Handicapper Tips & Picks

#8 FABULOUS FANNY struggled to find her stride (KICKBACK) after a rough (SLOG, TROUBLE_S) on January 14th with the rider taking her wide and easing up. With everything going on in that trip, she showed run in spots and suggests she can show more. The connections will bring her back today with a rider change as well as class relief, two changes that could move her up on that alone as her prior form fits strongly in this group.

#5 STAY FABULOUS can also be given an EX - EXCUSE on January 20th when she acted up in the GATE, was fractious, reared up and was not checked out or backed up before the gates opened. She broke slow (SLOG) and stumbled (TROUBLE_S) all around giving her a pass that afternoon. 

The class DROP (OptixNOTE - Projection) is also in play for #1 CHARTREUSE and seems that change is what she requires as she has been overmatched against Special Weight returning this season off the layoff. 

#3 JOLLY TOMMY turned in a sneaky good effort back on 12/16, a race in terms of speed and class on par for today's level. The effort along with the slow start (SLOG) and rider TACTIC- that was unable to overcome could present a move forward, especially with a rider and class change here. 

#4 BROOKLYN DIAMONDS will follow Jolly Tommy from the 1/7 allowance race and could see a move forward from this individual as he makes his second start off the layoff and back in for a claiming tag. 

Both #5 PITTSBURGH and #8 FILM STAR have been most effective when forwardly placed and with each other in the field, along with others in the group to keep the pace honest, trip/pace could be their hurdle. 

#7 HAPPY BOY ROCKET is deserving of a mention as he holds races back from last season that make him competitive as far as speed figures. This will be his second start of the meet and as far as the 12/17 race, he has some subtle TRAFFIC trouble and did show some run in spots. Some of those issues were self-inflicted with a slow (SLOG) start, something that has been a consistent bad habit for this horse. It should also be noted that as he lands here to make his first start off the claim for Broberg, they were entered back on 1/14 at a similar $30k N2L claiming level at 6f, though a vet scratch keeping them out of the race. 

This is an interesting event as it is an open company maiden claiming event with most of the field statebred runners. #3 LOUD BOY being one of those Arkansas-bred horses returning from the layoff and could be well-intended for this race. He will find class relief from his Special Weight starts last year, both races with a much higher OFR than today's event. In addition, he had an X_WIDE trip on debut and showed brief early speed (FTQ) before fading and the layoff that followed the February race last year. 

#8 IMPOVERISHED has shown legit early speed and contesting the early pace through solid fractions in his two starts this season. The form from those races stacks up here and could have a pace advantage over many in this group, the group that has a pattern of SLOG and lacking early speed. 

#7 CAMPISI has shown the tendency to break slow, with the pattern of SLOG in each of his three starts. While that does not expect to change today, his form stacks up for this level and should be in the right spot to compete projected to move up with the class DROP. 

#1 TOAST TO COAST is lone Kentucky bred runner in the main body of the field and could have that edge on his side. While overall he must improve, today's OFR is lower than the races he has run to date and that alone could move up him naturally. 

#4 FAMILY TIME could see herself back to a top effort today as she required a reset in her form cycle following the pair of allowance wins back in November. Since that time, she has been overmatched in stakes company and should catch the right group for her abilities today. 

As far as class and speed, #1 TRAVERSE as an individual could hold that edge in this group. With that said, she again will be tested around two-turns, something that is still questionable as her ideal distance from the Pippen visuals last month. Surface is the test for #6 FOREVER DREAMING one that has shown her stronger races on the turf and the limited dirt starts sit well under par. 

#2 RICHEBOURG ships in for Walsh off the pair of PERFECT trips and open lengths wins. That is noted as today she will be tested on a class rise and higher OFR this afternoon. 

#7 BETTY JO earned a solid speed figure in her debut win last month, a number that stacks up with today's field on repeat against winners. The challenge to repeat still remains in play as she had to overcome a poor start (TROUBLE_S) and WIDE outside CLOSE-ing run with strong handling (TACTIC+) and well prepared (HOT barn) that afternoon. While she did have to make the run from off the pace after the poor start, that could have been slightly to her favor given the Very Fast early pace (VF O4S) to assist the late run. These factors all around should be considered as a shorter price could be expected.

