Keeneland Horse Racing Picks for Thursday 4/20/23

The three-week Keeneland Spring Meet continues Thursday with nine races and a post time of 1 p.m. ET.

As always, check the program for scratches and changes, monitor the weather and keep an eye on the track conditions.

(I will reference Equibase's Speed Figure in selected races, which tells you how fast a horse has been running in each of its races after adjusting for track, distances, and conditions).

Keeneland Betting Picks

According to numberFire horse racing projections and Guaranteed Tip Sheet, these are some of the best bets to make at FanDuel Racing today.

1. Devil's Tower and Tilted Towers, Race 6

FanDuel Racing Odds: 7/5 and 9/2
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Race 6 is a Starter Allowance for older horses at 6 1/2 furlongs. Devil's Tower (7/5) is the top pick by numberFire's data and the best bet of Guaranteed Tip Sheet (GTS) with top jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. riding. From a fractional standpoint, GTS notes he's too quick for the other runners and fits well class-wise.

Blue Kentucky (6/1) on the rail and Tilted Towers (9/2) from the outside No. 8 post could get a piece of the exacta and trifecta.

2. Spa City and Time for Trouble, Race 8

FanDuel Racing Odds: 8/1 and 20/1
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Race 8 is an Allowance race for older horses going 1 1/8 miles. Guaranteed Tip Sheet has a best bet on Spa City (8/1) with Curbstone (6/1) now scratched. The numberFire algorithm picks the favorite Vittorio (6/5) to get a piece of the money and hit the board.

Spa City is a son of Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense. He won an Allowance race going 1 1/16 miles in Jan. and has won 8-of-28 races with 18 in-the-money finishes. Top jockey Luis Saez rides, and trainer Eddie Kenneally has him running for the optional $80,000 claiming price.

Curbstone has won three of his last four starts, including three weeks ago at Aqueduct going this same distance.

Time for Trouble (20/1) is spotted at a more realistic level and is interesting here with some value attached. Creative Minister (15/1) has been freshened since the Preakness and Belmont Stakes last year. He should fit in his second start off a layoff.

3. Just So and Cyber Ninja, Race 9

FanDuel Racing Odds: 7/2 and 5/2
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Race 9 is a Maiden Special Weight for 3-year-olds going 1-mile on the turf. Cyber Ninja (5/2) is the favorite and preferred pick by Guaranteed Tip Sheet. Top jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. rides, and Cyber Ninja finished a distant third on debut last month running on the dirt at Gulfstream against runners better than these.

Just So (7/2) may be a better option as the top pick by numberFire's data. He's a son of Triple Crown winner Justify and finished runner-up in Feb. on the synthetic surface at Gulfstream with a stronger speed figure (93).

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.