Handicapper Tips & Picks

#5 HOPPING JOHN moved up in his second start off the layoff last summer and could find similar as he makes his second start of the season here. He should be fit coming back from the 3/9 event when making a RUSH from the outside and a quick 20-day turnaround and slight class change could present further intent. #9 VYING EDGE follows a similar pattern and should be fit in his second start off the layoff. He brings in legit early speed to run with #1 BRAHMS IMAGE and #6 SECRET TAVERN and drawn outside those rivals and an improved horse could present the edge over those two in this race.

#7 PARTYINTHESTREETS tuned in a BTL effort back on 1/28 and since was not a the right level running for the higher claiming tag on 2/17 or the timing wheeling back a week later on 2/25 both efforts against the race flow. His runstyle sits in lone with #2 THIRD WATCH and should be the higher of the two, a similar runstyle for #3 PEPPERONIKID one has shown some run in spots this season and one to keep on the radar should he sneaky away on board. 

#8 BEN DREAMING returns fresh and with a subtle change looking to improve off the place finish last month. The outside post could land a preferred trip, a change from last out should allow for them to press #1 PHILHARMONIC rather than be pressed,.  #5 FIGHT N READY has held his form this season and since the maiden win this season and finds some subtle class relief here that could move him up naturally and overlooked off the recent running lines and finishing positions along with the connections. Number wise there is not much between #2 GO CATS and #3 CALRISSIAN coming into this race and both coming back on shorter rest for this race and for both should hold their form though no real edge or expected improvement.

#7 QUINCY MARKET scratched earlier this month under similar N2 conditions and distance with the trainer scratch and poor track conditions that day could have been a factor though they do not show a published work since the race back on 2/10. They will race here instead and land Fuentes, a rider that has had success for the barn this season and if race ready fits in this group and should present a favorable run style for today’s race shape.

This race could present value as #5 THORNY and  #7 VALERIE BLUE show up off recent competitive efforts here this season and #8 AUNT ALEX shipping into make a local debut though their better efforts were recorded at a lower par than today. Neither would be any shock in this race with a win but expect the shorter odds from the ML to create some value opportunities at least willing to get creative for that top spot.

#3 PEPPERS GIRLFRIEND turned in a competitive race under similar race par back in January and could move up with the key class DROP. She also presents some upside returning from the 2/24 event, a race coming off a 43-day break and given no favors racing in TRAFFIC. #9 LOST LOVE will make a belated second start of the meet and first start of the season. Going back to that 12/31 event she was very fractious in the GATE and was not asked for run and given the 81-1 odds did not appear there were many expectations in that event. As she returns here and back to the MCL level should suggest intent and her figures last year as a juvenile sit with on par and should be at the right level to compete on this circuit.

#1 ELUSIVE EMPRESS must improve to compete here as she comes into this race on the lower end. She could present upside as she did improve race-to-race last year as a juvenile, makes her sophomore debut, picks up Lasix and has been training locally since January to suggest she has been intended for this meet. She showed interest last year, especially in the second start at PID making a close behind a front running flow-aided chalk winner and the only horse in the field to make up ground. 

This race starts with #2 CYBERTOWN as the most likely in this race. His figures stack up as some of the strongest in this field and will stretch back out to a distance where he was effective last season. The barn has had just a couple wins this meet though many to hit the board this month.

Fires will send out a pair in this race and both have some upside at longer odds with changes in play for this race. Tough to be too critical with both projected at longer odds, #12 FETCHS BRAHM could prefer this route distance to #6 POINT BLANK. The two find the change back to statebred company  some subtle relief from their most recent starts and in the case of FETCHS BRAHM for the first time this year. He was competitive with a solid figure around two turn back on 1/26 and was not in the right spot above condition in February at N3 and two weeks ago was not asked for their best after making a RUSH over an off track.#10 HOWL YEAH is also worth a mention with the class change coming back from the 48-day freshening and with competitive races in the past and distance experience as well. The front wrap removal could be a further positive and upgrade. #8 KINFO LK fits on figures numbers in line with CYBERTOWN as he stretches out for the first time. While he is unproven at the distance from a physical standpoint he should handle the STRETCH out a change that has been projected for him since his debut. 

Tough to get too creative in this race with the morning line favorite as solid contenders. #1 MYSTERY MO drops back to the claiming level and one that has been consistent this season should hold his form and moves up naturally in this group. #3 BOLDISH projected to improve with the added ground two weeks ago and did just that with a competitive race just too late on the scene behind the pacesetting flow winner, Cost Basis, the race flow that could move up #5 PROMISING SHOES from that event as well and one that also following forward progression in this third start of the meet. As far as the early speed, #7 CANADIAN GAME could take up that role. He will give up recency in his first start of the meet though has early speed, and form over this course and distance going back to prior seasons. The same connections send out CYBERTOWN in Race 4 and could have the pair of live runners on the card. 

The early pace should be honest and contentious given the complexion of this field, many of the inside runners that have shown early speed and many in this field stretching out in distance. That contentious pace would assist morning line favorite, #6 STORM STRATEGY as he makes his return to Oaklawn and the statebred level looking to find the right time and group for that belated maiden win. He could be joined by his stablemate #14 BRADFORD another that would be logical should he draw in off the AE and would also consider #13 UNNCESSARY TRICKS should he draw into that race with upside from the two starts this season and would be overlooked of the AE runners.

