Handicapper Tips & Picks

Happy Easter!!!! Not much for live racing action across the country but the forecast looks great for the Easter card at Hawthorne. With temps warming up you have to expect we will have a track that plays very evenly which will give 3-MISS MIA a better shot than she had her first two starts. She didn't run poorly in either but the speed really wasn't coming back to the field as she raced evenly through the lane. I expect she can rate a bit closer early in here and more forwardly in the lane. 7-SLEEPY CAT is a well-bred first timer for the Robertson barn that should take action on debut. The works in New Orleans were consistent and fitness should be no issue as she comes into here off three straight 5 furlong drills. Lasix for the debut and the outside draw will also help. 6-JEMEZ FALLS raced well at this level two back before running into a tough trip in her last. She has shown a bit more early foot in her last couple as well and could potentially inherit the early lead in here today.

Tough spot for the second as none are really in great form right now and figuring out the early pace could be equally as tough. 5-TWELVE RED ROSES stretches back out after three straight sprints and figures to show early speed in this spot. Looking back at her routes in 2022, she was forwardly placed in most with those races coming against better company. The class drop may be timely as she looks for a confidence builder today. 2-QUEEN EKATI raced well around two turns in her last two starts at Turfway which is a plus. The main question is if she prefers the synthetic surface over other surfaces. She did have some solid sprint efforts here last fall and is worthy of a look with the hot riding Centeno in the saddle. 7-HER GOLD MINE was intriguing at a price. She was sent away at 45-1 last out against similar and finished fourth in the field of ten that day. You have to dig deep to find her route race prior to her last start which game last October. In that spot she was close to the pace and hung in until the lane. With a lack of early speed in here she may just happen to get the right trip.

With the potential for a contested pace and the hopes of an evenly playing track I'll look to 2-ARCH FLYER in this spot as she figures to get a good tracking trip today. She rated in the second flight in her last and ran on for place money behind First Squadron, who came back to win her next start. She's very good at this distance and likes this track. If we can catch somewhere around 7-2 in here she may be worth the play. 4-PRINCESS STELLA has speed and may be looking to clear the field early in here. After a good race in New Orleans in January, she took on much tougher in her first start of the Hawthorne meet. Between the company, the outside draw and a poor start it was just too much to overcome. With the class relief today, expect a solid effort from her. 3-FOGGY KITTEN also has speed and should be a part of the early pace. The could work in her favor if she can beat Princess Stella to the lead but it would work against her if those two hook up early and set things up for Arch Flyer. A good break will be the key.

This is a very tricky race as there are some talented runners in here racing at the bottom claiming level. 7-TIME HEIST held his own against a good field of $8,500 company in his first start of the meet and takes the drop in class today. He's very good at this distance, has tactical speed, and may sneak off at a price if Act of Bob runs. The question is what to do with 8-ACT OF BOB as he comes in off a lengthy layoff for trainer Elliot Sullivan. He won all three starts last year and is 9 of 18 on his career win the win column. He also hasn't raced since last May but is working quickly and consistently toward his return. Let's see how he looks in the paddock and on the racetrack in here. 2-EASTER MUSIC has a running style very similar to Time Heist and he likes this track as well. He looks to be ready off three drills coming into the return but some recent scratches leave some questions as well.

A good field for a three-year-old AOC route race is headed by 1-ACT A FOOL from the Rivelli barn. After apparently not taking to the poly at all in his debut, he ran a great race over this surface on opening day, winning easily while going away. He also came off of Lasix for that start, which may have had something to do with the poor debut also. Expect to see speed from him in here as he looks for a repeat of his last start. 4-SIVAKO improved over his final two starts of the 2022 season, winning his last race of the meet. The connections may have been working to figure things out with him as the addition of Lasix, and a goggle for earwear both may have made the positive difference. He has a nice, consistent pattern of workouts leading to this race and breeding suggests he can handle the two turns. 3-MONGOLIAN BEE may not stack up with the top two in regards to speed figures, but he has been good on the racetrack and runs for a barn that always has theirs ready. With this one coming in off the claim I expect to see him step up as he should rate close to the pace today as well.

I really liked the effort out of 8-CHICKS FOR FREE last out as he rated nicely and closed well in the lane. The winner of that race, Follow the Signs, came back to win his next which flatters this one's chances. There's a good amount of pace in this race and the price may be right. 7-C C's KITTEN has the potential to show speed as he steps up off the claim today. Curious to see how he handles the dirt as he has been on synthetic surfaces for the majority of his starts. 5-SOUPER FORTUNE has a running style similar to Chicks for Free as he has a couple of wins over this track. He ran a respectable race in his first start of the meet while facing tougher. The class relief could make him a threat in here.

Curious to see who will handle this distance in this race. I'm giving the nod to 7-MODIFIER as the main thing he needs is to get away from the gate. Gate issues have been costly in all three starts but he is bred to handle the two turns for a barn that has gotten off to a good start this meet. 9-SUMMER COUNTRY is intriguing as he takes a class drop for a barn that often has success over this track. He has worked consistently toward the return and back to back mile drills show he should be fit for this race. 1-GOLD SMOKE also gets some class relief as she comes out of a start against a very tough winner in her last. Her two turn try on closing day last fall was solid as she merits a look from the inside.