Handicapper Tips & Picks

#2 GINSBURNED held some buried form before popping up on the radar and recording a trio of strong races from December to January. The timing of those races with the step up in class put him "over the top" in February and overmatched at the higher N1 allowance on 2/25. The drop is not as concerning given he was picked up for $15k and followed up by the January win and will reunite with Castillo here. 

#4 ALVAARO is part of the Diodoro connected runners in this field and could be at the right spot for the barn looking for a win. He ran two competitive (B OptixGRADE) races before the connections placed him above his head (and following a $40k vet scr on 2/17) on March 3rd and this spot looks reasonable to get back on track and in search of the win.

#3 SQUARE DEAL claimed by Milligan from Diodoro last month will make his first start off the claim and third of this form cycle. He presents some upside with that cycle given the connections kept him protected off the layoff on 2/5 and then looked to drop/win on 2/24. That strategy could still carry intent here even as they did not achieve the desired result last out noting the poor WEATHER conditions and SQUARE DEAL can be upgraded with the trip setting the pace (DUEL, X_FLOW) in today's race shape. 

#1 BROOKE'S ALL IN made a BURST on debut after a poor (SLOG, TROUBLE_S) start and BTL effort that she has struggled to move up from in the two starts since. She has shown some run in spots at times and could be intent with the connections looking for more from her as they made a rider change and return for this race on a one week turnaround. 

#5 TIZ A STRATEGY is entered earlier in the race week at a route race and fits here as well for the same reason with current form trips and upgraded as she drops in class. #8 MAY DISCO also cross entered in a similar race also can compete here should they not take the route event for some reason. 

#7 RELENTLESS ROCKET has created her own hurdles with the pattern of breaking slow in both races this season. Outside of that she has shown run with legit TROUBLE+ on debut and wheeling right back from a BTL effort last week. 

#6 ICONIC BONNET is logical with progressive form and making her first start this year at the maiden claiming level that should move her up naturally. #4 KITIARA is respected in this race and on debut for Witt, a barn that has had success with similar type first time starters and appears to have her training forwardly with intent for this spot. 

Number wise and even RunStyle, #5 TOO PRETTY makes sense in this race. As far as knocks as she projects to be favored and shorter price, she is seeking a win for the first time since March 2021 and must show she has that "winning" desire though should not have any excuses outside of that here. 

One of the conditions for this race requires horses to have started for a claiming tag. #1 HOT SPRING BLING has only run for the tag once in her career, a maiden claiming race last May. She comes into this event with progressive form this season (despite what it might look like on paper) and this race also the return to a route for the first time this meet as well. #3 MY DAMS ATITUDE also stretches back out for this race with progressive form in her own right and numbers on par for this event. She might not be at her ideal distance today, though still capable under the right conditions.

#4 C. C. HARBOR lost her 1/27 race at the start (VSLOG) though overall tough to knock the BTL effort to CLOSE through TRAFFIC in earning a place finish. She has been given the time to recover before coming back for this race and while a better start is possible and should held, that is not guaranteed given her history. 

Asmussen/Three Chimneys will be represented by a pair in this race. #4 TEN GAUGE comes into this event with current form this season and a pair of minor finishes, though off those efforts has been a tough below (B-/C+ OptixGRADE) of the required "winning" race. #6 KING OTTOMAN will make his first start of the year and since a credible (B OptixGRADE WIDE, MOVE) in the Oklahoma Derby (G3) last year. He appears the "class" of the two just based on placement by the connections going back to last year. 

#7 CAWKAB is capable of a rebound and improvement returning with a freshening to this allowance condition from the 1/7 race. At the time, the timing was a concern wheeling back in three weeks off the PERFECT trip maiden win and was given no favors by the TACTIC- ride, noting a rider change on return today. 

#2 ARMAN is not without a chance to improve in his own right. Going back to his debut, he showed a lot of ability first out (B+ OptixGRADE) with some excuses and set backs that followed. He returned in a tougher spot off the layoff making that 140-day return also a route debut. It could be encouraging that Miller remains on this circuit, similar distance and allowance condition with the timing back in less than 30-days. 

