Wednesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Keeneland’s $32,121 Super High 5 carryover

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Wednesday, April 9 at Keeneland, including horses to play in the $32,121 Super High 5 carryover.

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.
• Keeneland 25% Double Down: Hit two double wagers on any day at Keeneland from April 9 through April 11 to receive a 25% boost (up to a daily maximum of $25) on all winning double wagers at Keeneland for the day.

Today’s TwinSpires tournaments include:

• $250 Keeneland Feeder to 4/11 Keeneland KDBC/G1G Qualifier
• $160 Evangeline Downs Feeder to 4/19 Keeneland KDBC Qualifier

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Keeneland: Race 1: $100,000 Maiden Claiming (seven furlongs on dirt, 1:00 p.m. ET)

#8 Vintage Ring (7-2) has put together a strong work tab for trainer Ignacio Correas IV, who compiled a solid 4-for-21 (19%) record saddling first-time starters last year.

On three occasions since the beginning of March, Vintage Ring has clocked half a mile at Keeneland in :47-and-change, including a recent breeze from the starting gate in :47 3/5.

Under five-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., Vintage Ring is a threat to win her debut. Let’s bet her to win and single her to start a double wager.

Selections

• #8 Vintage Ring (7-2)
• #6 Stage Presence (5-2)
• #7 Takethesilver (20-1)

Wagers

• $15 to win on #8 Vintage Ring
• $10 Double: 8 with 4
  Total: $25

Keeneland: Race 2: $20,000 Claiming (6 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 1:32 p.m. ET)

Although #4 Night Time (6-5) has competed primarily on Tapeta in recent years, he also boasts strong dirt form at Keeneland. In October 2023, he rallied to win a seven-furlong $80,000 allowance optional claimer. And last fall, he posted a one-length triumph in a six-furlong $40,000 claimer.

Dropping in class for a 6 1/2-furlong $20,000 claimer can send Night Time to the winner’s circle for trainer Brittany Vanden Berg, a 30% winner with horses switching from Tapeta to dirt. Let’s single Night Time to conclude our double wager, then bet him to win for good measure.

Selections

• #4 Night Time (6-5)
• #9 Business Model (9-2)
• #2 Molto Vivace (6-1)

Wagers

• $30 to win on #4 Night Time

Keeneland: Race 7: $125,000 Allowance Optional Claiming (1 1/16 miles on dirt, 4:12 p.m. ET)

#6 Lion of Justice (8-5) impressed when debuting in a one-mile maiden special weight at Colonial Downs last month. The son of six-time leading North American sire Into Mischief led all the way to dominate by 6 1/2 lengths with a promising 88 Brisnet Speed rating.

Let’s bet Lion of Justice on top of exacta tickets using #10 Skate Away (4-1) and #2 Bracket Buster (20-1) for second place. The latter colt was last seen running fifth in the Oct. 27 Street Sense (G3), a race that has produced Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Sandman, Louisiana Derby (G2) hero Tiztastic, and Florida Derby (G1) runner-up Sovereignty.

Selections

• #6 Lion of Justice (8-5)
• #2 Bracket Buster (20-1)
• #10 Skate Away (4-1)

Wagers

• $20 Exacta: 6 with 10
• $10 Exacta: 6 with 2
  Total: $30

Carryover Watch

Keeneland: Race 8: $32,121 Super High 5 carryover (4:44 p.m. ET)

The $1 Super High 5 at Keeneland has proven elusive to start the spring meet.

Super High 5 wagering wasn’t offered on the opening-day Sunday card. Then the wager went unsolved on Monday and Tuesday, producing an enticing $32,121 double carryover for Wednesday’s card.

It’s no wonder why the Super High 5 proved inscrutable on Tuesday. The even-money favorite finished last while the top five finishers started at odds of 16-1, 8-1, 93-1, 8-1, and 6-1.

We may see more longshots shine on Wednesday. The Super High 5 carryover is up for grabs in Race 8, an allowance for older horses racing one mile on turf. A huge field has entered—12 horses in the main body of the field plus four on the also-eligible list—and live longshots abound.

Here are two double-digit price horses you’ll want to include on your tickets:

#7 Domingo (15-1): One year ago, Domingo ran well in a 1 3/16-mile grass allowance at Keeneland. He gained 4 3/4 lengths through the final furlong to finish second by three-quarters of a length. His subsequent form has been muddied by defeats on dirt, against tougher company, and in a race where he lost his rider.

Last time out, Domingo was beaten only 4 1/4 lengths when finishing seventh in a $25,000 allowance optional claimer at Gulfstream, his first start off a seven-month layoff. Returning to Keeneland for his second start of the season may trigger a rebound under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez.

#8 Ngannou (12-1): Ngannou showed promise in his first three starts, all in Southern California. He wired a one-mile maiden special weight over #3 British Isles (4-1)—one of the favorites on Wednesday—and finished second in the Zuma Beach (G3) against future Kentucky Derby (G1) starter Endlessly.

Ngannou went to the sidelines following an 11th-place finish in May 2024 allowance optional claimer at Churchill Downs, but he’s since been gelded and is eligible to factor in his comeback for trainer Brendan Walsh, a solid 18% winner with horses returning from layoffs of 90 days or more.

Good luck!