Turf Paradise Racing Picks – Thursday, February 18, 2021

Turf Paradise has both thoroughbred and quarter horse races in store for Thursday punters, and I found some solid underdogs to tout among the three richest matches.

Incidentally, Turf Paradise is open to a limited number of spectators, and if you’re nearby, you really should take advantage of the non-winter weather of Phoenix, Arizona: Sunny skies, highs in the upper 60s, and winds around nine mph.

I review the top three races here, but you can find Turf Paradise’s full nine-race card for Thursday — including entries, jockeys, M/L odds, and wagering options — at one of our best online racebooks.

Now, let’s move on to my Turf Paradise picks and betting tips for Thursday, February 18, 2021.

This is a claiming race for four-year-olds and upward running a distance of six furlongs for a purse of $10,600.

My money’s on the 5/2 morning line favorite — Call Waiting, with Glenn W. Corbett in the irons. This five-year-old gelding moneyed five of his nine career starts, winning two. Most impressive is that one of his wins and three of his money finishes were in stakes races.

The longest morning line odds in this seven-horse race are 10/1 — and those are just not long enough to warrant the risk of a show bet.

This is a maiden optional claiming race for four-year-olds and upward running a distance of one mile on turf for a purse of $16,300.

I’m buying a win ticket on the second-favored (7/2) entry in this race — My Golden Boy, ridden by Glenn W. Corbett. This five-year-old gelding moneyed six of his 11 career starts. For comparison, the morning line favorite in this race moneyed two of his 11 starts.

No value show bet for this race–none of the longer-odds entries look likely to do more than chase the other horses across the finish line.

This is a starter optional claiming race for four-year-olds and upward running a distance of 5-1/2 furlongs for a purse of $11,000.

I like the third-favored (4/1) entry in this race — Sorriso, with Scott A. Stevens aboard. This six-year-old gelding finished in the money in four of his seven starts, winning two.

In comparison, the morning line favorite moneyed 20 of his 35 starts, winning five.

If you’re afforded the opportunity to bet against the long-odds entries in this race, finishing in the money, make that bet.

Don’t forget the other two tracks I reviewed for Thursday: