Handicapper Tips & Picks

A good race to open up the card as there's a few different ways to look at this field. Not a ton of pace in here as I'll give the nod to 2-WILDWOOD'S WARRIOR as he gets a little class relief into this spot. He ran a decent race in his first start of the meet and figures to improve off that effort. Look for him to rate close and run by in the lane. The pace appears to come from 7-OPTION on the outside as he comes in off the claim. He set the pace in a race that didn't have much pace last out but was still unable to hold on in the lane. Figure he is sent away once again and should be in the mix the entire way. 3-GOLDEN CHELLA wired a field at Mahoning Valley last out and could be the other to show speed in here. He's been a different horse since stretching out two races back and runs for a barn that has shipped them in ready this meet.

This race is really tough and I could be really right or really wrong in here. With some taking class drops and some maybe not on their best surface I'm going to take a chance with 1-LAST MARTINI, figuring I will get a price. He makes his first start in seven months and ultimately may be getting ready for Canterbury but his works are consistent, the barn places their horses well, and he may get enough pace to chase. Let's see if he is ready off the rest. 5-PINEDALE takes a big class drop off a race that wasn't terrible while facing so much better last out. He's run well over the track and is the most likely winner to me....but why the class plunge? 2-IOYA AGAIN is another with so much back class but he is also likely best suited for the turf. Maybe this is just a spot to get a start but he does have some races on paper that would make him competitive on the main track as well.

Had to take a few looks at this race and try to figure out the pace scenario in here. Thinking 2-KHOZAN'S SUCCESS is the one that makes the top and carves out the early fractions. He makes his first start off the layoff but has been a nice pattern of drills toward the return. His best shot is to try to make the top and never look back. 6-FIRST MASAMUNE chased in his last out and was left to chase Gita's Lad the whole way around. He likes this Hawthorne strip and while I don't expect he is as close early, a repeat of his last start makes him a contender once again. 4-CADET CORPS is going to need pace to chase and he ships in from Gulfstream. The biggest question for him is how he will handle the conventional dirt surface but his dirt works show that shouldn't be an issue.

Maidens around two turns with another bunch that doesn't appear to have a ton of early speed. Thinking 3-HOP AWAY HOTTIE could contend on the stretch in distance as she comes out of a key maiden sprint, won by Mendrel on March 16. Tanner Tracy has had a great start to the meet but it is a bit interesting here that regular barn rider Centeno chooses Climb to Glory over this one. 4-TAR HEEL GIRL made a pair of grass starts in Florida before shipping up North for this race. She has a really nice work over the track as I wouldn't be surprised to see some more speed from her early in here. 1-JOYZELLA ran a good second in her first start of the meet around two turns and ran a respectable third while sprinting last out. Bug rider Giles has had a solid meet and if it rains this runner's chances will only improve.

I may be overthinking this as normally this would be a slam dunk for me to select Long Tall Woman and move on. A recent scratch from her from a race where she appeared to be an easy winner leaves some concern but she has worked well and maybe I'm looking too much into it. In the end, her price will be very short so I'll pick her second. 8-GOOD MONGOLIA surprised everyone last out as she appeared to be more of a route and turf horse, but was a winner in a dirt sprint at a big price. On top of it she did it while showing speed. The was a good race off the rest and no reason to think she can't repeat that performance. 3-RACEDAY ATTIRE ran a really nice race, winning in upset fashion, against allowance company last out. Mojica gave her a great ride along the rail as she pressed through and ran on to a solid score.

Not going to try to overthink this one as 3-DARK HEDGES has found the board in his last seven starts, including a solid win last out. He battled the pace in that spot and emerged clear late. I don't expect as much pace pressure today as he should be able to clear and never look back. 1-Z U SOON has been very good at Hawthorne, finding the board in 16 of 36 career starts over the track. He steps up off a good win in his last but returns off just an easy work into this spot. 2-TRY TRY AGAIN has had poor starts in his last couple of starts but recovered to run on nicely late in his last. He needs some pace to chase but could pick up the pieces while at a price.

If Raceday Attire runs well earlier in the card, it will flatter the chances of many in here who were defeated by her on April 2. 3-FIRST KITTEN was the one carving out the early fractions in that race as she battled to the wire in that spot. Expect to see speed once again and let's see if she can clear and never look back. 6-STORMY EMPIRE has run her best races at Hawthorne and she always seems to be closing ground late. She probably took too much action at the windows in her last but is worth a look in all gimmicks. 5-JOURNEYIST is another Boyce runner that I expect to see more of for her third start of the meet. I liked that she improved with the addition of Lasix in her last and could easily see continued improvement in here.

Solid maiden group closes the day. 8-RUSSIAN HAMMER has unfortunately raced against a pair of strong Rivelli-trained runners in his last couple. After winning on opening day, Act A Fool came back with an impressive allowance score last week. Last out Russian Hammer was left to chase Onasa, another well intended runner. Let's see if there's enough pace to chase here but he should be closing well in the lane. 5-MERLOTTI was closing quickly behind Russian Hammer in that spot as well. That was his debut as he got away slowly from the rail before running on late. He comes in off a recent sharp drill and figures to be a solid threat while at a price. 2-LUCKY AIN'T ENOUGH is another Tracy trained runner with a shot at a price. He pressed Onasa in that spot and battled into the lane. There's a chance the he could shake loose early in here and wire this field.