Handicapper Tips & Picks

Diodoro will send out a pair in the opening race leading with #7 HOME BASE first off the claim. Home Base has not reached top form this season and could be some concern with that and the recent class drop, but the sharp claiming barn was willing to take the gamble and the numbers and effort from 2022 make him a strong contender showing up with those races. #8 TRUMPENCE will also go first off the claim but a reclaim after losing him briefly last month. His form and early speed fits this condition and today's race where a pace advantage is possible especially if Home Base is just not the same horse.

#1 STORMIN HONGKONG could also look for that to be the case as he will make his first start of the meet. His Hawthorne form fits at this level and still allows him to compete at this condition and is no stranger to this Oaklawn Park main track.

#5 BAYSHORE FOXES is worth a look as she could be overlooked in this event. Some price compensation is required as she must come back today with a top effort to win, though could be sitting on that race in this second start off the layoff with potential intent shipping in, finding class relief, returning to dirt and sprint distance.

Diodoro could be looking to secure the early double with #4 HAIL COLUMBIA in this spot, another runner in a first start off the claim. Her early speed can be tough to catch and likely the game plan for Torres. 

Asmussen returns with a pair and right back with #2 MARTIQUE MISS claimed off her maiden win on January 21st and wheeling right back in just a week for her second start off the claim returning to a sprint. #7 VEGAS BLUE comes right back as well off her maiden win two weeks ago. She recorded that win without requiring a top effort as she has run "faster" in the past and could present that move forward and hold her form here. 

#6 ESSENTIAL BELLA is deserving of a mention as she has numbers that stack right up with the others along with recency and progressive form this season. 

#7 FREUDIAN FATE will make his return in this spot and finding class relief from the races here earlier this meet. The conditions he was running in were higher than today and the change in class could be just what he needs to compete off that "buried" form.

The pace could be honest enough even for the short 5.5f distance for #4 BLACK STORM to stalk (pacesetting stablemate #8 LOVE MY JIMMY) and pounce as he makes his second start of the meet and off the claim while remaining protected. 

#3 SPEND BENJAMINS will also look to find a better trip as that was not the case on February 5th by G. Saez and suffering ground loss (WIDE) playing a role in the race outcome for them. 

A case can be made for many in this field and that could see some default activity to #6 TOWN CHAMP coming off the win and strong speed figure back in January. He was able to find the right stalking trip and first run and could find a more contentious pace here and a slight step up in class. 

That "contentious" pace could come from either side of the field with #1 ARTHURIAN along the rail. They were able to send for the lead and take pace pressure and still prevail on January 7th. He has that early speed though not a "need the lead" if necessary and could be a positive sign with Rosin claiming him last month keeping him protected today. #8 GRAPNEL also remains protected first off the claim and another with tactical speed and finishing ability (Quad I Square) to compete right back in with today's group. 

#5 DRENA'S STAR fits as a logical type. He comes into this race with current form (lacking "red" in Past 3 Runlines) and a competitive race at this condition with a less than ideal ride (TACTIC-) and trip (WIDE) under poor WEATHER conditions back on December 10th.

Deeper closer types #2 TITLE SHOT could be compromised with that run style as well as a class rise; #3 COAL TRUTH has races that make him competitive though tougher to trust on the win end as a runner that has not won since the first part of 2021. 

A lot of "intent" appears in play with this group as many will drop in class looking for the first career win.

#3 BET HE'S READY returns from the 89-day layoff to a new low level with main track OptixFIG in OFR for this race including a pace over this course and distance. 

#5 LIFE ON THE NILE will make his first start in for the maiden claiming tag and the timing and decision for this move could have been made even before the January 13th layoff return though willing to give him just that race and one more chance. #10 UNSTABLE PRINCE will also drop in for the maiden claiming tag for the first time and while his number are lighter than many for Life on the Nile, Unstable Prince has shown some progression and could be sitting on his peak effort today. 

Number wise there is not much between #6 CYCLONE and #9 GUIDED ARROW two runners that have experience at today's maiden claiming level and competitive races/figures on their best day, though will have to contend with those class droppers. 

#10 LAPIS LAZULI has run "too good to lose" in his three most recent starts forced to settle for the game second. Those races fit right back and could just catch the right group with his current form and favorable run style for today's race shape.

#4 LORD GRANTHAM might find himself overlooked off the January 29th race sitting on top of the past performance. That race comes with some excuse as he was carried wide (TROUBLE) early and the rider passively (NO_PUSH) handled after. Drawing a line through that race his prior form fits under today's condition. 

#1 HAPPY BOY ROCKET takes some creativity to get to and following his race outside of just looking at running lines and finishing positions. Physically he presents more as a ONE_TURN type and will have that change here coming right back from the WIDE trip and second off the claim for Broberg that could suggest intent especially with the class change and timing. 

#7 DISC JOCKEY looks to be well spotted here with class relief and coming off a "trip" against tougher on January 29th. His natural run style is one with early speed (Quad I Square) and could sit just right off #1 HELLORHIGHWATER and #6 FIFTY CENT DOLLARS with first run. 

#3 THUNDERSHOOK also has some buried form and could project upside from the "trip" with ground loss (WIDE) as the rider was unable to establish position (TACTIC-) on January 20th. Thundershook has a similar stalk and pounce run style as #2 INTREPID HEART, one that expects to find attention alone exiting the stakes races, though in terms of race par is more of a lateral move.

#8 LORD DRAGON could also find another favorable trip for his run style. That run style had him compromised in 2022 and should be able to hold his form coming right back today first off the claim for Moquett. 

#3 PATTERN BET had to wait until this meet for the official maiden win, though to her credit was solid with "winning" type races last season. That prior form is noted as she has those efforts to run back to as she makes her third start of the season and second start of the cycle in against winners. 

#4 ONE WAY OR ANOTHER will also look to get back to her peak 2022 form in order to compete here. She looked to be "given" the November race at Churchill Downs gaining fitness for this Oaklawn meet against open company off the layoff. She turned in an honest effort (B OptixGRADE) settling for place in December and has been given time to recover and reset as well as work through a minor issue that had her sit out the January 15th race due to a vet scratch. 

The more established race mares #1 TAPIT RIGHT and #5 MOCHA KISS have come up short under similar allowance conditions on the win end though have run numbers that fit with others in this field and each other. Current form and recency could present the edge today for Mocha Kiss running back without the layoff lines (Tapit Right) and showing some progressive form in her races this season. 

#3 STILL ON THE BOOKS could just find the right group this afternoon as he will take a drop in class off the claim for Hartman. While the barn change does not project to move him up necessarily here, he just requires to hold his form and get the right trip. 

#2 FIVE O FOX could present a move forward as a lightly raced type. He was in a tough spot making his debut around two turns in December and had a subtle trip along the way. He was able to improve on February 3rd in just a second start and show early speed and could be enough to build off that race with another move forward today. 

#6 AUX ARCS makes for an interesting addition to this field. He will make his first start back in 288-days with the connections using that layoff protection to not run for a tag. Class wise this spot can be seen as more of a lateral move from the statebred races last season where Aux Arcs was recording numbers on par, though did have some favorable (PERFECT, EASY_LEAD) trips and still came up short without much excuse. The class drop could in theory move up #8 HACKER though visuals left something to be desired in the race just 16-days ago and comes right back here for the claiming tag. #9 RIDGEPOINT ROAD could also find the drop what he requires though overall has now shown much to this point and gives up that edge to others. 

#10 KRUSIN ROCKET has shown run this season at this level though also an "every other" pattern if that continues here could be on the downswing of that cycle.