#9 MORE MONEY MO shifted over to statebred company for the first time two weeks ago and has some adversity as well as a higher group of runners on the day. He could move up off that effort continue his progressive pattern and fit this group as one that should be dismissed for the connections and recent running lines.

#8 BRAHMS JR also could present some upside as he shifts to face statebred company for the first time in his career. He comes into this race with the foundation from the first two starts back off the layoff and of the year with a rider change as well. The distance change is also in play and could be a positive noting he started off his career last summer around two turns and will return to the route distance today.

#10 BIG ANDY MORT also shifts to the statebred MCL level for the first time and has the foundation at the route distance though a lateral change in class with the older horses in this field. He should be at the right level for his abilities and in form coming back from decent effort with the WIDE trip earlier this month. This one has not had much luck at the draw with outside posts and has another in here. 

#2 PAYNE is logical as the favorite coming back today fresh off form this season and form at the stater condition with the pair of tough place finishes at the level this season. Trip and runstyle played a role in those outcomes with his off the pace runstyle and trip still must be considered however logical.

His runstyle could be part of the reason for stablemate #4 CHATTALOT to show up in this race one that has some early speed and some back class from his juvenile season. His form did not improve with age and the rest of the division catching up with him has had him looking for where he fits. He was entered in a conditional $25k claiming event last Sunday, a vet scratch that day though was also in the entries for this race as well. He should utilize his early speed keeping the other primary speed #6 BRESLAU honest up front.

Value is the primary knock on #1 VODKA MARTINI  as he takes a big step up in class to compete here. Number wide he has been consistent though takes on more established proven runners at a higher purse and giving up local experience in the process. He is not without a chance though in terms of play requires more than the projected 2-1 offers. Similar class concerns carry to #7 INFILTRATOR though should offer value of the two and while losing Torres to VODKA MARTINI he has the exchange of local experience.

#3 G T FIVE HUNDRED has not recorded the same higher figures though has established for over this course and starter condition going out for a barn that has been firing on all cylinders as of late and the connections scratched from a similar starter event earlier this month. #8 ROB THE RICH has held his form this season and comes back with a rider change and a better draw for this race. He could catch the right group and timing with his runstyle and overlooked in this field and off the recent run lines. 

Norm Casse will send out a pair in this race and while #2 GOLDENSHUGA the 4yo has the experience, and local form the layoff lines, shorter distance are of some concern though being lightly raced and should even hold a class edge over some of her other more established older rivals. Santana was aboard for a pair of her starts and often first call for the barn jumps aboard first time starter #1 TWEETSTER. She has been on the grounds since the start of the season and a late season debut should be plenty fit and some quicker moves in the series including the most recent bullet from the gate. She will require all of that to transfer to race day giving up experience and with the rail draw, something that can be a hurdle for debuting runners.

#11 ALESSIA has recorded some of the higher figures in the field and could return to those efforts here as he makes her second start of the meet and off the long layoff. She wheels right back in three weeks and retains Bejarano as a positive and showed run making MOVE something tougher to see on the runline though the Fast early and late pace noted as well for #12 BABY AVERY as she returns from that same common race and was off at similar odds bet down from the 6-1 ML making her debut and wheels right back today for this second start.

#5 CALIFORNIA ROLL also makes a belated debut. She was worked 10 flat in a drive last June at the sale and another with a long series of works for this first start and must also prove here where she fits on class. 

This is a tough race with the distance and solid group where a case can be made for many and tough to see any result a surprise. Value is worth taking a swing with in that case with #7 SPEED BIAS unproven at the distance and stablemate #2 ETHEREAL ROAD (cross entered on Saturday) in form though does not hold a figure edge in this field, however preferred of the two.  The lack of recency on the outside runners #12 CLASSIC CAUSEWAY making his return off the layoff and #13 RED RUN with the surface switch as the two are drawn outside in this full field.

#10 COMMANDPERFORMANCE does not hold any strong edge in this field though has local form some trips this year and could land in the right time and place. He will return fresh and back with Arrieta the rider aboard for the show finish X_BIAS back at the 9.5f distance back in January. He has a steady string of works coming back for this stakes race and moves off the inside something that could be  a further positive. #1 DECISION MAKER should be able to save ground and has the foundation over this course and potential intent claimed for the higher $75k tag earlier this month and wheels back for this race in the second start off the layoff.

In addition to CLASSIC CAUSEWAY one that could add pace to SPEED BIAS and #6 STRONG TIDE, a scenario that could benefit #8 HAYES STRIKE for McPeek with his late run. He has moved forward coming back off the layoff this season and upgraded from the race earlier this month making a strong CLOSE into a Very Slow early pace and has upside and the class edge over #11 MASTER GAME another showing up here out of the concluded FG meet. 

#3 LOOKSTER had a big lookster with buried form and class when she returned last month under similar allowance conditions for her seasonal debut.  Returning from the EX – EXCUSE on the day is upgraded here. She was compromised right from the start and sneaky BTL effort showing run in the wrong time and place in running. She will return today with a pair of works since to suggest she has maintained her conditioning and with a rider change as Santana will take over.

#4 NEOM BEACH has held her form this season though has not shown much progression and not quite on the level of her stakes competition for the top award. The connections drop in class and looking to find where she fits. While NEOM BEACH had a PERFECT trip in the Martha Washington that was hardly the case for #12 IN GOOD TASTE breaking SLOG and from the outside caught WIDE. She could be looking for a rebound and perhaps the live mount for Prat as she returns for this allowance and with the steady string of local works through March could see improvement and intent today.