Monday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Gray Lightning can win comeback

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Monday, April 14 at Parx Racing and Will Rogers Downs, including a play in the Wilma Mankiller S.

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Best Bets and Quick Picks

Parx Racing: Race 6: Maiden Special Weight (six furlongs on dirt, 2:59 p.m. ET)

#3 Untouchable (3-1) debuted with a third-place finish over this track, distance, and class level on March 24. The daughter of Afleet Alex rallied from last place in a field of six to miss second place by only three-quarters of a length.

Hot trainer Michael Moore wins at a 33% rate with second-time starters, so there’s a good chance Untouchable will move forward in her second try. A win bet is in order.

Selections

• #3 Untouchable (3-1)
• #2 Alyvia Mavis (7-2)
• #1 Love Park (5-1)

Wagers

• $30 to win on #3 Untouchable

Will Rogers Downs: Race 8: Wilma Mankiller S. (six furlongs on dirt, 5:30 p.m. ET)

#1 Gray Lightning (5-2) owns the two highest Brisnet Speed ratings in this field. She posted ratings of 104 and 99 when wiring allowance sprints at Parx last year by double-digits margins.

Gray Lightning hasn’t raced since finishing third in the six-furlong Jersey Girl S. at Saratoga last June, but she enters off sharp workouts for trainer Armando Hernandez (who wins at a 27% rate with horses returning from layoffs of 90 days or more), so the long break shouldn’t be a concern.

Gray Lightning figures to find the competition easier to handle at Will Rogers Downs, so let’s single her to start a double wager.

Selections

• #1 Gray Lightning (5-2)
• #3 Take Me Serious (2-1)
• #2 Palacein (5-2)

Wagers

• $30 Double: 1 with 5

Will Rogers Downs: Race 9: Maiden Special Weight (5 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 5:57 p.m. ET)

#5 Mi Sonrisa (5-2) posted Brisnet Speed ratings of 75 and 72 when finishing third in a pair of open-company maiden special weights at Lone Star Park last year. Now she’s tackling a maiden special weight for Oklahoma-bred fillies and mares at Will Rogers Downs, and the par winning Brisnet Speed rating for this type of race is only 70.

Dropping into the state-bred ranks stamps Mi Sonrisa as the filly to beat, so let’s single her to conclude our double bet, then add in an exacta using the first-time starter #7 Ella Okie (8-1) for second place.

Selections

• #5 Mi Sonrisa (5-2)
• #7 Ella Okie (8-1)
• #8 Go Lauren Go (3-1)

Wagers

• $10 Exacta: 5 with 7

Good luck!