Handicapper Tips & Picks

#4 LUTION makes their return to Hawthorne and regrouped from the December races last year with TROUBLE that is tough to see on the run lines alone. The TROUBLE began on their debut, a sneaky good CLOSE in the fourth place finish though after the wire, the rider lost control and the two crashed hard into the inner rail losing the rider and the contact appeared to affect the horse returning (OUCHY) on December 30^th. Their figure from the January 18^th race at Turfway Park lines up number wise to their debut figure while against open company and with some issues at the start. 

Figure wise LUTION is right in line with others in this field including #3 MISS MIA one that will find a subtle class change returning to statebred company and first start in for the tag against fellow IL-bred runners.

#2 TENSE and #6 JEMEZ FALLS hold form at today’s level keying off the March 12^th common race both runners earning a B- OptixGRADE that day and should note the WEATHER conditions on the day that worsened leading up to and during the race. The class change is in play for #5 MISS HIGH N MIGHTY though she has come up short when running for $5k back in 2021 and seems to run her higher figures on the turf.

#7 SLEEPY CAT is cross entered in a maiden race on the Thursday card and worth following where they decide to run. 

The “Fire” Contention (most of the field in or around Quad I) and higher 86 SpeedRate (most of the field above the ParLine should set up a trip for the closing #3 WEEKEND PASS. As an individual she fits here going back to a sneaky good BTL race back on December 11^th and carries fitness and projected improvement from the March 16^th race and 6^th place finish off the TACTIC- (rider change today) when held up off the pace and ran on late with a solid GALLOP+ out behind the open length, LONE, pacesetting winner, She’s A Big Star. 

#1 AUNT STELLA might have been rushed to race here on March 16^th the 9-day turnaround and mentally not in the game acting up in GATE. She has been given the 24-day freshening and change in distance to assist here as well as a race shape (Surface/Distance Quad I Square) upgrade over Circles #3 FOGGY KITTEN and #4 PRINCESS STELLA and many others in this field that have the tendency to break slow/SLOG and positioned in Quad IV. 

#8 SINGING ALLI is one of those Quad IV runners though does not show the pattern of gate issues and could be moving forward into this race with progressive OptixFIG and even some intent with a rider change as Orlando Mojica takes over today. 

#8 ACT OF BOB returns in this spot off the 313-day layoff and while he will be required to return to form, his early speed and controlling speed (Quad I Square) could make him tough to contend with early and run down late. 

The edge in recency should benefit #7 TIME HEIST from what appeared a PREP on March 23^rd and shows up for Young with the class drop not just from that race but from his races at the higher level here last season. Those advantages could be the edge (and even value) over #2 EASTER MUSIC back from the layoff here and could grab attention with the “name play” today. #4 RESTORING HOPE wheels right back from the race just 10-days ago where there was no clear excuse for the poor performance and must turn it around and tough to gauge the intent if Haran was expecting more that day or expecting a claim. 

Class in play the edge of this race sides with #1 ACT A FOOL and #4 SIVAKO. As far as ACT A FOOL they had a subtle excuse on debut and rebounded with a strong B+ OptixGRADE effort breaking their maiden on March 5^th. SIVAKO moved up on this circuit for Block showing versatility and class with the WIDE trip on the turf in September and coming back to a sprint breaking their maiden in the closing days of 2022. 

Class and distance will be a test for #2 FAITHFUL KING though worth a mention with a BTL on March 26^th with “live” barn also part of that consideration on effort. #7 EL RAYO returns here for Manley and their first start against winners going back to September 30^th when they had just enough to hold in a photo for the win.

#2 WINGING WAYS was flying under the radar back on March 16^th and potentially could have contended for a top spot, though the rider lost the whip at the top of the stretch and was at a disadvantage over their rivals. #3 JACK VAN BERG wheels right back and with subtle class relief and that might be the key change here lacking finish on April 2^nd and does hold a win at this level, course and distance back to October 7^th. #8 CHICKS FOR FREE also holds form at today’s claiming level and requires a top effort to win the timing could assist in this third start of the cycle with improving OptixGRADE. 

Number wise #9 PUBLIC SAFETY fits on par though they have missed the break (VSLOG) in their most recent starts and that must be mentioned and considered once again as something to factor in terms of play. 

#2 SHARP HERO was dominant (B+ OptixGRADE) winning at this level, surface/distance back on November 25^th. At the time she had some buried form exiting a competitive, stakes event at Churchill that gave her a major upgrade on the day. She will give up recency here though has run well off the layoff keying back to last June and show finish (82 OptixFIG) in the Crestwood Stakes.  

#1 GOLD SMOKE will repeat a form cycle pattern from December stretching out to a route in the second start back off the layoff. He showed improvement in the December 31^st event and project to move forward here as they were not asked (NO_PUSH) to run on March 26^th and the class drop to run for the maiden claiming for the first time should further assist. #3 LIMA ZULU carries some “buried” form as well going back to September 18^th with the EX -EXCUSE at Emerald Downs and followed up that race setting a fast early pace/DUEL (flow upgrade) on January 20^th at the Fair Grounds. 

#9 SUMMER COUNTRY will find some changes returning here with the obvious being the trainer, distance and class. The class change while noticeable running for the claiming tag today, the race par from both events, the December 11^th Hawthorne debut (common race with GOLD SMOKE) and February 11^th Turfway Park race were listed much higher than today and the horses from those events held form and in many cases improved next out. 

#7 MODIFIER (and #5 LOCOMOTE) return from the March 19^th sprint and given a mention with the weather that race day; the colder winds and race result with the Vanden Berg trained Swiss Guard scoring as the open length pacesetting chalk winner.