#8 MYSTIFIER was caught WIDE against (X_BIAS) the profile on 2/26 and can be upgraded from that race and into this event. He has some buried form even from the races this season including the 1/8 race under similar surface/distance and N2 claiming conditions. 

The class drop is not as severe as it may appear for #2 PITTSBURGH returning in this race for Miller. He was claimed for $20k back at Del Mar from his maiden race and seems the intent to place him where he can win and get claimed are the motivations to run in this race and on this circuit after there were no $40k takers last month. 

#1 NAMESAKE could sneak under the radar once again and can project a move forward back at this lower claiming level and off the WIDE trip over an off-track just two weeks ago. #7 QUALITY RUN is also deserving of a mention as he could see the field bunch up to assist his run from off the pace. He is another returning with NAMESAKE from the 3/3 race where his fourth place finish is respected despite the outcome, QUALITY RUN earning a B- OptixGRADE. 

#1 BEST OF GREELEY could hold a pace advantage (Quad I Square) in this race. This will be his second start off the layoff and first off the claim assisting with fitness and even intent as they return under similar class conditions waiting out the "jail" period. By contrast, stablemate #3 CITY RAGE takes a drop in class to run here off a 68-day layoff. 

Lund showing up here with #2 SHIP IT RED is interesting and this one making his first start for this level of claiming since 2021. They are not willing to drop to lose the horse though making the move as a realistic one to place him where he can compete and do so for the purse structure on this circuit - a track he has run well over in the past. 

While #7 PAPA ROCKET has his top form sitting on the top of the pp's, #6 JERRY'S EIGHTY has his best races sitting under the surface to create value of the pair. JERRY'S EIGHTY comes into this race as the third start this season with progressive form and some subtle trips to suggest he still could present another move forward for this race. 

#2 MAGICAL SONG projects to take attention once again for the connections and following the run in her debut during the BC undercard. She moves up naturally in today's field and with the foundation and experience coming back from the WIDE trip in December around two turns. 

#8 STAR OF TOMORROW could also present a move forward as one not nearly as obvious as she had an EX - EXCUSE on debut and likely to show more early speed. #5 D'ORO STREET also projects to again show early speed and while she still requires more finish, to her credit she has been a part of fast (X_FLOW) early paces. 

#6 NO GUILT has been consistent this year though perhaps to a fault as she has run the same race each time (including the SLOG habit) and that run just not quite enough falling short of a B OptixGRADE effort.

#1 EXPONENTIAL STAR is given a mention exiting a productive race on 2/11 as she makes her second start and route debut. Overall she must improve and does does require her to make up ground on the others in this field while also making that first start around two turns. 

#2 BUTTERBEAN will make her seasonal return in this spot coming back as a four-year-old for McPeek. While there are challenges on return after 237-days off, she showed she could run well first keying off races last season and the level of consistency up until the CCA Oaks (G1) closing out the 2022 season.

The pace should be honest up front early for the versatile BUTTERBEAN to work a trip with pacesetters #3 LIL KINGS PRINCESS and stretch-out sprinter #4 SPEEDOMETER making her return in this race. The race shape/TACTIC+ ride benefit #5 TRAVERSE with the win last month and could fall into similar here. 

Class wise, #6 IT'SFIFTYSHADETIME might be a touch below this level, though does hold a benefit with form and recency that could carry her in this race and compact field. #1 SHEZZ KOLDAZICE also with class concerns, though those more obvious stepping up from the claiming races and with figures below par. 

#3 LIFE IS HARD could find the right trip with the two pacesetters, #1 DOCTOR OSCAR and #2 SKELLY drawn to his inside. This will be the second start back this season for LIFE IS HARD and off a solid return on 2/5 to finish in a BLANKET at the wire. 

The pace scenario could also upgrade #7 ALBIZU with his running style and returning from a WIDE CLOSE run (and GALLOP+) on 2/25. #10 RAM also has some buried one-turn form and another that can benefit from a faster pace to close into. This will be his second start of the season, technically though did not do or able to run much in the 2/18 return as he was eased up early after getting hooked wide and has recorded two "bullet" works since.