#10 SWEETNESS TO could offer value and overlooked coming back from the 1/27 race. Going back one start earlier to the 12/11 event at the N2 claiming level; she recording a competitive B- OptixGRADE to finish in a photo for place with #5 NAVAGATIONALBEACON noting the race winner, Blow Sum Smoke winning from off the pace, upgrading the minor awards for the returning runners as they raced closer to the pace that day. 

#9 BIG ON BROADWAY looks to be cycling forward as she is showing progression race-to-race coming back off the layoff. She has numbers from last season and from back in 2021 that stack up on par, and even on the higher side/above today's OFR. 

The pair of Cline runners, #12 MISS DUTTON and #13 HALF SCOUT (AE) are on the softer side number wise though carry some form into this race as well as a late kick that could assist with a minor. 

Asmussen reclaimed #4 SHIP IT and returns to the claiming level and conditions she was claimed from and ran under back on January 1st. The remain and placement can suggest intent especially paired with back form and numbers over this course and two turn distance she will return to for the first time since last season. 

#7 LANDSLID will again find some class relief remaining at the claiming level. She could present a move forward returning with the 44-day freshening and from the TROUBLE/WIDE trip over an off-track back in December. 

#9 WHISKEY BLUE projects to be favored in this race and perhaps by default given the connections. Overall she does not hold an edge in this race if placed in that role while certainly capable. 

#3 HARD TO COME BY will return with Tyler Baze, a rider that has been cold this season and did this horse no favors (TACTIC-) with the handling back on January 22nd. That trip was very subtle and could get overlooked and based on the visuals can improve and compete at this level, with the right ride. 

#5 BUBBA CAN DANCE returns from the same 1/22 common race and while overlooked at 11.8-1 off a subtle trip on debut, that does not expect to be the case here putting in that strong MOVE and CLOSE to finish gaining ground on the "lone" winner, Caballo Feliz. 

Physically, #6 PROFOUND IMPACT looks on the "cheaper" side where the class DROP today makes sense in this second start. He has the benefit of route experience and overall experience, something he should benefit from as he was off slow (RUSH) and RANK trying to establish position from the outside draw and before losing ground. 

The distance change will be in play for many in here including #4 ETERNALLY GRATEFUL and #9 THE BOOKKEEPER, two runners where intent could be questioned as the connections have not tried to stretch out the horses in the past and could have done so if that was the intent. 

#4 PARODY is cross entered in the Dixie Bell Stakes on Saturday and upgraded should they take this spot instead, though preferred in the stakes. 

#3 PISTOL could benefit from the trip and with form as she returns here in the second start back off the layoff. The turnaround is quick, showing up in two weeks from a competitive B- OptixGRADE run finishing in a blanket for the minors behind the pacesetting winner. 

#6 KANT BELIEVE IT has come up short this season though could land in the right place and time with some subtle changes for this race. Even though she must improve off her races this season for the allowance level, she has shown improvement in terms of OptixFIG from race-to-race. The distance change shortening up ever so slightly could be in her favor and even with the blinkers off today, she should still show natural early speed in this field. 

#4 MISTY VEIL will find considerable class relief for this race noting she has been running against must tougher since the summer of 2022. Her most recent win was back in May score over this course, distance and starter allowance condition suggesting intent and proper placement.

#2 GIANNA'S GIFT returns with a rider change and back from a subtle trip (TACTIC-) on January 13th. That afternoon she was forced to rate and the TACTIC- as well as placement stepped up to a higher claiming level first off the claim could suggest "prep" by trainer Contreras. As far as class, Gianna's Gift must record a top effort as well as use her speed to compete at today's condition. 

#3 BOBBIN TAIL is another that must step up today and find her top form to compete. It could be seen as a positive given the recent layoff lines and poor performances to return in 30-days as well as race protected here. Cabrera also remains aboard and has been up in the past including a win and a pair of show finishes earned over this course from last season. #5 BLESSED AGAIN is another where class could be at her peak for this race. With that said, she has back efforts that make her competitive and in this second start returning from the layoff could see her back to her peak effort.