Handicapper Tips & Picks

#8 MISSION BELLE fits as the race favorite holding form, class, and speed figures on par for today’s race. The connections are showing positive intent with this placement second off the claim following the allowance protection on August 20^th. They will return to the claiming level and circuit where she won under similar conditions here at Hawthorne earlier in the year. #9 TAPERINEA projects to receive a more assertive ride this afternoon and with Perez taking over. She is finding subtle class relief from the statebred allowance races at HS Indy this season. Perez asking Taperinea for more tactical speed should, along with others in this field apply pace pressure to #2 SAFE TRAVELS; one that can be a run-off on the lead and lacks finish as well as showing a negative response to whip use if required to finish and hold off rivals late. 

#1 LORD DYLAN finds the appropriate class drop showing up here for Meraz. The class relief was expected back in June and while he did not drop returning from the layoff, he has progressed in his race. The September 20^th Special Weight race was a solid event for the level restricted to three-year-old runners and held a higher par (high OFR) than today’s race. A first time starter could jump up in this field and a mention to #5 GOTTA CHASE IT as the lone first time starter. These connections are capable with this type of runner, however there are some gaps in the work tab to create some reservations. 

#7 MAJESTIC ATTACK is a legit longshot though a creative case can be made in this spot. This will be his turf debut, though based on his physicality he could take to the grass. He has shown legit sprint speed which could carry in today’s race shape with the more “logical” type runners lacking early speed with their stalking run style. Majestic Attack is light on numbers though could still hold a move forward with the changes and as a lightly raced three-year-old. #8 SUSPECT has some buried turf form and form this season with numbers that stack up on par for this level. He has been freshened for this return to Hawthorne and with Alvin Ortiz back aboard. The move off the inside should also benefit this individual as one that did not look comfortable racing from the rail on July 29^th. 

#3 SOMEONE SAID SO comes into this race with buried form and with the 77-day freshening. She found her top more last summer and earned black type with the Dogwood (G2) place finish. She required the race coming back off the long layoff in April at Oaklawn and improved from that start in the turf sprint and allowance win at Prairie Meadows. She required the break after the two July races and comes into this race with a steady work tab to suggest she is race ready today. She also holds a win over this course and distance from her debut maiden Special Weight win in 2020. #1 WILDWOOD’S BEAUTY also has a back class edge, though in terms of current form she could be short today coming back in just two weeks off a potentially taxing effort to win at FanDuel. 

#8 ON A TOUR will shift back to the Matthews barn and back to the turf, the intended surface from the recent HS Indy races. Mojica will jump back aboard, and this pair had success earlier this season including the June 18^th win at today’s $10k claiming level. #3 SHE B GLAMOROUS ran a “winning” race and perhaps the “best” race on August 31^st making a strong close to the wire and made that move against the dynamic, closing into a slow pace. #2 RARE ACTION ATTACK seemed to be “given” the race here on opening day coming back from the 76-day layoff. That projection of a prep also suggested she could appreciate added ground and will stretch back out to a route today. In terms of class, today’s claiming level is a positive move from the opening day allowance condition, though overall requires a top effort to still compete here.

#5 RESURRECTION ROAD has back class and numbers that standout for today’s level that make her a contender. There could be some concerns based on her current form and the significant class drop following a pair of poor efforts without excuse. The circuit and barn change will be made, and Manley has had her training at FanDuel for this race and assigned a live rider in Santiago. #6 NOFANSINTHESTANDS finds a surface and rider change following the poor tactics that created trouble in the August 31^st trip. She has form on the main track and here at Hawthorne. Some of her stronger efforts to date were recorded with Felix aboard and could be the right pairing together this afternoon. #2 WANNA HAVE FUN was scratched by Granitz from a sprint under similar claiming conditions on September 24^th to potentially run here instead. The class remains a lateral move and she is not necessarily “better” around two-turns though has won at today’s distance under similar conditions and fits on her best day. 

The September 14^th allowance at Kentucky Downs was a strong race for the level and #10 SWISHAWISH will look to be the second next out winner from that race following Twirling Roses win here at Hawthorne on September 23^rd. Swishawish showed early speed breaking his maiden and will likely find company should he take up that same strategy here, though lightly raced might not be a true “need the lead” type. #4 UPBEAT MELODY is a true “need the lead” type as he has yet to pass a runner. They are unlikely to try and deviate from that tactic today especially with Baird returning this afternoon and has been aboard for three gate-to-wire wins with Upbeat Melody.

#1 KENNESAW holds allowance form from earlier this year and returns from a slight freshening for this race. Both Rodriguez and Orlando Mojica have started out strong in the opening week and the two will team up here and look to improve off the show finish from back on June 3^rd. Kennesaw should offer better value sharing a similar run style and comparable speed figures to #2 BAYOU COLONEL. The race timing and intent should be factored showing up for Scherer to make his Hawthorne debut off the quick two week turnaround from the recently concluded Canterbury Park meet. 

#2 AWESOME FAMILY wheels right back from the opening day starter allowance race, a race won by his heavily favored stablemate, Twirling Roses. Awesome Family could project a move forward from the September 23^rd race and show more early speed, noting a slow start and taking contact out of the gate. The class drop could also suggest positive intent returning to the claiming level for the first time since the July 17^th claim. #5 WINGING WAYS will also return from that September 23^rd common race where he was pressured by Twirling Roses and lacked a finish. The blinkers will be added today and could be experimental as they have not had the time to train in blinkers and will be the first time in 34 starts to date wearing them with Winging Ways likely to be shorter than Awesome Family today. #7 TURN THE SWITCH is upgraded from the September 15^th race as he was unprepared at the start and moved up into a fast pace trying to recover and get into the race. Broberg has sent out live runners to start the meet and that upgrades #1 RUBY’S RED DEVIL, however he is lighter on class and speed figures that would require running a new career top effort in order to win.