Analysis: Turfway’s $97,874 Pick 5, Fair Grounds’ $1,469 Pick 6

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares horses to play in non-jackpot carryovers on Saturday at Fair Grounds and Turfway Park.

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.
• Woodbine Mohawk 15% Profit Boost: Receive a 15% boost (up to $25 per day) on your winning win, exacta, trifecta, and superfecta wagers at Woodbine Mohawk each Saturday through Jan. 25.
• 10x Points at Your Most Wagered Track: Receive 10x reward points on all wagers (excluding show bets) at your most wagered track each day this week from Monday through Sunday.
• Fair Grounds 15% Profit Boost: Receive a 15% boost (up to $25) on your winning win, exacta, trifecta, and superfecta wagers at Fair Grounds this Saturday.

Today’s TwinSpires tournaments include:

• $400 Lecomte KDBC Qualifier
• $200 Turfway Feeder to 1/26 Fair Grounds/Oaklawn KDBC/NHC Qualifier

Fair Grounds, Race 7: $1,469 Pick 6 carryover (4:00 p.m. ET)

The stakes-packed Saturday card at Fair Grounds has gotten even better with a $1,469 Pick 6 carryover up for grabs.

The feature event in the sequence is Race 12, the $250,000 Lecomte (G3). #13 Built (3-1) is favored to win this 1 1/16-mile Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier, but his 6 3/4-length romp in last month’s Gun Runner S. came with the benefit of an easy lead, which he’s unlikely to receive again in the Lecomte.

Four double-digit longshots are worth including on your Pick 6 tickets:

• #1 Innovator (10-1) won a fast maiden race at Oaklawn last month and has the pedigree to shine while stretching out around two turns for the first time.
• #2 Maximum Promise (10-1) demolished a one-mile maiden special weight at Ellis Park last summer and may outrun expectations in his first start since then.
• #5 Optical (20-1) is adding blinkers off a gritty win in a one-mile $50,000 starter allowance at Churchill Downs.
• Runaway Aqueduct maiden winner #7 Calling Card (12-1) stands to benefit from a contested pace.

Consider also playing these live longshots in the $400 Lecomte KDBC Qualifier tournament on TwinSpires. Finish high enough in the standings, and you’ll earn an entry into the May 3 $5,000 Kentucky Derby Betting Challenge.

Turfway Park, Race 6: $97,874 Pick 5 carryover (8:25 p.m. ET)

The highlight of Saturday’s card at Turfway Park is a huge $97,874 carryover in the 50-cent Late Pick 5.

The opening leg of the Pick 5 is Race 6, the $125,000 Leonatus S. in which eight three-year-old colts and geldings will race one mile on Tapeta. John Mucciolo of TwinSpires prefers the chances of #2 Baby Max (12-1), #6 Can’t Deny It (5-2), and #7 Church and State (3-1), and Pick 5 bettors may wish to include all three on their tickets.

MUCCIOLO: How to bet the Leonatus Stakes

Later on, there’s a live longshot worth using in Race 10, a maiden special weight for three-year-olds racing one mile on Tapeta.

#8 D’oro Boy (20-1) finished last of 10 in his debut sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs on dirt at Churchill Downs, but that was a deep maiden special weight won by next-out San Vicente (G2) conqueror and early Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite Barnes. D’oro Boy is eligible to improve in his second start while adding blinkers, stretching out over one mile, switching to Tapeta, and (presumably) facing easier competition.

Good luck!