Tuesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Cold Turf Paradise Pick 3

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Tuesday, Feb. 20 at Turf Paradise, including a cold Pick 3 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

Turf Paradise: Race 1: $8,500 Claiming (6 1/2 furlongs, 2:55 p.m. ET)

After a long string of efforts against tougher competition on turf in Southern California, #1 Westward Look (2-1) made his Turf Paradise debut a winning one in a Feb. 6 $10,000 claimer for non-winners of three races. Switching from turf to dirt proved to be no obstacle, as Westward Look pressed the pace before pulling away to dominate by five lengths with an 81 Brisnet Speed rating.

That number stamps Westward Look as the runner to beat even while tackling a $10,000 claimer for non-winners of four races, so we’ll bet the six-year-old gelding to win and single him to start double and Pick 3 wagers.

Selections

• #1 Westward Look (2-1)
• #6 Boss Nine (3-1)
• #3 Frisco Kid (6-1)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #1 Westward Look
• $10 Double: 1 with 5
• $5 Pick 3: 1 with 5 with 1
  Total: $35

Turf Paradise: Race 2: $4,500 Claiming (five furlongs, 3:23 p.m. ET)

#5 Jaime’s Commitment (2-1) was in sharp form competing on Tapeta at Golden Gate Fields and ran even better when switching to dirt for a $10,000 claimer sprinting five furlongs at Turf Paradise earlier this month. After dueling for the lead through fast fractions of :22.20 and :44.84, he got the better of his pace rival to prevail by a neck.

That contest was restricted to horses who had never won two races. On Tuesday, Jaime’s Commitment will tackle a $6,250 claimer for non-winner of three races, which should be a perfect fit from a class perspective. He’s shaping up as the most formidable speed horse in the field, so Jaime’s Commitment should be tough to catch under apprentice jockey Matias Bravo, who rides with a five-pound weight allowance.

A win bet is in order, and we’ll also single Jaime’s Commitment in our double and Pick 3 wagers.

Selections

• #5 Jaime’s Commitment (2-1)
• #4 Tale of Truth (5-1)
• #2 Impassioned Claim (3-1)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #5 Jaime’s Commitment
• $10 Double: 5 with 1
  Total: $30

Turf Paradise: Race 3: $8,500 Claiming (six furlongs, 3:51 p.m. ET)

Former Southern California competitor #1 All the King’s Men (5-2) ran well when making his Turf Paradise debut in a $8,500 claimer sprinting six furlongs on Jan. 30, pressing and chasing hot fractions of :21.99 and :44.41 before staying on to finish second with a sharp 80 Brisnet Speed rating.

Only one other horse in Tuesday’s field has cracked the 80 Brisnet Speed rating plateau, and that was a long time ago. If All the King’s Men can produce a similar performance in his second local start, he can deliver victory under red-hot jockey Luis Negron, a 33% winner at Turf Paradise this meet.

A win bet is in order, and we’ll single All the King’s Man to conclude our double and Pick 3 wagers.

Selections

• #1 All the King’s Men (5-2)
• #2 Big Way (4-1)
• #5 Scopello (7-2)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #1 All the King’s Men

Good luck!