Thursday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Price plays at Turfway

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Thursday, Jan. 4 at Turfway Park and Delta Downs, including a 12-1 longshot.

Today’s special offers from TwinSpires include:

• Winter Money Back: Receive refunds on win bets (up to $10) if your horse finishes second or third in select races every Thursday-Sunday.

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Turfway Park: Race 2: $5,000 Claiming (six furlongs on Tapeta, 6:25 p.m. ET)

#4 Deep Dish (12-1) competed well in a series of $5,000 claimers on dirt at Horseshoe Indianapolis last year, hitting the board three times. She also showed decent form in $15,000 claimers over the Turfway Park Tapeta during the 2022-23 racing season, finishing in the top four twice while earning solid Brisnet Speed ratings of 72 and 73.

Trainer Tianna Richardville has been hot at Turfway, compiling a 9-3-1-2 (33%) record during the Holiday Meet. We’re willing to bet Deep Dish can prevail while returning to Turfway for a $5,000 claimer.

Selections

• #4 Deep Dish (12-1)
• #11 Rum Runner Ready (5-2)
• #8 Mornin’ Boss (3-1)

Wagers

• $25 to win on #4 Deep Dish

Turfway Park: Race 5: Maiden Special Weight (six furlongs on Tapeta, 7:55 p.m. ET)

#11 Upper Case (5-1) is the fastest horse in this field from a Brisnet Speed rating perspective. Last February, in her lone start over the Turfway Park Tapeta, she posted an 82 Brisnet Speed rating when second in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight. The winner, Sunday Shoes, flattered the form by returning to win Turfway’s Serena’s Song S. in her next start.

Upper Case remained in strong form during the spring, earning Brisnet Speed ratings of 79 and 76 while competing in maiden special weights on dirt at Keeneland and Horseshoe Indianapolis. She’s been freshened since June by trainer Paulo Lobo (who wins at a 23% rate with horses returning from layoffs of 90 days or more), so let’s bet Upper Case to win.

Selections

• #11 Upper Case (5-1)
• #4 Victorious (2-1)
• #2 Chelsea Pier (8-1)

Wagers

• $25 to win on #11 Upper Case

Delta Downs: Race 4: Allowance (6 1/2 furlongs, 7:29 p.m. ET)

There’s a decent amount of speed entered in this allowance for Louisiana-breds, which could compromise morning line favorite #8 The Boss Soss (5-2), who has set the pace while finishing second in each of his last two starts at Delta Downs.

In contrast, it could help #5 Sonya Knows Better (5-1). The four-year-old colt faded after setting the pace in the 1 1/16-mile Louisiana Champions Day Turf S. at Fair Grounds last month, finishing seventh, but he employed rallying tactics in three starts sprinting at Delta Downs during the fall. Chief among those was a maiden victory racing 6 1/2 furlongs.

Under hot jockey Vicente Del-Cid (a 26% winner at Delta Downs this meet), Sonya Knows Better is eligible to outrun his morning line odds. We’ll bet him to win and play him over The Boss Soss in the exacta.

Selections

• #5 Sonya Knows Better (5-1)
• #8 The Boss Soss (5-2)
• #9 Reddingandlee (7-2)

Wagers

• $15 to win on #5 Sonya Knows Better
• $5 Exacta: 5 with 8
  Total: $20

Good luck!