Handicapper Tips & Picks

Yes, one of these runners will be a maiden no more after this race but none have really shown the ability to leave the maiden ranks. One might take one of the first timers since they haven’t yet lost but they are making their debut at this low level for a reason. So, going to take a chance with 2-STRONGENOUGHSTORM. I like the speed she displayed in last, her first start in nearly 10 months. She could improve off that effort. 6-BUMPER GIRL didn’t get close but she was at least competitive in her two races this year. 4-SHORT STRAW debuts off modest drills but races for hot connections.

6-WILDWOOD’S WARRIOR looks tough. He hadn’t been making much of an impact at Oaklawn but he’s dropping in class and stretching back out. Could “outclass” the rest of the speed. This is a speed-filled field and what has been a speed-favoring surface. It’s possible one of the runners will clear early but it seems more likely that a speed duel could develop. 3-AWESOME WILLY, stablemate of top choice, sports good speed. He just wired the field in a low-level maiden claimer in last. Obviously meets better here and would likely get caught in a speed duel with his partner but did like the way he looked in his maiden score. Don’t really like 1-STRIKE PRICE but he does look like the only real closer. Would expect him to show some late run but not sure how much.

6-PALACE MAGIC just missed at this level in last after a stretch-long speed duel. Versatile runner got claimed from that start. Not sure where she’ll be racing today since so many of her rivals have the same versatility but would imagine that she’ll be forwardly placed throughout. 3-GO STORMIN GIRL finished up the track in her last couple of races but she was taking on tougher rivals in those starts. Drops from starters back into claimers. Can awaken. 2-SAMARITA had been in decent form last fall but dropped to the $5k tag and beat only one rival while going off as the favorite. She was claimed from that race. Moves up in claiming price for this. Like the way she’s been working. Have to consider despite that last race.

1-KEEN RESPONSE showed little in his 2023 debut but raced on a synthetic surface for the first time. He had, however, been in good form here late last year. Drops to the right level and moves back to the right surface. 4-BRODY’S FLY beat one rival in last, his first race after getting claimed by this barn. He was also racing on synth but he won his maiden race in his previous start so he was better able to handle the surface. He’s also dropping for this. He hadn’t shown anything in previous dirt starts but he has to be given the benefit of the doubt at this level. 8-OPTION scored a narrow maiden victory here back in November. He led throughout in that race but barely hung on. He hasn’t raced since November but he’s been training well for his return. Could be in the hunt throughout.

Can’t find a standout in this race. The runners were the highest speed figures only raced at Turfway on their synthetic track. There’s no guarantee that those “figs” will be the same here. So, opting to go with first timer 6-FIT AND FAMOUS. She’s had some great drills and has been working with regularity. Might only be prepping for the forthcoming Iowa meet but going to give her the benefit of the doubt. One of the Turfway runners is likely to be favored. 8-OLIVE’S CANDY just missed in a low-level maiden claimer there while racing for one of the top barns in the country. She got claimed from that race. But her races and works were all on synthetic track and she’s meeting what should be a better group here. 2-JOYZELLA turns back in distance. She finished a distant second in last going long. She pressed the pace in that contest but seems more likely to make a late run at them today.

Oh my. I’m going to do it again. I thought blinkers on, finally, 10-COMISKEY PARK was going to propel him over the top. But even a perfect ride by Chris Emigh couldn’t get this perpetual tease to cross the wire first. Once again they’ll be meeting many others with speed but I’m hoping racing with blinkers for the second time as well as a recent race under his belt will do the trick. 6-BASEBALL POLITICS dueled with top pick early in last, was taken back, but surged late to get back to third, finishing a little over a length behind top choice. The longer distance of this race, as well as utilizing an apprentice with her seven-pound weight allowance, just might give him the edge. 1-BALDINE will make a late run. He showed little in his first start of the meet but expect him to be fitter for this event.

Neither 4-MOMENT nor 3-HIGH BROW ever finished worse than second when racing at Hawthorne. Moment won three of his four starts here, with one second, while High Brow has had seven local races with four wins and three seconds. Both own good speed and figure to be prominent from the start. It was hard separating them but going to give Moment a slight edge, thinking he might be a bit quicker from the gate. High Brow has had only one race that wasn’t contested at Hawthorne. This homebred broke his maiden for $6250 a year ago. He got claimed from that race but was quickly taken back in his next start and has done well since. He just finished second in an allowance race in his first local start of the year. This is his first venture into allowance company. He’s going to be right there throughout. 6-SUPER WISE, fresh off the claim, invades from Louisiana. He’s had some luck in starter company but did finish about five lengths behind top pick in a December Fair Grounds race. Still, he was claimed by sharp connections. Can have an impact.

Wide-open contest as races at this condition generally are. I’ve been speed handicapping pretty much but with warmer weather expect there to be more “surface” on the track with somewhat fairer outcomes. 6-D’ARCHER isn’t a big closer but he does possess a good late move and there should be enough pace in this race to set things up for him. He finished behind Chopper in his last but the extra furlong distance of this race works in his favor. He won five of his 16 races at the distance. Can win another. 2-TAKE ME UP BRADY and 4-CHOPPER could duel for the lead but if one of the two breaks alertly and grabs an unchallenged lead, he could be long gone.