Handicapper Tips & Picks

Race 5:  7 - 4 - 1

Late Pick 4 ticket:  4,7 / 2,3,4,5,8,10,11 / 7,8,9 / 1,12  ($42)

Maidens going 6f compete in R5, and I have a feeling the Rivelli firster will be very live and take quite a bit of money. I’m choosing experience over possible talent with #7 River Ridge (2-1) for Illinois Derby-winning trainer Michael Campbell. The 3yo Kantharos gelding is bred to be good and precocious early. Most importantly to me, he has a start under his belt, a decent 4th vs. some good ones at Tampa. He puts the blinkers on and should show plenty of speed. I also like that he has a work over the Cicero oval. Might pose a problem for First Love late as she’s in fine form as well coming from Turfway Park with Felix in the irons.

Race 6:  4 - 8 - 2

The first turf route of the season is a tough nut to crack. Of the many options, I’ll go with the soft favorite in #4 Simple Logic (5-2) for Trainer Block, but not with a ton of confidence. The last race was just a prep for this on dirt, so don’t take too much stock in that effort. Before that, he was very solid in New Orleans and here going two turns…any effort similar to those will give him a big chance to land in the winner’s circle. 

Race 7:  9 - 7 - 8

In general, I don’t like to be as “chalky” as I am with these picks today, but they all seem very logical, and #9 Border Patrol (2-1) is no different. I’m a big fan of horses with tactical speed drawn to the outside, plus he has a nice work over the strip on 4/27. He could be a better horse on turf than dirt, but there isn’t much to beat in this race. Works are solid for his 2024 debut, and Block’s layoff numbers are very good.

Race 8:  1 - 12 - 7

The nightcap is a very tough two-turn allowance race, the type that should really interest bettors to close out the card. Veteran jockey David Cohen is now riding here on the weekends, and is aboard the classy gray gelding, #1 Degree of Risk (3-1). Only for 1/15 lifetime, he needed his last at Turfway, takes the blinkers off, and should sit a nice inside stalking trip in the bulky field. He has steady works from Ky. and should ready to fire a good effort, getting first-run on the deep closers.