Keeler Johnson's picks and plays of May 16

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares picks and plays for Tuesday, May 16 at Horseshoe Indianapolis, Presque Isle Downs, and Will Rogers Downs.

Today’s special offers from TwinSpires include:

• Trifecta Tuesday: Receive a 15% bonus on trifecta winnings excluding stake amount; up to $25 per day.

Picks and Plays

Presque Isle Downs: Race 1: $7,500 Maiden Claiming (5 1/2 furlongs on Tapeta, 3:00 p.m. ET)

#3 Twelvetwo (4-1) disappointed in a pair of starts at Gulfstream Park last summer, finishing sixth in a $35,000 maiden claimer on Tapeta and ninth in a $25,000 maiden claimer on dirt. But he’s since switched to the barn of Eduardo Rojas (a 40% winner during the first two weeks of the 2022 Presque Isle meet) and will drop in class, remove blinkers, and add Lasix for his 2023 debut.

Perhaps some combination of these changes can trigger a winning run from Twelvetwo, who breezed a bullet three furlongs from the Presque Isle starting gate in :35 last week. We’ll place a large win bet on Twelvetwo and call it a day.

Selections

• #3 Twelvetwo (4-1)
• #6 Little Big (9-5)
• #5 Voorhees (5-2)

Wagers

• $30 to win on #3 Twelvetwo

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 2: $5,000 Maiden Claiming (six furlongs, 3:01 p.m. ET)

#3 Golden Dame (7-2) showed speed in a $12,500 maiden claimer at Horseshoe Indianapolis last month. Making only her second start (and her first since last summer), Golden Dame led for half a mile before tiring to finish seventh.

Dropping down to the $5,000 maiden claiming level should help Golden Dame stretch her speed under Rodney Prescott, so we’ll bet her to win and key her over #2 Far’s Last One (4-1) (scratch) and #6 Flat Out Fay (6-1) in the exacta.

Selections

• #3 Golden Dame (7-2)
• #2 Far’s Last One (4-1) (scratch)
• #6 Flat Out Fay (6-1)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #3 Golden Dame
• $5 Exacta: 3 with 2,6 ($10)
  Total: $30

Will Rogers Downs: Race 3: Allowance (5 1/2 furlongs, 3:05 p.m. ET)

There’s quite a bit of speed in this small field, which should suit morning line favorite #5 Sinnin N Grinnin (4-5) just fine. While the daughter of Kantharos has tactical speed, she’s effective settling off the pace, most recently rallying from sixth place to finish second in a six-furlong allowance at Will Rogers Downs.

With recent Brisnet Speed ratings of 82, 85, and 79 under her belt, Sinnin N Grinnin is fast enough to rally and snatch first prize on Tuesday. We’ll key her over #1 Canada Candy (8-5) and #3 Patsy R (6-1) in cold exacta and trifecta wagers, playing the latter ticket to capitalize on the Trifecta Tuesday promotion.

Selections

• #5 Sinnin N Grinnin (4-5)
• #1 Canada Candy (8-5)
• #3 Patsy R (6-1)

Wagers

• $20 Exacta: 5 with 1
• $10 Trifecta: 5 with 1 with 3
  Total: $30

Good luck!