Wednesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Ward juvenile at 4-1

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Wednesday, June 5 at Delaware Park, Churchill Downs, and Horseshoe Indianapolis, including a Wesley Ward-trained juvenile at 4-1.

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Best Bets and Quick Picks

Delaware Park: Race 8: Rehoboth S. (six furlongs on dirt, 4:00 p.m. ET)

#10 Alva Starr (3-5) towers over this field in terms of accomplishments and typical Brisnet Speed ratings. She’s cracked the triple-digit Brisnet Speed rating plateau in four of her last six starts, and she heads to Delaware Park off a win in the Madison (G1) and a runner-up finish in the Derby City Distaff (G1).

Let’s play Alva Starr on top of a large exacta using #6 Apple Picker (8-1) and #1 Yesternight (10-1) for second place. Apple Picker won the Barbara Fritchie (G3) during the winter and exits a win in the Skipat S., while Yesternight placed in the Dogwood (G3) and Cathryn Sophia S. as a three-year-old last year.

Selections

• #10 Alva Starr (3-5)
• #6 Apple Picker (8-1)
• #1 Yesternight (10-1)

Wagers

• $20 Exacta: 10 with 1,6 ($40)

Churchill Downs: Race 8: Allowance (6 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 4:22 p.m. ET)

#2 Doncho (5-2) has shown serious sprinting talent. After dominating his first two starts against maiden and allowance company at Fair Grounds, he bounced back from a defeat in Keeneland’s Lafayette S. to wire Aqueduct’s Gold Fever S. by 2 1/2 lengths.

Doncho’s four Brisnet Speed ratings to date have been fast and consistent: 95, 95, 93, and 96. He’s faster on this scale than morning line favorite #3 Beeline (2-1), winner of the Hutcheson S. during the winter at Gulfstream, so we’ll opt for a straightforward win bet on Doncho.

Selections

• #2 Doncho (5-2)
• #3 Beeline (2-1)
• #1 Normandy Hero (8-1)

Wagers

• $30 to win on #2 Doncho

Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 6: Maiden Special Weight (five furlongs on turf, 4:45 p.m. ET)

Since 2019, trainer Wesley Ward has compiled an excellent 5-for-13 (38%) record debuting juveniles in turf sprints at Horseshoe Indianapolis. With this stat in mind, we have to back Ward’s unraced two-year-old #6 Homie (4-1) if his enticing morning line odds hold up.

A son of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) winner Mendelssohn, Homie has put together a sharp work tab highlighted by three furlongs from the Keeneland starting gate in :35 and half a mile over the same track in :48 2/5. Under jockey Walter Rodriguez (a 27% winner teaming up with Ward over the last two months), Homie is well worth betting to win.

Selections

• #6 Homie (4-1)
• #1 Mission Improbable (9-2)
• #4 Mendello (15-1)

Wagers

• $30 to win on #6 Homie

Good luck!