Tuesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Top of My Game is hot

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Tuesday, April 9 at Will Rogers Downs and Turf Paradise, including a 9-2 shot in hot form.

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Best Bets and Quick Picks

Will Rogers Downs: Race 1: $25,000 Claiming (5 1/2 furlongs, 2:15 p.m. ET)

After failing to show much in his first four starts, #4 Promise Code (3-1) improved dramatically when adding blinkers for a $30,000 maiden claimer on Dec. 2 at Remington Park. Favored to win the six-furlong sprint, Promise Code delivered on expectations with a gate-to-wire seven-length victory.

That runaway score produced an 80 Brisnet Speed rating, the highest number in the Tuesday opener at Will Rogers Downs. Hot trainer Joe Offolter wins at a respectable 18% rate with horses returning from layoffs of 90 days or more, so we’ll bank on Promise Code to deliver victory in his 2024 debut.

Selections

• #4 Promise Code (3-1)
• #3 Den’s Dynasty (3-1)
• #6 Smackzilla (5-2)

Wagers

• $25 to win on #4 Promise Code

Will Rogers Downs: Race 3: Allowance (six furlongs, 3:09 p.m. ET)

There’s quite a bit of speed entered in this six-furlong dash, so we’ll back #1 Rahm (4-1), who tends to settle off the early pace. The four-year-old gelding has been in strong form since being claimed by trainer Federico Villafranco, dominating two $7,500 claimers at Will Rogers Downs by 3 1/2 lengths and two lengths.

Villafranco has been hot at Will Rogers Downs over the last two weeks, going 7-for-21 (33%), and Rahm can keep that winning momentum going. Since Rahm’s 4-1 morning line odds are enticing, we’ll keep things simple with a win bet.

Selections

• #1 Rahm (4-1)
• #4 Golden Rebal (5-1)
• #2 Missing Hollywood (5-2)

Wagers

• $25 to win on #1 Rahm

Turf Paradise: Race 3: $12,500 Allowance Optional Claiming (one mile, 4:46 p.m. ET)

Former California campaigner #3 Top of My Game (9-2) has been on fire since being claimed by high-percentage trainer Jose Silva Jr. In his first start for Silva, Top of My Game dueled on his way to victory in a $10,000 claimer racing one mile at Turf Paradise. Then he cut back in distance for a 6 1/2-furlong $15,000 claimer and tracked the pace before taking over to win by 3 1/4 lengths.

Those two victories yielded improving Brisnet Speed ratings of 80 and 90. Under jockey Fausto Da Silva (a 25% winner teaming up with Silva over the last two months), Top of My Game looks ready to deliver a third straight victory.

At 9-2, we’ll bet Top of My Game to win and call it a day.

Selections

• #3 Top of My Game (9-2)
• #7 Heat N Reheat (5-1)
• #2 Shot of a Lifetime (5-2)

Wagers

• $25 to win on #3 Top of My Game

Good luck!