Handicapper Tips & Picks

Kick off a really solid wagering card with a maiden route race. There's not a ton of pace in this spot as 7-AWESOME WILLY looks to have the potential to wire the field. He raced with decent results against better last year. With this drop, along with a nice pattern of workouts, he should be very tough to catch today. 8-GUS GUS is fit coming into here as he has shown the ability to rate closer early in recent races. He seems to continually get stuck with outside draws but with the lack of early speed in here aside from Awesome Willy, he should be able to clear toward the inside into the first turn. If anyone happens to go with Awesome Willy early, you may see 3-ELECTRIC CHARGE picking off some runners in the lane. He's another who has a consistent pattern of drills heading into this race as two turns shouldn't be an issue for him. Let's see if he can sneak into the gimmicks at a price.

This is a really tough race to try to defeat the favorite as there is little along the lines of consistency in here. Have to take one path or another as I would likely just single on 6-MRS. NUSHI in this spot. She has always faced tougher company and comes in fit off of starts at Oaklawn Park. There isn't a ton of early speed as she figures to rate close to the pace early and look to take over into the lane. 7-NOT TO BE DENIED didn't show a ton in her final two starts of the meet. If you get to her races three and four starts back she figures prominently in here. With a recent bullet drill on March 7 and picking up Santiago in the saddle both flatter her chances to run a big race at a price. 9-BELLS OF JOY has just the one lifetime victory but has also found the board in nine of 15 starts over the track. With a pair of works toward the return and the ability to show some early speed in here, she may be able to rate close and hang around for a share late.

A solid, competitive bunch to go two turns where there's the potential for a few to show early speed in here. I'm hopeful 3-AHEADOFTHEGAME gets away in good order but doesn't push things along early as he has shown the ability to rate and run on in the lane. His record over the track is solid and with three works coming into here he should be fit to handle the distance. 2-RALLY SQUIRREL was claimed for $15k two starts back and showed speed in his last before giving way into the lane. His best races may be ahead of him on grass but if you dig into the past performances, you will find a dirt start at Gulfstream last February that would put him in the mix with these. 7-JEALOUS EYES has the figures that would make him a standout in here. My only concern is that there is some other speed to possibly challenge early and he may have to go a bit for position into the first turn. He did run a strong race in his maiden score here to close out the season last year as he figures to take a good amount of action today.

Curious to see how many head for the lead in here as there's potential for any of four to possibly look to make the top. If even two of those four go, things should set up nicely for 4-GIANT CRITIC to settle in the second flight early and get first run at the top of the lane. He has been racing well leading into the spot and hasn't finished worse than second in four starts on the year. Reyes comes in to ride for Sullivan as if there's a little moisture in the track it will only improve this one's chances. 2-DIAMOND DAVE has posted some solid races as the main question will be how he handles this step up in class. He has found the board in half of his 20 Hawthorne starts and comes into here with a pair of works. Curious to see where Baird positions this one early. 6-DYNABLUE is another that will need pace to chase. His final start of the fall meet was respectable as he had some late run in that start. With three works toward the return let's see if he's ready to rally at a price.

This should be a tremendous wagering race with no likely heavy favorite in here. There appears to be a few horses committed to the front which will hopefully set things up for the closing kick of 9-PACHI in here. The final two starts of the fall meet were strong and he enters here with a pair of works toward the return. This is his first start at the distance but with warmer temps expected for this time of year, the track should continue to play evenly. The outside draw will make it tough for 12-SHANGHAI POINT to win but it will also help his price in here. He's been good over this track and comes in off a couple of races against tougher at Oaklawn. A wet track would only flatter his chances in this spot. 8-OVERBEARING is another Sullivan runner in with a big chance. He shouldn't be too far off the early pace and has run well in both of his starts on the year. He's another that only seems to improve if he catches a surface with some moisture in it. 

There's a pair entered in here from the barn of Tanner Tracy but I gave the nod to 2-CREME DE CASSIS based off the most recent drill. She has been working in company with the other Tracy trained Iowa-bred 9-Hop Away Hottie as the first three works had the pair together every stride. In the most recent drill on March 9, Creme De Cassis pulled away easily and looked to finish the stronger of the duo. With the inside draw, first Lasix and bug rider in the saddle, let's see if she shows speed and contends throughout. 5-SONG OF AMERICA is the other likely to show speed in this spot. From her start at Hawthorne last fall to the three Tampa races, speed has been prominent in each start. The shorter distance may benefit here as well as the potential to catch an early breather if she isn't challenged out of the gate. 3-COWGIRL FRANKIE is the opposite of Song of America as you won't see much of her early but she should come running in the lane. She's had numerous opportunities for that first lifetime score while hitting the board in five of nine starts. The distance may work against her a bit in here but she could come running late to get into the gimmicks.

What an incredibly tough race! The top three contenders all look to have similar styles as each should be a part of the early pace. With that said, all three could have the potential to run on late as well. I'm thinking the outside pair will look to try to clear for position into the turn and ensure and honest pace upfront. If that's the case, 5-FENESTRA could get a perfect trip from just off the early lead. He has been competitive on the tough Southern California circuit in the past before heading over to Turfway at the end of last year. Claimed from that start, he stepped up for his last couple and ran solid races in each. Let's see where he finds himself early in here. 8-TILTED TOWERS was claimed out of the same race as Fenestra at Turfway last December. He was a beaten favorite in there as he had a poor start and never really seemed comfortable. He was solid in his race two back before being rushed and stopping in his most recent start. Let's see if he tries to wing it for early position in here. 9-LATIN CASINO is another that appears to be committed to the front. He wired a field here last October and held his own against a solid Starter group to close out the meet. Four works leading into here should have him ready as the only question is if he has company upfront early on.

Such a tough race to close out the card with a full field to head two turns. The first question for some will be fitness and the second will be pace complexion. I'm giving the nod to 9-WATCHIN THE WHEELS in here as she returns with three works and should get a good trip from just behind the early pace. Santiago returns in the saddle as he has been the best fit for this runner. There isn't a ton of early pace in here so look for her to cross over early for a good position and get the jump on the closers in the lane. 12-LINDALOUIMAGE takes the blinkers back off after wearing them in her final start of the fall meet. A return to her race three starts back should be enough to put her in contention early as her three works coming into her could also have her fit. The outside draw may be what produces the price in the end. 2-COUGAR is one that figures to show early speed as if any of these can wire the field, she is the likely one to do so. She really had no excuse in her start two back as she set a slow pace before giving way in the lane, but her final start of the meet was strong as she responded when asked in the stretch. Let's see if she is able to clear here early and if she has any company upfront.