Friday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Play this Keeneland double

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Friday, April 18 at Keeneland and Gulfstream Park, including a cold daily double.

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.
• 10x Points at Fraser Downs: Receive 10x reward points on all wagers (excluding show bets) at Fraser Downs each Friday.
• Keeneland 25% Double Down: Hit two double wagers on any day at Keeneland from April 16 through April 18 to receive a 25% boost (up to a daily maximum of $25) on all winning double wagers at Keeneland for the day.

Today’s TwinSpires tournaments include:

• $200 Keeneland Bonus Feeder Friday to 4/19 Keeneland KDBC Qualifier
• $200 Charles Town Feeder to 4/26 Churchill Downs KDBC Qualifier

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Keeneland: Race 1: $80,000 Claiming (six furlongs on dirt, 1:00 p.m. ET)

After recording top-five finishes in five straight allowances, including two on dirt, #1 Tunisian Spring (4-5) should appreciate dropping into an $80,000 claimer. Trainer Wesley Ward wins at a 32% rate with first-time claimers, and at a 45% rate with horses switching from turf to dirt, two angles which apply to Tunisian Spring.

Tunisian Spring earned a flashy 100 Brisnet Speed rating when wiring a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Keeneland in October 2023, and he can shine again on Friday. Let’s single Tunisian Spring to start a daily double, then bet him over Louisiana shipper #6 Hesper (4-1) in a cold exacta.

Selections

• #1 Tunisian Spring (4-5)
• #6 Hesper (4-1)
• #4 Frost Mountain (9-2)

Wagers

• $20 Double: 1 with 4
• $10 Exacta: 1 with 6
  Total: $30

Keeneland: Race 2: Maiden Special Weight (4 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 1:32 p.m. ET)

Trained Todd Pletcher rarely debuts juveniles during the Keeneland spring meet, but on opening day he sent out Kadabra to record a close runner-up finish at nearly 9-2 odds.

Perhaps Pletcher can pick up a win on Friday with #4 Epic Desire (7-2), who has put together a lengthy work tab at Palm Beach Downs, including a bullet three furlongs in :36 4/5. Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez has the mount on this son of champion juvenile Uncle Mo, so let’s bet Epic Desire to win and single him in our double bet.

Selections

• #4 Epic Desire (7-2)
• #1 Victoria’s Shances (3-1)
• #5 Fear (5-2)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #4 Epic Desire

Gulfstream Park: Race 2: Maiden Special Weight (4 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 1:35 p.m. ET)

#8 Jalapeno (4-1) has put together a sharp work tab in preparation for his debut, highlighted by a swift half-mile from the Palm Meadows starting gate in :47 3/5. He looks ready to win first-time out for trainer Jose D’Angelo, a 20% winner at Gulfstream this year.

Let’s bet Jalapeno to win, then add an exacta using #9 Squire (7-2) for second place. The latter breezed a bullet three-furlongs from the Palm Meadows starting gate in :35 4/5 on March 30.

Selections

• #8 Jalapeno (4-1)
• #9 Squire (7-2)
• #5 Beers On Me (6-1)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #8 Jalapeno
• $5 Exacta: 8 with 9
  Total: $25

Good luck!