Handicapper Tips & Picks

I thought the speed-favoring bias would start to disappear as it got warmer but it was still quite evident on Sunday. So, guess I’ll keep using that as one of the main factors in my handicapping. 1-HOT DAME just wired a starter field in Ohio and raced in second throughout in her previous start there. But she has also run well here in the past. While she doesn’t necessarily need the early lead to win, she does appear to be the best of the speed. Don’t normally like runners that have been racing exclusively on turf and synthetic tracks when they come here, 4-A REAL HERO has had some past success racing on dirt. This mare has been awfully popular at the claiming box; she switched connections in her last five starts. She does like to win but her come-from-behind running style can hamper her chances if the speed bias remains. 6-DIALED INNA, like A Real Hero, has been racing on synthetic tracks for the most part lately but she has also had some decent dirt races in the past. She did score in two of her last three races. Figures prominently.

It appears likely that the front end of this race will be a very busy place. Not sure which speedy runner will emerge on top. But, I’m guessing this will be a race won by a runner coming from slightly out of it. 1-MINNESOTA MOON could be the runner. He really hasn’t shown much so far but he doesn’t tend to lose much ground late. He’s running with blinkers for the first time which could help boost his speed a bit. His bullet drill last week could be the key. 5-CELLULOID HERO, 6-MINING CAMP, and 7-GO BERTI could be vying for the lead. Mining Camp might be the quickest from the gate but would expect the other two to engage before they come out of the clubhouse turn.

4-LATIN CASINO appears to hold the edge in this race. He finished second in his meet debut as the favorite but he looks like the only real speed in the race. Can take the immediate lead and never look back. 5-ALEBRIJE doesn’t seem to be as quick as top choice but he could be racing right at the heels of that rival. He had had three local starts without much success but he’s coming off a narrow loss at Oaklawn against a strong claiming field. Might be able to run down Latin Casino. 1-GAME BOY BENNY didn’t seem to handle the synthetic track at Gulfstream very well in last couple but he had an allowance win and a good second the last two times he ran here. Can awaken.

Trying to not overthink things here but 2-TEA WITH LEMON could be tough. He ran well in his last three, his barn and rider have been hot, he’s been finishing his races with authority and he’s finally stretching out. His pedigree suggests that he should thrive at the longer distance and he figures to display far better speed with the stretch out. Can sneak to the lead and never look back. 3-MEMPHIS PRAYER will be coming late. Although devoid of any early speed, he finishes well. Might be able to pass them all. 7-IZEONDECK can also finish with a rush. Don’t like that he’s had only one drill since his race on February 24^th but still figure his barn will have him ready.

Pretty open race but guessing 5-FLASHY RICHIE can improve somewhat with the drop in class. He hasn’t been beating many but none of his rivals are showing much more. This could be the easiest field he ever faced. Maybe. 8-CHOCOLATE BUNNY carried his speed much farther in last and only got passed late. He still finished second, beaten only a neck. There doesn’t appear to be a whole lot of other speed in the race though enough rivals have some semblance of early speed that he could face pressure on the front end. But, if not challenged early, he could take it all the way. 1-WHERE’S THE DAY GO needed last. He’s probably better on the lawn but he’s had some competitive dirt races. Could be much tougher in his second start off the layoff.

6-MY LADY SLEW tired in last but she was making her first start of the year while taking on better company. Drops to what should be the right level. She’s likely to face considerable front end pressure but at this level she can put them away. 1-FIELD DAISEY also needed last and she also drops. She finished a bit ahead of top choice in last and the pace sets up well for her. She came in second in her final two starts of 2022 when she was racing at this level. Will be motoring late. 8-CAIRO SUMMER stalked the pace at this level in her first start of the year. She didn’t make any big move but she ran well enough to get up for second. Not sure she’ll be fast enough to win this but she could easily fill out the vertical gimmicks.

Still expecting a speed-forward racing surface but there are so many quick runners in this race that things could set up for a late runner. There seems to be a pair that fit that description though another in here has shown the ability to come on late. 8-BERNIE LOMAX, 7-PERFUMER and 9-SOVIET STANDARD all have the capacity to close. Bernie Lomax faced better early in his career but was gone from racing for five months and returned to race on synthetic Turfway. Not sure if he is just totally out of gas but his Turfway races were terrible. However, he got claimed from his last race and he’s been working fairly well over this track. Might show something more. Perfumer just graduated in a low level maiden claimer. He’s taking on better here but like the way he finished his last two races. Soviet Standard finished first in his last two though he got DQ’d from last. He led all the way in that race but came from off the pace to graduate in his previous start.

4-EMPIRE BUILDER makes his local debut as well as his first start for this barn. He had only limited dirt experience and didn’t run that well early on but he blossomed when they stretched him out. He’s not a speedball but is quick enough to race right on the pace. 6-PAPA’S LUCKY SEVEN has a running style that might not win a lot of races on a speed-favoring track but think he will benefit from getting a recent trip over the track and he should finish full of run. 10-BALDINE is worth another look. This will be his first race around two turns but that could be to his benefit. As a sprinter stretching out, he’s likely to display even better speed and speed has been king so far this meet.

9-FASTNFURIOUS should be tough in his local debut. This Fair Grounds shipper is plenty quick. He does tend to run out of gas late but the cut back to five and a half furlongs could be just what he needs. 7-READY MADE is ready made for this race. He might not be quite as quick as top choice but he finished second in his two maiden claiming races while displaying good speed in both. 2-GUST OF WIND ran into some early traffic trouble in last. He did make a good middle move in that race but the recovery effort took too much out of him. There is an abundance of speed in this race. Expect this runner to come on late.