Monday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Three plays at Mahoning

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Monday, Jan. 1 at Mahoning Valley, 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 January.

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Mahoning Valley: Race 4: $8,000 Claiming (5 1/2 furlongs, 2:08 p.m. ET)

Red-hot trainer Anthony Farrior (a 40% winner at Mahoning this meet) has two horses entered in this $8,000 claimer for fillies and mares: #4 Dulcimer Dame (9-5) and #6 No More Mask (5-2). Both are dropping in class, and while Dulcimer Dame is the shorter price on the morning line, No More Mask might be the more likely winner.

No More Mask has been freshened since February and is making only her second start since being claimed by Farrior. Horses running for the second time off a claim win at a 30% rate for Farrior, and it’s worth noting No More Mask will be ridden by Luis Rivera, a 46% winner teaming up with Farrior over the last two months.

Let’s bet No More Mask to win and play her over Dulcimer Dame in an exacta.

Selections

• #6 No More Mask (5-2)
• #4 Dulcimer Dame (9-5)
• #2 Ceviche (4-1)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #6 No More Mask
• $5 Exacta: 6 with 4
  Total: $25

Mahoning Valley: Race 5: $4,000 Claiming (one mile and 70 yards, 2:36 p.m. ET)

#7 Strike the Top (3-1) has earned strong Brisnet Speed ratings in three starts since being claimed by trainer Jami Poole. In a trio of $10,000 claimers racing one mile at Mountaineer, Strike the Top finished third, fifth, and third with ratings of 80, 80, and 87.

None of Strike the Top’s Monday rivals have recently earned a Brisnet Speed rating higher than 83, so Strike the Top should be tough to beat while dropping into a $4,000 claimer. A win bet is in order, and we’ll also single Strike the Top to start a double wager.

Selections

• #7 Strike the Top (3-1)
• #10 Fuego Caliente (8-1)
• #9 Maximizer (6-1)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #7 Strike the Top
• $5 Double: 7 with 4
  Total: $25

Mahoning Valley: Race 6: $25,000 Claiming (six furlongs, 3:04 p.m. ET)

#4 Oaks Honey (7-2) finished third by one length against #1 Dark Vader (5-2) and #7 It’s Official (4-1) when competing over this track, distance, and class level on Dec. 26. But Oaks Honey was claimed out of that contest by the above-mentioned Anthony Farrior, who wins at a 26% rate with new claiming acquisitions.

Luis Rivera is named to ride, and Oaks Honey won’t need much improvement—maybe just a slightly different trip—to turn the tables on Dark Vader and It’s Official. His 7-2 morning line odds are enticing, so let’s bet Oaks Honey to win and single him to conclude our double wager.

Selections

• #4 Oaks Honey (7-2)
• #1 Dark Vader (5-2)
• #7 It’s Official (4-1)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #4 Oaks Honey

Good luck!