to post a Brisnet Speed rating higher than 83, Catch On Emotional’s career-best number is a 95.

Catch On Emotional has run twice at Presque Isle in recent weeks, dominating a $25,000 claimer before finishing second in a $32,000 claimer. Those efforts produced Brisnet Speed ratings of 86 and 88. Catch On Emotional routinely sets the pace and has the red-hot jockey/trainer duo of Antonio Gallardo and Carol Skawinski in his corner, so all signs suggest this six-year-old gelding can work out a perfect trip on the front end and cruise to victory.

Good luck!