Tuesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Maximus Meridius drops in class

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Tuesday, Feb. 25 at Parx Racing and Turf Paradise, including a cold $40 exacta.

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• 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 3/1 Oaklawn KDBC Qualifier

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Parx Racing: Race 2: $25,000 Maiden Claiming (5 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 12:32 p.m. ET)

#8 Dropsugar (5-1) has a chance to shine on debut. She shown some speed in the mornings at Parx, most notably working a bullet five furlongs from the starting gate, and trainer Robert Mosco wins at a 33% rate with horses debuting in maiden claimers.

At 5-1, Dropsugar is worth betting to win. We’ll also play her over #6 Imperio Azteca (9-5) in a cold exacta.

Selections

• #8 Dropsugar (5-1)
• #6 Imperior Azteca (9-5)
• #5 Carolyn Doris (3-1)

Wagers

• $15 to win on #8 Dropsugar
• $10 Exacta: 8 with 6
  Total: $25

Parx Racing: Race 9: Allowance (seven furlongs on dirt, 3:41 p.m. ET)

#3 Maximus Meridius (1-5) looks mighty tough to beat while tackling an allowance for Pennsylvania-breds. His last two starts have yielded victories against non-state-restricted competition in the Gravesend S. and Toboggan S. at Aqueduct.

Those wins produced strong Brisnet Speed ratings of 101 and 106, which tower over Tuesday’s field. Let’s bet Maximus Meridius on top of a large exacta using #8 Harp’s Hot Corner (3-1) for second place. The latter has won five straight races, including four since being claimed by high-percentage trainer Jamie Ness.

Selections

• #3 Maximus Meridius (1-5)
• #8 Harp’s Hot Corner (3-1)
• #7 Mr Sandman (12-1)

Wagers

• $40 Exacta: 3 with 8

Turf Paradise: Race 4: $30,000 Maiden Optional Claiming (six furlongs on dirt, 4:25 p.m. ET)

After running well against tougher competition at Oaklawn Park and Churchill Downs, #5 Brownstone (2-1) made his Turf Paradise debut in a $30,000 maiden optional claimer sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs. He settled in midfield before rallying to finish second by 1 1/2 lengths.

The 85 Brisnet Speed rating Brownstone received is six points higher than the par winning number for Tuesday’s conditions. His second try over this track and class level can yield a victory over #4 Firefight (3-1) and #1 G G Gilley (4-1). We’ll bet an exacta accordingly.

Selections

• #5 Brownstone (2-1)
• #4 Firefight (3-1)
• #1 G G Gilley (4-1)

Wagers

• $15 Exacta: 5 with 1,4 ($30)

Good luck!