Handicapper Tips & Picks

What to do. This track has been so speed favoring all meet, I was caught off guard on Thursday when almost every one of the runners came from off the pace to win. So what will today bring? 2-SUPERSTAR DIVA might be one of the few in here capable of winning on the lead or off the pace, although since she’s in the first race, her rider isn’t going to be aware of any kind of bias. But, she is good at the distance and she’s had three wins and four thirds from her last seven races. 3-SMILE AT THE STORM has improved with each passing local start. She was a dominating wire-to-wire winner in last making her two-for-two at the distance. Wouldn’t be surprised if she wired them again. 6-FANCY EMPRESS added blinkers for her last race. Although they didn’t seem to help that much, she only split the field, number of runners came out of that contest to run well their next time out. She certainly figures here. 

4-BERTRADA looks logical. She did finish in the money in two of her last three races, including her local debut. However, she’s had plenty of chances to earn her third win and keeps coming up short. Slim pick. 6-MY LADY SLEW looks like the best of the speed. However, she ran out of gas in both starts this year and she’ll have to try to carry her speed and extra sixteenth of a mile in this spot. 5-AUNT STELLA is the only one in the race with more than two victories. She is a one-paced runner who seems likely to be racing fairly close to the lead. She could inherit the front end late if the rest of the speed fades again.

Will this finally be the day? 1-DASH TO THE CASH has looked like the one to beat in virtually all of his races but he remains a maiden after 15 starts. This late runner owns good stretch acceleration but he wasn’t able to capitalize on it with the speed favoring conditions he often faces. But closers thrived on Thursday. If that condition prevails, he could finally find himself in the winner’s circle. He hasn’t shown much speed so far but 2-SILVER CHILLER switches to a rider with a seven-pound weight advantage who has been great at getting horses out of the gate quickly. Without a lot of other speed in this race, they could leave with the lead and never look back. 4-MAN ON ATTACK has shown decent speed but little stamina. Maybe that will change today.

Yep. Somebody will win this race. Guessing it will be 2-HEY MA. She looks like the best speed and might be able to carry to all the way with the cutback in distance. 1-SWEET FRAULEIN would seem to be much the best in this spot but she was claimed for $15k in her last start and drops in for $6250 today. Not exactly a vote of confidence unless they just want to cash a bet or are taking the risk of losing a few bucks to get her eligible for starter allowances though she doesn’t seem talented enough to thrive under those conditions. The lightly-raced 3-BUMPER GIRL just graduated. Her numbers don’t match up with some of her rivals but at least she’s in good form.

There is plenty of speed in this short field but 7-FIRST KITTEN could be just a little quicker than the rest of them. Daylight allowance winner of last has always been good here. She won four of her eight local races and finished in the money another three time. An alert break could have her on the lead from start to finish. Of course, if top pick doesn’t break alertly or if she winds up having to fight for the lead from a long time, 2-LONG TALL WOMAN can fly by them all. She also loves it at Hawthorne, with seven wins from her 18 lifetime starts (17 at Hawthorne). She finished second at this level in her most recent start but could be poised to avenge that loss today. 1-SAMARITA finished a half-length behind Long Tall Woman in her last start. She led for much of that race but ultimately tired late. She is, however, making her third start of the meet. Could be better prepared to stay competitive throughout.

Great race. No one really stands out. However, was impressed with the win by 2-UNCASHED in last. He set blistering fractions and was still able to draw off under a hand ride. He’ll be meeting more accomplished runners here, including a couple stakes winners, but if he breaks sharply like that again, there might be no catching him. 7-OMAHA RED’s both wins were scored on this track. Lately he’s been taking on tough company at Oaklawn and Fair Grounds. He’s quick from the gate but also has the capacity to make a late run. Don’t really know what to make of 6-ITS BOBS BUSINESS. He won both his races against Minnesota breds, including a $100k stakes race. He’s meeting open company for the first time but his wins were so effortless and dominating, you have to figure that he’s capable of running with this type. 4-LOOKIN FOR BALA, the other state-bred stakes winner, ran well in all his races. He did finish a couple lengths behind Uncashed the last time they met but, other than that rival, he might be the best of the speed. Could be right there throughout.

Good betting race. This field appears to be pretty evenly matched. Going to take a bit of a flyer on 3-QUILTING PARTY. She was well beaten as the favorite in her first start of the meet but she had a good work since and she’s stretching out to what has been her best distance. In three races at a mile seventy, she won two and was barely beaten in the other. 8-AALIYAH EZRI wired the field, on a muddy track at Oaklawn in her most recent start. She has always faced what might be considered better rivals but with the exception of last, and a turf race at Ellis, she hasn’t shown a lot. But, with the class relief, she could be tough. 4-MAKEMEBELIEVE finished second in her lone local start, a length behind top choice. She owns competitive speed. Might fight for the lead throughout.

4-TROY OUNCE seeks to wire the field. He did just that two races back and just failed to last in his most recent start. He could face some early pressure which could compromise his chances but he is meeting slightly easier than he did in that last race and he might be able to put them away. 1-WHERE’D THE DAY GO earned his third career victory in his last start but that was his first win in years. He owns decent speed which will have him in early competition but don’t think he’s quite as quick as top choice. 6-BEHAVIN MYSELF is another with decent speed though not quite as much as top choice. He’ll be stalking the pace hoping Troy Ounce runs out of gas.