Handicapper Tips & Picks

As the projected race favorites: #9 MARTIQUE MISS is logical with the class drop recording some of the higher figures in this field throughout her career. #7 LUNCH LADY holds some upside as a lightly raced type for her connections, though as a player one must consider value as she requires improvement off her two starts to compete here.

Looking to get creative: #1 WILD BIZNESS will make her belated return today with buried form going back to the first part of the season last year. On debut, she showed more run (WIDE, MOVE, IMPROVE) than the running line and 9th place finish may suggest on paper. The timing and WIDE trip might have played against her in the second start wheeling back in just 12-days trying to get in a race before the end of the year. She closed out the season in the 1/30 (2022) route that was followed by the layoff she returns from today and the big picture could suggest we have yet to see her best. 

#10 PEACE DOG has the 259-day layoff to overcome returning today though otherwise a logical type in this race to support his role as the favorite. His figures and form from last season stack up strongly and consistently on par. As far as the drop off the layoff, it could be less of a concern noting he did run for the $30k tag when breaking his maiden. 

Making the case for some longshot runners: #1 DEPART could present a move forward as he makes his second start of the meet/layoff exiting a WIDE trip from the 12/18 common race with back numbers that make him competitive with others in this field. #6 ONEIGHTHUNDREDCASH will give up recency making his first start of the meet here off the 274-day layoff though ha s the back numbers, the competitive statebred $30k maiden claiming win/OptixFIG and Mason has already sent out some live runners in a limited sample this meet.

The two Moquett runners, #3 BOTANY and #4 LORD M are likely to find support for the connections. Especially Lord M coming back from the place finish at the level he projects to be the shorter of the two and overall must improve off a favorable FREE tracking trip during the first part of the meet with the HOT barn. 

#9 HAL'S DREAM was compromised with TROUBLE in a TRAFFIC trip on 12/30 and projects to improve off that race returning here for Compton. She had a look heading into that event first off the claim and showing a solid run against the dynamic (X_FLOW) on 11/25 that upgraded her.

#5 RUSSIARUSSIARUSSIA also wheels back from that 12/30 common race and honest effort given her first start on the main track where she was able to transfer her turf form and tough to see any reason she would be unable to repeat today. 

#2 MIDNIGHT'S GIRL will look to improve in her second start for the connections after disappointing as the favorite here at Hawthorne on 11/18. There could have been some excuse that day given the very cold WEATHER and snowy conditions that created a lot of KICKBACK and Midnight's Girl took the worst of it racing inside behind horses. 

#1 ADALINE JULIA could take public support in this spot and coming back off the maiden win and improved speed figure on 12/30. This is a significant step up in class for her and competition from weaker rated MSW event. 

By contrast, #4 HYPERSPORT fits logical (though unexciting) in the shorter priced role as she is proven, established and has the form at the allowance condition and overall upside from the wide trip against the profile finishing second on 12/9.

#3 COMEDY ACT projects to move forward as she return to the one-turn distance and tough to fault the connections "experimenting" with the route of ground on 12/18. #5 DANCE IT also projects to move forward and could suggest intent with the circuit switch for the second start off the layoff. She was compromised at the break on 1/1 at the Fair Grounds and chasing to finish in a blanket for the minors behind, Mercy Warren, the open length winner recording a 96 OptixFIG. 

Trying to split the favorites, #3 IMPOVERISHED could offer the value of the two along with upside and potential pace edge as she set faster fractions than #4 ATTA PARTY comparing the two starts this meet. 

#1 KRUSIN ROCKET also showed early speed on 1/6 though possibly by default breaking a step slow and making a RUSH from the rail for position. The class change is subtle landing here back in against statebred runners and overall encouraging to see improvement returning from the layoff.

Sophomores #5 BLACK APPLE broke slow (SLOG) in his debut and should overall benefit from the class drop exiting Special Weight company three weeks ago. #8 ROSIE'S BOY returns for a similar tag here though tested against older after taking wagering support on 1/1 for his debut and lacked any chance ducking into the gap and losing the rider. 

