Monday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Cold double at Mahoning

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Monday, Feb. 26 at Mahoning Valley and Turf Paradise, including a cold double wager.

Today’s special offers from TwinSpires include:

• 10x Points on Harness Racing: Earn 10x reward points on all harness racing wagers (excluding show bets) every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday during the month of February.

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Mahoning Valley: Race 5: $5,000 Claiming (six furlongs, 2:36 p.m. ET)

#2 Frosty Paws (4-1) rallied to win a $5,000 claimer for non-winners of two races on Jan. 25 at Mahoning Valley, then finished third after leading at the furlong marker of a $7,500 claimer for non-winners of three races on Feb. 8 at Mahoning. Those efforts yielded sharp Brisnet Speed ratings of 75 and 73.

There’s quite a bit of speed in Monday’s field, which could compromise morning line favorite #8 Max Foster (3-1), a speedy gelding who has recently posted Brisnet Speed ratings of 74 and 72 against $5,000 claiming company at Mahoning. We’ll give the edge to Frosty Paws, betting him to win and singling him to start a double wager.

Selections

• #2 Frosty Paws (4-1)
• #8 Max Foster (3-1)
• #1 Sea to Air (7-2)

Wagers

• $15 to win on #2 Frosty Paws
• $10 Double: 2 with 1
  Total: $25

Mahoning Valley: Race 6: $40,000 Allowance Optional Claiming (one mile, 3:04 p.m. ET)

#1 John’s Rock (9-5) trounced both of his starts running long at Mahoning Valley to wrap up 2023. In a one-mile $25,000 allowance optional claimer, he tracked the pace from second place before taking over to win by 3 1/4 lengths. In a one-mile and 70-yard $40,000 allowance optional claimer, he settled in third place (seven lengths off the pace) before charging home on top by 7 3/4 lengths.

Those daylight victories yielded strong Brisnet Speed ratings of 96 and 93, stamping John’s Rock as an easy choice to win his four-year-old debut. Let’s bet John’s Rock to win, key him over #4 One Ten (3-1) in the exacta, and single him to conclude our double wager.

Selections

• #1 John’s Rock (9-5)
• #4 One Ten (3-1)
• #6 Hunter Scott (7-2)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #1 John’s Rock
• $10 Exacta: 1 with 4
  Total: $30

Turf Paradise: Race 3: Princess of Palms S. (6 1/2 furlongs, 3:49 p.m. ET)

#2 She’s My Niece (7-2) has earned respectable Brisnet Speed ratings of 74 and 75 while finishing second and fifth in her last two starts against $50,000 starter optional claiming competition at Santa Anita. And three starts back, she threw down a 90 when wiring a $32,000 maiden claimer at Santa Anita by 9 1/2 lengths.

She’s My Niece looks like a good fit for this sprint stakes at Turf Paradise, so let’s bet her over the multiple stakes-placed #3 Grease Missle (5-2) in a cold exacta.

Selections

• #2 She’s My Niece (7-2)
• #3 Grease Missle (5-2)
• #1 Stay Quiet (4-1)

Wagers

• $15 Exacta: 2 with 3

Good luck!