Handicapper Tips & Picks

Can find no standouts in this field so let’s see if 4-SUPRISE CAT can surprise this field. He tired badly in his last couple route races but he’s turning back in distance for this and both of his wins came at this distance. There are many in here with mediocre speed, him included, but the turn back in distance could allow him to finish with something left. 2-IRONMAN RICHIE might be the best of the speed. He finished second in a similar race last out after pressing the pace throughout. Might outlast the rest. 5-TIMEHASCOME goes for his third win in a row. This time, however, he’s doing it for new connections after getting claimed from last. He might be the most consistent of the speed is not the quickest.

This race might be too short for 6-BAREFOOT BOOTLEGGER but love the way he responded when turned back in distance for last. He made a powerful move to get to the lead midstretch and drew away from the field. He will be helped by the healthy amount of speed in this race. He could be flying late. 1-WILDWOOD SECRET was in too deep in a starter race downstate in last but he was able to eke out a win here in his previous start facing a field not too much different from this one. He should be among the early leaders once again. Could surge past late. 4-CHOPPER is probably the quickest of these but he has been tiring late. However, if speed is holding, he is always a threat to take it all the way, especially at this short sprint distance.

There are no “locks” in life, especially in horse racing but it’s hard to imagine anyone in here beating 5-BE MY BESTIE. Of course, she was beaten in her first three starts. She has gotten progressively better with each passing start and lost last by a mere nose after leading throughout. And good luck to these guys and all others connected with TWO PHILS in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. 2-GO ON GIRL seems like the only one in here with even a slim chance of beating top choice. She might be the quickest from the gate and she ran well at Turfway in last in possibly her best effort ever. She’s making her seventh start and has never finished as high as second but this will be the first time that she will face Illinois-bred maidens. She was claimed from the connections of top choice in last and will be making her first start for a new barn. We’ll see how it goes. 6-FAST KYLIE didn’t beat a rival in her lone start but she’s adding blinkers and has had a couple good drills since her career debut. Sharp connections wouldn’t leave her at this level if they didn’t think she had a realistic chance. Don’t ignore.

2-STAN THE CAMERAMAN says catch me. He’s been narrowly beaten in his two local starts and seems to own a clear advantage in the speed department. The cutback in distance could be the icing on the cake. 6-SANTINO’S FANTASY finished up the track in all his races but all were against tougher on a much tougher circuit. He doesn’t normally show much early zip but think Emigh will be able to coax a little more out of him and not let top choice get away too easily. At the end, his “class” might prevail. 3-NOBLE CREEKER drops a few levels to make his local dirt debut. His only other local start was against maiden specials on the lawn. Guessing he’ll show something more at this level.

5-COUGAR ran well in both starts this meet but could be even better today. She’s completing the route-sprint-route cycle. There isn’t a lot of speed in this race and she could be the best of it. Might never look back. 3-ON A TOUR loves this track. She beat only one in last but think that was only a prep. She drops in class and stretches out for this. She’ll be flying late. Can run by them all. Not sure what to make of 1-NO NO NANNETTE. She was claimed from last, her local debut, and was taken by sharp connections. That race was also most likely a prep since she’s been a pure route runner. She’s stretching out today but not entirely sure how she handles dirt.

Not sure it will turn out that way but 1-AWESOME SUNDAY looks quite a bit quicker than her other speedy rivals. Of course she has been stopping badly at shorter distances but she has never been in this easy. Might last. 4-JUDY’S MS. OFFICER sports the highest recent speed figures and is in good form. Those “figs” don’t always translate well from synthetic dirt (no matter what they say) but she has raced well here in the past. Turns back in distance. Will be coming late and could run by the collapsing speed. 3-FREE LOVE is another turning back in distance. She’s been displaying good speed in routes but has tired badly in recent starts. The turn back in distance could allow her to finish with plenty left.

It was hard to separate the chances of 6-HIGH BROW and 7-UNIFIED DREAMS in my mind but High Brow finally won out, mainly to his affinity for this racetrack. He’s had eight local races; winning four and finishing second in the rest of them. He might not have the early speed that has been winning most of the races but he won’t be too far back and he’ll finish with authority. Unified Dreams makes his local debut and his first start for this barn after getting claimed from last. This gelding wired the field in last but he is just as capable when coming from off the pace. 2-PAPA’S LUCKY SEVEN adds blinkers. He hadn’t been effective since getting claimed by this barn, though he ran well here in the past, and the blinkers just might force him to focus a bit more. We’ll see.

4-WINNEMAC AVENUE has never finished better than fourth and never closer than seven lengths behind but he has been taking on some very tough rivals at Oaklawn. That certainly doesn’t make him a lock in this spot but he might just breathe a sigh of relief against this easier field, especially with the cutback in distance. 1-MERLOTTI stretches out. He has a running style and definitely a pedigree that is crying out for more distance. Top pick is likely to take a lot of action which means you could get a great price on this one. 3-MINNESOTA MOON benefitted from the addition of blinkers and led most of the way in last. But he was under pressure most of the way and just couldn’t last. There doesn’t appear to be that much other speed in this race though I would expect stretcher Blame Shifter to press him early and maybe even steal the lead.