Handicapper Tips & Picks

This is as good as stakes racing gets with the competitive nature of the field and a favorite that has some question marks to overcome at the short price. Starting with that favorite, #7 CHARGE IT, they have run competitive races and figures though have a class test with today's rivals, class level and distance. They are also making a change today with the blinkers, something that could be seen as a negative following a loss as a heavy favorite and the barn experimenting. 

#2 LAST SAMURAI also projects to find support based on his current form and pairing wins this year. He could find himself "peaked" in this form cycle off those races and coming back in this contentious spot with the added ground going 9f. 

#3 STILLETO BOY returns to Oaklawn Park where he started his racing career and looking to pair up wins returning from the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) last month. #4 PROXY also shows up here from the "Big Cap"  finishing in a BLANKET at the wire and might have run the "better" race that day with the BTL effort and WIDE CLOSE. 

#6 CLASSIC CAUSEWAY has license to step forward in his second start off the layoff and can be dangerous with his early speed and especially if the others let him go and try to rate for first run. 

The class and distance are hurdles for #1 RATED R SUPERSTAR as well as trip as he is likely to return to the "one run closing move" for this race after the TACTIC- in the Essex (G3) the rider had him closer to the pace than his normal RunStyle. #5 SENOR BUSCADOR is a quality race horse and coming off a dominant stakes win last month at Sunland Park. This is a much tougher spot where a move forward is required and in terms of distance this 9f could be a touch further than his ideal.