Monday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Price plays at Horseshoe Indianapolis

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Monday, June 10 at Horseshoe Indianapolis and Presque Isle Downs, along with horses to play in the $909 Pick 6 carryover at Finger Lakes.

Today’s special offers from TwinSpires include:

• Assiniboia Downs 15% Win Bonus: Receive a 15% bonus (up to $25 per day) on winning single-horse win bets every Monday through Wednesday in June.
• Presque Isle Downs 10x Points: Receive 10x reward points on all wagers at Presque Isle Downs (excluding show bets) on Mondays in June and July.

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 6: Maiden Special Weight (one mile and 70 yards on dirt, 4:45 p.m. ET)

There’s hardly any speed in this two-turn route for Indiana-bred three-year-old fillies, so we’ll take a shot with #3 Galoshes (8-1). The daughter of Get Stormy has finished fifth and fourth in her first two starts sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs over this track and class level. She set the pace in one and tracked the pace in the other.

Stretching out over one mile and 70 yards should land Galoshes on an easy lead, opening the door for a much-improved showing. At 8-1, she’s worth betting to win and keying over the stretch-running favorite #7 Channah Del Mar (8-5) in the exacta.

Selections

• #3 Galoshes (8-1)
• #7 Channah Del Mar (8-5)
• #6 Wise Mary (7-2)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #3 Galoshes
• $5 Exacta: 3 with 7
  Total: $25

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 7: Maiden Special Weight (one mile on turf, 5:16 p.m. ET)

#4 Classic Express (5-1) raced in midfield early before fading to finish seventh in his debut over this class level. That contest took place over one mile on dirt, which may not have been ideal for Classic Express since he’s a son of Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) winner Tourist, a tried-and-true grass star.

The pedigree of Classic Express suggests he’ll improve while switching from dirt to turf, and the fact trainer George Leonard III wins at a 43% rate with horses running long for the second time cements Classic Express as a compelling contender at his 5-1 morning line odds.

A win bet is in order.

Selections

• #4 Classic Express (5-1)
• #7 Hitchpin (3-1)
• #1 Governor Ron (9-2)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #4 Classic Express

Presque Isle Downs: Race 8: Maiden Special Weight (six furlongs on Tapeta, 6:09 p.m. ET)

#5 Emma At the Gate (3-1) ran deceptively well in a non-state-restricted 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Presque Isle Downs on May 29. Making his debut, the three-year-old gelding pressed the pace before faltering to finish fifth by 10 1/4 lengths. The winner, Midnight Dajoey, won by nine lengths in a fast time, and Emma At the Gate was beaten only 1 1/4 lengths for second place.

Emma At the Gate should have every chance to graduate while squaring off against fellow Pennsylvania-breds for his second start. It helps that he’s conditioned by hot trainer Tim Girten, a 27% winner at Presque Isle this meet.

In addition to a win bet on Emma At the Gate, we’ll play him on top of an exacta using #9 Change the Hour (5-2) for second place. Change the Hour has finished second in five straight races at Presque Isle, including four over Monday’s class level.

Selections

• #5 Emma At the Gate (3-1)
• #9 Change the Hour (5-2)
• #2 Exclusive Entry (9-2)

Wagers

• $30 to win on #5 Emma At the Gate
• $10 Exacta: 5 with 9
  Total: $40

Carryover Watch

Finger Lakes: Race 3: $909 Pick 6 carryover (2:13 p.m. ET)

Finger Lakes is celebrating the new week with a non-jackpot $909 carryover up for grabs in the $1 Pick 6.

A competitive sequence is on the agenda. Some bettors might be inclined to build tickets around #6 Solo Tonight (3-2), the heavy morning line favorite to win Race 4, a maiden special weight for three-year-olds and older horses racing one mile and 70 yards on dirt. Solo Tonight rallied nicely to finish third over this track, distance, and class level on May 27, beaten only one length.

But is Solo Tonight really a lock to win? Not necessarily. On May 27, he finished only half a length ahead of fourth-place finisher #2 The Delaware Boyz (7-2), who had to wait in traffic at a key moment around the far turn. The Delaware Boyz has early speed and figures to work out a favorable trip in this largely paceless field, so a case can be made for him to turn the tables on Solo Tonight at enticing odds.

Also, #7 Sox for Daughters (8-1) has the Brisnet Speed ratings to challenge The Delaware Boyz and Solo Tonight while stretching out beyond six furlongs for the first time. He’s bred to run long and has hit the board twice over this track and class level, so we recommend going at least three horses deep in Race 4.

In contrast, we should be able to go narrower in Race 6, a maiden special weight for three-year-olds and older horses dashing six furlongs on dirt. We’re keen to support #2 Skyler’s Artemis (3-1), a pacesetter who finished second by a neck over this track, distance, and class level on May 13. On that occasion, Skyler’s Artemis was returning from a three-month layoff and making his first start for trainer Anthony Ferraro.

Ferraro has gone 16-for-47 (34%) at Finger Lakes this meet, and overall Ferraro wins at a 20% rate with horses running back for the second time following a layoff and at a 21% rate with horses running for the second time under his care. These trainer stats suggest Skyler’s Artemis will be formidable in Race 6.

#1 Free Folk (7-2), adding Lasix off a runner-up finish over this track, distance, and class level on May 27, is another logical contender worth including on large tickets. But bettors playing on small budgets can consider singling Skyler’s Artemis.

Good luck!