Tuesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Fair Grounds double

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Tuesday, March 18 at Fair Grounds, including a Grade 1 filly returning from a layoff.

Today’s special offers from TwinSpires include:

• New Players $200 Sign-Up Bonus: Open your TwinSpires.com account using the offer code BET200 to start earning a $200 bonus.
• 5x Points on Harness Racing: Receive 5x rewards points on all bets at harness tracks (excluding show bets) each Monday through Wednesday from Feb. 17 through March 26.

Today’s TwinSpires tournaments include:

• $200 Fair Grounds Feeder to 3/22 KDBC Qualifier

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Fair Grounds: Race 1: $50,000 Starter Optional Claiming (one mile and 70 yards on dirt, 1:45 p.m. ET)

#6 Magnum Force (3-1) tired in his debut against maiden special weight competition at Churchill Downs, finishing 11th against a field including future Holy Bull (G3) winner Burnham Square. But he subsequently dropped in class for a $35,000 maiden claimer at Oaklawn Park and led all the way to win by 2 3/4 lengths.

That victory earned an 86 Brisnet Speed rating, easily the highest number belonging to any horse entered in this $50,000 starter optional claimer. Magnum Force looks ready to win again for the hot jockey/trainer duo of Florent Geroux and Brad Cox, so let’s place three bets: a win bet, a double, and an exacta using #5 Consecrated (5-2) for second place.

Selections

• #6 Magnum Force (3-1)
• #5 Consecrated (5-2)
• #3 Golden Ice (9-2)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #6 Magnum Force
• $10 Exacta: 6 with 5
• $10 Double: 6 with 6
  Total: $40

Fair Grounds: Race 2: $20,000 Claiming (six furlongs on dirt, 2:15 p.m. ET)

#6 Gift Giver (2-1) is tackling the claiming ranks for the first time. He’s finished fourth in his last three starts against tougher company, including two stakes and an allowance won by Road to the Kentucky Derby alumni Dapper Moon.

Trainer Bret Calhoun wins at a 28% rate with horses dropping into the claiming ranks for the first time, and the addition of blinkers (a 20% winning move for Calhoun) opens the door for Gift Giver to take a step forward. We’ll single Gift Giver to conclude our double wager, then bet him to win for good measure.

Selections

• #6 Gift Giver (2-1)
• #1 Josh G (4-1)
• #4 Maybe Eye’ll Call (3-1)

Wagers

• $30 to win on #6 Gift Giver

Fair Grounds: Race 6: $50,000 Allowance Optional Claiming (about 1 1/16 miles on turf, 4:15 p.m. ET)

Whether this race stays on turf or gets transferred to dirt, #6 Just Basking (5-2) should be a formidable win threat.

Just Basking showed talent on dirt last year, dominating the Iowa Oaks and finishing third by one length in the Alabama (G1). But as a half-sister to One Timer and Kilwin (both stakes winners on turf), Just Basking has the pedigree to shine on grass as well.

Fast workouts over the Palm Meadows turf course in recent weeks should have Just Basking fit to win her four-year-old debut, so let’s place a large win bet and call it a day.

Selections

• #6 Just Basking (5-2)
• #7 Autism Community (9-2)
• #3 Paint Me Perfect (6-1)

Wagers

• $30 to win on #6 Just Basking

Good luck!