Handicapper Tips & Picks

Pace may make the race in the opener as 1-HOT DAME could be the speed in the field. She likes this track, draws well, and may go unchallenged from the start. Let's see if she can steal this. 6-DIALED INNA has won two of her last three and she comes to Hawthorne from recent starts in Kentucky. She will need a contested pace to chase but runs for a barn that is having a fine meet. 4-A REAL HERO has been claimed in five consecutive starts and until her last she raced well for every barn. She has the potential to show some speed and a pressing trip could be a perfect trip.

This would seem to be the time for 5-CELLUOID HERO to get his first victory. He has shown speed in his last coupe around two turns and it is appears only one other may be able to rate close early. 1-MINNESOTA MOON ran a solid race on the grass in his last in New Orleans. He has since come to Hawthorne and posted a bullet drill. If the pace is contested upfront early he should be able to rally in the lane. 7-GO BERTI is the other with some speed as he ran a good race while stepping up off the claim last out. Mojica returns in the saddle as this is another working well over this Hawthorne strip.

Not a ton of pace in this race which should benefit 4-LATIN CASINO as he figures to inherit the lead in here. He ran well in his last but Tilted Towers never came back to the field. With warmer temps and a clean break he will be very tough to catch. 5-ALEBRIJE has been pretty solid over his last half dozen races. It will be interesting in here though as he ran big at Oaklawn in his last but the claim for him was voided by the vet post race. He has since come back with a work over the track and will be tough in here if right. 3-STAR OF KODIAK will need someone to challenge Latin Casino early as he figures to close in the lane. The class relief will help for sure as he has run into some very solid sprinters in his last two starts.

Who goes in here? None of these appear to be committed to the front as possibly 2-TEA WITH LEMON tries to leave as he stretches in distance. His breeding clearly says he can show speed and handle the distance but this is where we find out. 3-MEMPHIS PRAYER comes in off a solid race last out at Turfway. That came while stepping up off the claim as he overcame some traffic to run on late. The concern for him in here is that there's not a ton of pace to set things up for his rally. 6-GO FOR IT was a good winner in his last and was claimed out of that victory. The Tracy barn has had an exceptional start to their meet and this one may sneak away at a price.

Another race without a ton of pace but with that said I don't this Chocolate Bunny finds things as easy on the lead as he did last time out. I expect 1-WHERE'D THE DAY GO to keep things honest upfront as he stretches out in his second start of the meet. His final route effort of the fall was good and the benefit of the inside draw should put him in a perfect spot. 5-FLASHY RICHIE drops in class off an effort against a respectable field for that level in his last. He is likely to sit in the second flight early but with the track hopefully evening out it could play more to his advantage late. 6-ZARMAE ran a good race last out as he sat back early and closed well on a day where front end speed was dominant. He may be alongside Flashy Richie early and will be trying to outkick that one in the stretch.

There's a couple in here that can show speed but I feel 2-BERTRADA could get the perfect trip from just off the early pace. She was claimed two back and chased before tiring in her last but let's give her another shot. She has been competitive against better and may sneak off at a decent price. 5-STACY ATTACK comes back from Kentucky for today's race as she ran well in that spot. She has speed and may be able to clear but if My Lady Slew is sent, it could compromise her chances. 8-CAIRO SUMMER ran on late last out to get up for second. She will also need some speed to chase but has run some good races here and can't be tossed out.

I've picked him in his last two starts and going to again as I'll look to 9-SOVIET STANDARD. He was a good winner two back and was game in his last. He did interfere with another horse in the lane as the stewards made the right call to DQ him. Let's see if he can get a clean trip today. 10-K C'S FIRST B M W has run well in his last three as he has tactical speed and shouldn't be too far back. He has found the board in all four Hawthorne starts and will benefit from the long run down the backside to get tucked in into the turn. 2-SUNDAY MISCHIEF is another with speed who figures to go from the inside. He comes in with back to back seconds as the added distance shouldn't be an issue for him.

This has to be the time for 7-READY MADE as he makes his third start of the meet. He ran well in his first race when in for the tag. His last is better than it looks on paper as Onasa was a very solid winner that day. Look for him to track the leaders and move forwardly in the lane. 9-FASTNFURIOUS is likely to try to leave from the outside as he has a chance to wire this field. If he can shake loose early on he may never look back. 8-SMOOTH ATTACK gets some class relief as he's back to a spot where he narrowly missed the last time he was in for the tag. He shouldn't be too far back early as he could run on late.