Wednesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Canterbury 9-2 shot

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Wednesday, July 10 at Horseshoe Indianapolis and Canterbury Park, including a first-time starter at 9-2 odds.

Today’s special offers from TwinSpires include:

• Hoosier Park $10 Money Back: Receive refunds on win bets (up to $10) if your horse finishes second in any eligible race at Hoosier Park every Wednesday in July.
• Horseshoe Indianapolis $10 Money Back: Receive refunds on win bets (up to $10) if your horse finishes second in any eligible race at Horseshoe Indianapolis every Wednesday in July and also Saturday, July 6.

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 4: Maiden Special Weight (one mile on dirt, 3:43 p.m. ET)

#4 Admiral Bouchard (8-5) ran strongly in his debut racing 1 1/16 miles over this track and class level. After setting the pace, he fought on to finish second by 1 1/2 lengths, earning an 81 Brisnet Speed rating equal to the par winning number for Wednesday’s conditions.

Trainer Brad Cox wins at a 28% rate with second-time starters and at a 30% rate with horses running long for the second time, so the stats suggest Admiral Bouchard will break his maiden on Wednesday. We’ll bet him to win and single him to start a double wager.

Selections

• #4 Admiral Bouchard (8-5)
• #1 Dynamis (9-5)
• #6 Shallus (12-1)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #4 Admiral Bouchard
• $15 Double: 4 with 3
  Total: $35

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 5: $10,000 Starter Optional Claiming (six furlongs on dirt, 4:14 p.m. ET)

#3 Cielo Azul (9-5) was much the best when sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs over this track and class level on June 18, pouncing from 1 1/2 lengths off the early pace to dominate by four lengths. There’s no reason to think this seven-year-old gelding can’t keep his momentum going in his third start of the season.

Let’s single Cielo Azul to conclude our double wager, then place a win bet for good measure.

Selections

• #3 Cielo Azul (9-5)
• #7 Flowerpecker (6-1)
• #8 A Few too Many (7-2)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #3 Cielo Azul

Canterbury Park: Race 1: Maiden Special Weight (4 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 6:10 p.m. ET)

Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bennie Woolley Jr. has gone 2-for-3 (67%) debuting juveniles at Canterbury Park in recent years, so our money is on Woolley’s unraced #2 Pepper N Mint (9-2) to take home top honors in this maiden sprint for Ohio-bred two-year-old fillies.

A daughter of early-maturing juvenile Enticed, who won the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) and placed in the Champagne (G1) at age two, Pepper N Mint enters off a respectable half-mile workout from the Canterbury Park starting gate in :49. Her 9-2 morning line odds are enticing, so a win bet is in order.

Selections

• #2 Pepper N Mint (9-2)
• #3 Diablo’s Canyon (2-1)
• #6 Wildcat Minny (3-1)

Wagers

• $25 to win on #2 Pepper N Mint

Good luck!