The feature race is a competitive event with a contentious projected early pace. That is noted with #2 HOT AND SULTRY the projected favorite and likely "speed of the speed" though could have to contend with that early pace pressure and hold her form coming back off the layoff three weeks ago.

#5 SARAH HARPER turned in a competitive effort in this race last year despite the 7th place finishing position that appears on paper. Going back to last year's race, she was on a quicker two week turnaround and the timing today is much different allowing her 35-days recovery since the place effort (B- OptixGRADE/97 OptixFIG) in the Poinsettia Stakes last month.

As noted the contentious (Fire OptixPLOT) pace, that could allow #4 LISETTE the pace she requires and trip for the upset should that scenario play out on race day. 

Diodoro shows up with a logical pair in this race and no real creativity to get to those runners. #2 RED LABEL could find the right stalking trip with tactical speed sitting just off #6 PRODIGIOUS BAY and #11 GRAPNEL. As far as #10 TOTALIZER he returns today with the logical class drop from the higher allowance group last month. In addition, he could be given some excuse acting up in the GATE on 12/10 and on a day where the track conditions were poor along with pouring rain during the race.

#7 POLTERER could also show some tactical speed here even with the distance change noting the race par today is lower than the claiming event on 12/30. The allowance changes and fitness in his third off the layoff and second of the meet could have him sitting on a peak effort. 

A lot of attention will land on #10 LARK'S MISCHIEF from the speed figures, connections and finishing positions in the first two starts. While that experience could present an edge, overall he has not shown much progression in those races and overall must show more to win. Stablemate #9 KINGDOM will make his belated debut here and caught the eye back at the sale working a fast 10 flat within himself and visually suggests he has run. 

#6 HARD SPUN FANTASY also showed favorable visuals and run in his sales breeze (10.2) and brings into this race a steady series of works showing a mix of speed and stamina. 

#7 BEN'S LEGACY seemed pointed to this meet to make his debut though had some issues leaving the gate on 12/31 playing a role in the outcome. They have worked since and could see improvement in just this second start. #2 BYE BYE RAY also broke slow and showed run despite coming up short behind the pacesetting winner on 11/7 at Remington Park where he seemed well-meant that day bet down to the favorite off a 5-1 ML. The circuit change is a step up in class to find a higher race par and more contentious group today. #11 J J'S JOKER was entered/scratched from a $75k maiden claiming race on 1/15 where he was likely to have been favored and will be tested again at this Special Weight level without much projected value. 

#4 CADDO RIVER projects to improve as he makes his second start off the layoff and from a trip that created an excuse on the Stakes race last month at Remington Park. His back numbers and early speed support him in this race and intent landing here expecting improvement second off the layoff.

#6 MYSTIC NIGHT will make his Oaklawn Park debut for track owner, Cella. Mystic Night could find today's course and two turn conditions to his liking something he has had little chance to run over given the circuit and placement of his races to date for the previous connections. 

#1 BACKGROUND can often run his "peak" race second off and that is noted here as he will make his first start back off the 160-day layoff. With that said, he has run competitive races over this course and distance that is tough to dismiss him completely. 

This is a competitive group and overall not a lot of information on many in this field. As far as recency, #5 KID'S LAST LAUGH could present that edge making her third start and coming right back to a sprint where she recorded a strong speed figure with the wide trip on debut. With that said, there was not much excuse in terms of trip stalking a softer pace before losing ground on 12/31. #4 CECILE was entered in a different race on 12/31, a 6f sprint with a trainer scratch and will race here instead for her Oaklawn debut. She must improve off the 11/16 effort, though that race has been mildly productive going forward. #9 DIVINELY BOLT must also improve though should mention she ran in a "key" race on 9/11 at Del Mar.

#10 JUST AN ANGEL will make her belated second start for Asmussen. She turned in a solid debut effort for the level and timing in June at Churchill Downs and was scheduled to make her second start on 8/7 at Saratoga though a late scratch that day. 

#7 KIRBY KAYE could be a live first time starter in this field for Von Hemel. She looks to be pointed to this meet off the steady series of works and the barn can pop at times with debut runners. #11 BOOGIE WOOGIE GAL is worth a mention as she was scheduled to debut here (with Arrieta) on 12/31 however unable to race as a vet scratch that day.