Wednesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Adios Dew can shine on debut

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Wednesday, March 5 at Gulfstream Park, Tampa Bay Downs, and Turfway Park, including a first-time starter at 9-2 odds.

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.
• Winning Wednesday: Receive a 25% bonus (up to $25 per day) on winning single-horse win bets at selected tracks every Wednesday in March. Today’s track is Gulfstream Park.

Today’s TwinSpires tournaments include:

• $200 Tampa Bay Downs Feeder to 3/8 Tampa Bay Derby KDBC Qualifier
• $200 Turfway Feeder to 3/15 Virginia Derby/Oaklawn KDBC Qualifier

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Gulfstream Park: Race 4: $12,500 Maiden Claiming (five furlongs on Tapeta, 2:26 p.m. ET)

#6 Coda Mia (2-1) acted up at the starting gate when debuting in a Feb. 5 maiden special weight over this track and distance. She didn’t get off to the best break and wound up finishing seventh.

Dropping in class and adding blinkers for her second start can send Coda Mia to the winner’s circle. Let’s bet her to win.

Selections

• #6 Coda Mia (2-1)
• #7 Coeur Douloureux (10-1)
• #5 Always to the End (7-2)

Wagers

• $30 to win on #6 Coda Mia

Tampa Bay Downs: Race 9: $16,000 Maiden Claiming (5 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 4:45 p.m. ET)

#7 Adios Dew (9-2) is a threat to win on debut. She’s put together a lengthy work tab for trainer John Rigattieri (a 27% winner with first-time starters) and is slated to be ridden by apprentice jockey Sara Hess, who rides with a seven-pound weight allowance.

None of the experienced runners in this field look overly tough on paper, so a win bet on Adios Dew is in order.

Selections

• #7 Adios Dew (9-2)
• #3 Don’tdrainmypocket (3-1)
• #8 Con Cautela (7-2)

Wagers

• $25 to win on #7 Adios Dew (9-2)

Turfway Park: Race 8: Maiden Special Weight (one mile on Tapeta, 9:25 p.m. ET)

#1 Lebowski (7-2) is a new face in this Tapeta contest. He’s shipping in from Fair Grounds, where he’s cracked the trifecta in a trio of maiden special weights on turf. He was beaten only a nose in his latest outing.

With four straight Brisnet Speed ratings in the 78-80 range under his belt, Lebowski is a logical contender to win his Tapeta debut for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, a 20% winner at Turfway since December. We’ll bet him to win and key him over #2 Sound Cause (3-1) and #6 Brushfire (5-2) in the exacta. 

Selections

• #1 Lebowski (7-2)
• #2 Sound Cause (3-1)
• #6 Brushfire (5-2)

Wagers

• $16 to win on #1 Lebowski
• $7 Exacta: 1 with 2,6 ($14)
  Total: $30

Good luck!