Handicapper Tips & Picks

Despite the short field there appears to be a decent amount of early pace in this race. Hoping 5-KANITHAPPEN rates close but doesn't challenge early. Sitting a length or two off the leaders may be the perfect spot. He has just the one career victory but that came over this track and if the rain does come, it only flatters his chances as his win was a 10 length score in the slop. Not fond of just one work toward the return but maybe that helps his price. 4-SUNDAY MISCHIEF ran a game race in his first start of the meet, running second to a solid winner in Triple Chrome. That was a nice turnaround off some starts where he struggled in Maryland but he runs for a barns that spots them well. Look for him to be on the lead and try to wire this field. 2-IRONMAN RICHIE is fit coming into here off a string of races in New Orleans. He has been better while sprinting and is another that gets back to the location of his only career victory. He is likely to be pushing things along upfront early.

Was trying to find a way to defeat the favorite but sometimes you have to settle for chalk and this is a spot where that's the case. May be worth singling 3-FIRST SQUADRON in multi-race wagers as she looks be to very tough in here. She has a solid record over the track and ran a good race in her first start of the meet. She pressed the pace while wide in that spot and ran on in the lane. In here she appears to be able to shake loose early and may not face much along the lines of pace pressure. This is her best distance and Giles returns in the saddle. 1-ARCH FLYER has found the board in half of her 12 Hawthorne starts. She makes her 2023 debut off a couple of morning drills, her most recent a snappy 5 furlong work. I expect she chases early and may be left to chase the entire way. 2-PRANCIPANTS has no issues with fitness coming into here as she raced through the winter at Mahoning Valley. The distance may not suit her though as she figures to settle back early and will have to run down the leaders in the lane. I expect she picks off horses late but not sure she will have time to get to the winner.

Taking a chance that the first timers are going to need a race as I'll look to the one I know is fit, with hopes she gets away cleanly from the inside. 1-KEEP LEFT is probably overdue for her first career win but she has been right there late in two of her last three starts. With the ability to show speed and the shorter distance, let's see if she can shake loose early and never look back. 6-GETTIN DOWN is one of two entered in here to debut for Rivelli as she has spent the winter getting ready in Florida. She is well bred and gets Lasix for the debut. The works aren't overly quick, but the most recent gate drill shows that we may be able to expect a little bit of early foot from her. 7-MISS MIA drops in class off a start that was respectable while facing better last out. She was only beaten three lengths in the slop and potentially could find an off track once again. With just a slight improvement in here, she figures to contend late.

Have to stick with the hot hand and that is the Vanden Berg barn as 1-FOLLOW THE SIGNS is well placed to win today. He ran a solid race in his first start of the meet and I was surprised that Upbeat Melody kept running on in that spot. He has enough speed to rate close early here as the two next to him are likely to carve out the early fractions. 5-NYOMAN loves this Hawthorne strip, with 11 lifetime victories here and 28/36 ITM over the track. He has tactical speed and looks to settle in the second flight as there should be enough pace to settle behind and run on in the lane. 2-TIME HEIST is one of those with speed as he makes his first start of the year. He has just the one work toward the return but it was a snappy drill as he should be on the gas from the start today.

Actually a little surprised to see 2-VALIANTLY DISCREET on the class drop here off a solid effort in his last. He has speed and should be able to clear in here. With a track that has favored speed early in the meet one would think he clears and never looks back. 7-SOVIET STANDARD was a horse that I liked in his first start of the meet and he responded nicely with a good score. He was bumped at the start in that race but once he leveled out he showed a strong stride and finished well. He may be able to contend at a price again today. 5-BEEASY comes out of the same race as Valiantly Discreet last out but just ran evenly in that spot. He does have some starts last spring where he showed early speed and has every right to improve off his last. 

Going to be really right or really wrong in here. There looks to be so much early pace in this race that it appears to be a complete fall apart race. I'm tossing all the speed and looking to runners to come from off the pace. 7-STOPSHOPPINGAMY has the running style as well as the class that fits in here. She makes her first start of the meet and has a couple of works toward the return. She likes this track and should get a perfect trip. Let's see if she runs on late. 6-RACETOTHEFINISH is another that figures to settle and run on late. She has been away since September but is working consistently toward the return. She has some back class and may sneak away at a bit of a price. 8-MY MORNING GAL is another worth a look at a price. She's another with a nice pattern of works toward the return and should get the right pace setup ahead of her. The only question will be if she fits in this class.

A really nice field to go two turns here as there appears to be a decent amount of early pace once again. 5-BANDIT SWANSON ran here last fall and posted a big race before heading to Churchill for his next start. He returns off a short layoff today but looks to get a perfect trip. His recent three quarter of a mile work over the track was strong as he should close quickly in this spot. 3-W W CRAZY is a horse that could sneak in at a price for solid connections. If the track comes up off it will benefit his chances for sure as fitness does not appear to be an issue either. Let's see how many he can pick off late. 1-DREAM KEEPER likes the track and typically runs a race followed by a break in between starts. He does have speed though but may also have company early on. He appears fit coming into here and is also solid at the distance.

Have to think the class drop will be enough for 9-CAJUN PUZZLER to get the job done in this spot. He has spent his entire career at Gulfstream and ships North today. His last effort was better and the 16th shorter for distance could also benefit. Let's see if he can track from the outside and run on late. 7-PERFUMER will benefit if the is a contested pace upfront early on. He was running on late in his last and had to angle to the center of the track to make his move. He may get enough pace to chase in here. Love seeing a White horse run as 3-MICHAEL GEORGE hasn't shown much and is going to be a big price. He has been facing better in each start though and will benefit from some pace to chase. Maybe he improves in here.