Monday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: $25 double at Turf Paradise

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Monday, March 10 at Will Rogers Downs and Turf Paradise, including a cold $25 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.
• 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:

• $160 Parx Feeder to 3/15 Virginia Derby/Oaklawn KDBC Qualifier

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Will Rogers Downs: Race 7: Maiden Special Weight (5 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 4:57 p.m. ET)

#6 First Takela (2-5) has recorded a trio of top-five finishes in maiden special weights at Remington Park and Sam Houston. Along the way, he’s earned Brisnet Speed ratings of 72, 81, and 74—the three highest numbers belonging to any horse entered in Race 7.

The field at Will Rogers Downs looks manageable for First Takela to conquer, so we’ll bet him over #3 Yougotthisjr (4-1) in the exacta. The latter has cracked the top three twice in Remington Park maiden special weights while earning Brisnet Speed ratings of 63 and 62, the fourth- and fifth-best numbers in Monday’s field.

Selections

• #6 First Takela (2-5)
• #3 Yougotthisjr (4-1)
• #1 Top of the World (8-1)

Wagers

• $30 Exacta: 6 with 3

Turf Paradise: Race 3: Maiden Special Weight (5 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 5:21 p.m. ET)

Since 2021, trainer R. Kory Owens has gone 5-for-15 (33%) saddling first-time starters at Turf Paradise. This bodes well for #2 Jacked Up (5-2), an unraced half-sibling to two stakes winners. The three-year-old gelding has put together a sharp work tab at Turf Paradise and is slated to be ridden by jockey Glenn Corbett, a 31% winner teaming up with Owens over the last two months.

Let’s single Jacked Up to start a cold double wager.

Selections

• #2 Jacked Up (5-2)
• #6 J Double E P (7-2)
• #7 V Dubba U (6-1)

Wagers

• $25 Double: 2 with 5

Turf Paradise: Race 4: $8,500 Starter Optional Claiming (about one mile on turf, 5:50 p.m. ET)

#5 Loveaboveandbeyond (6-5) has wired four straight races at Turf Paradise by a minimum of 2 3/4 lengths. She’s also 2-for-2 lifetime on turf, which includes a 3 1/4-length triumph over this course, distance, and class level on Feb. 13.

A fifth straight win appears to be in the cards. Let’s single Loveaboveandbeyond to conclude our double wager, then play an exacta using #2 English Danger (8-1) for second place.

Selections

• #5 Loveaboveandbeyond (6-5)
• #2 English Danger (8-1)
• #1 She’s a Bossy Girl (5-1)

Wagers

• $10 Exacta: 5 with 2

Good luck!