Tuesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Double-digit first-timers

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Tuesday, April 16 at Horseshoe Indianapolis, including double-digit longshots in a double wager.

Today’s special offers from TwinSpires include:

• Trifecta Tuesday: Receive a 15% bonus (up to $25 per day) on winning trifecta wagers every Tuesday in April and May.

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 2: Maiden Special Weight (5 1/2 furlongs, 2:41 p.m. ET)

#7 Carousing (7-2) showed speed in her debut on Tapeta at Turfway Park, tracking the pace in a six-furlong maiden special weight before fading to finish eighth. She’s bred to shine on dirt and may find Horseshoe Indianapolis more conducive to speed than Turfway, so Carousing is a logical win threat in her second career start.

Assuming Carousing’s 7-2 morning line odds hold up, she’s well worth betting to win.

Selections

• #7 Carousing (7-2)
• #9 Pewter’s Promise (8-1)
• #6 Lilmorecraken (3-1)

Wagers

• $25 to win on #7 Carousing

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 6: Maiden Special Weight (5 1/2 furlongs, 4:45 p.m. ET)

Two first-time starters listed at double-digit odds on the morning line are worth supporting in this maiden sprint for three-year-olds.

The first is #1 Voodoo Devil (12-1), who breezed a fast five furlongs from the Horseshoe Indianapolis starting gate in :59 1/5 on April 6. Trainer Aaron West wins at a 20% rate with first-time starters, so workouts and trainer stats suggest Voodoo Devil is a viable win threat.

The work tab of #10 D’ Pistol (20-1) isn’t as flashy, but he’s a son of Gun Runner (who sires a lofty 17% winners from first-time starters), and trainer William Cowans strikes at a 32% rate with first-time starters.

Let’s bet Voodoo Devil and D’Pistol to win, then use them both to start a double wager.

Selections

• #1 Voodoo Devil (12-1)
• #10 D’ Pistol (20-1)
• #3 Linzer (7-2)

Wagers

• $14 to win on #1 Voodoo Devil
• $12 to win on #10 D’ Pistol
• $2 Double: 1,10 with 3 ($4)
  Total: $30

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 7: Allowance (5 1/2 furlongs, 5:16 p.m. ET)

#3 Molly’s Town (7-2) couldn’t quite handle stepping up against non-restricted stakes foes at Churchill Downs and Oaklawn last fall, finishing fourth in the Ed Brown S. and fifth in the Advent S. But he showed early speed in both of those races while taking on talented rivals like Arkansas Derby (G1) runner-up Just Steel and three-time stakes winner Valentine Candy.

Molly’s Town had previously gone unbeaten and unchallenged in four starts against Indiana-breds at Horseshoe Indianapolis, including two decisive stakes wins. Returning to Horseshoe Indianapolis for an open allowance should place Molly’s Town in the hunt for victory at enticing odds, and the fact he’ll be racing on Lasix for the first time adds to the appeal.

Let’s bet Molly’s Town to win, single him to conclude our double wager, and throw in an exacta using #4 New Year’s Fever (2-1) for second place.

Selections

• #3 Molly’s Town (7-2)
• #4 New Year’s Fever (2-1)
• #6 Pickle Feet (8-1)

Wagers

• $22 to win on #3 Molly’s Town
• $8 Exacta: 3 with 4
  Total: $30

Good luck!