Handicapper Tips & Picks

There appears to be four evenly-matched contenders in this six-horse field. Three of them will likely vie for the lead. That leaves 6-PRANCIPANTS as the best closer. She wired the field in her most recent start but that was a route. With the turn back in distance she’s not likely to display the same kind of speed as the other three early burners but she just might be able to run them down late. 3-APOLLO YOU ANYWHERE ran well in two of her three races this year. She wired the field in last, finished up the track on a muddy track versus starters in her previous race and narrowly lost in another starter in her first race of the year. 4-SNOOTY dominated in last after narrowly losing her first two races of the year. Today, however, she’s going to be facing plenty of early speed, including Apollo You Anywhere, who defeated her in her previous start. But she is quick. If she breaks on top she might never look back.

5-PALACE MAGIC looks tough. She couldn’t handle starter company in last downstate but she finished second in her previous two races and she was in against much tougher than these. 6-SHE'S XTREMELY HOT is probably better going long and this might only be a drill but she does race for sharp connections and she gets a sharp rider in the irons. Expect a late attack. 3-ALL AMERICAN JEWEL could improve in her second trip over the track. She finished third in her first start of the meet. Can better than today.

This was a tough race to handicap and I’m still not sure if my thinking is correct. Most of the runners have some degree of early speed but probably not a clear edge. So, I landed on 1-EGOMANIAC he has no speed but he often finishes well. On the other hand, he’s making his 40^th start with only the two victories and none for a year and a half. He would be better at a longer distance but he might still be able to nail them late. 7-TRIPLE CHROME, with the stretch out, is probably going to be the quickest of the bunch. He finished second in his only previous dirt route race so it’s surprising that they haven’t tested him going long since that race almost a year ago. Maybe he’ll thrive at this distance, especially if the speed bias manifests again. 3-WILDWOOD’S WARRIOR is lightly raced compared to the rest but his last race was awful. He was claimed from that start so we’ll have to see if he can bounce back for his new connections.

Another race that anyone can win. Not impressed with how any of those that have run have raced so let’s go with the well-bred first timer 4-GOING AT IT. His works have been on the slow side but they have been steady. It’s a bit of an ask for a horse making their debut around two turns but it’s not impossible. 7-MINNESOTA MOON looks like the best speed. He led most of the way two starts back and again displayed good speed in last before caving in around a half mile in. How long will he last today? 1-BLAME SHIFTER split the field containing many members of this field in his last start. However, he never really showed any run. Maybe he’ll improve in his second two-turn trip.

Wow! Another “impossible” race. Can we surprise with 2-MODIFIER? He’s never shown much but he does have a good turf pedigree and it’s worth noting that he was entered on turf for his career debut but the race was moved to the main track and the turf season ended before he could get another shot on the lawn 5-RIGHT ON RICHIE, morning-line favorite is probably the one to beat, simply because of the big class drop. He does have a turf win to his credit. However, he loves the front end and that could be a very busy place in this field. He might wire them but he might also fold under pressure. 7-IZEONDECK hasn’t shown it lately but he might be the best closer in this field. He had a couple good turf races in Minnesota last year. If the projected fast pace does take place, he could fly by them all. 

1-MOMENT could continue to roll. Winner of last two won 17 of his career 53 starts and has also been victorious in five of his six local starts, finishing second in the other. 4-DANVILLE seems to have the best chance of beating top choice. His local record hasn’t been quite as good but he has been knocking at the door while often meeting tougher rivals. He was beaten as the odds-on favorite in last. Could make emends at a square price. 6-JEFF THE LION tired after dueling for the lead from the start in last. He wound up finishing a length behind Danville. However, he doesn’t need the lead. He’s been quite capable when laying off the pace.

Have to give 3-TWIRLING ROSES another chance. He beat only one in his last start but he had been so good on this track for so long prior to that race, winning seven of his 13 local appearances. Switches back to Chris Emigh as the pilot and they won both times they teamed up in the past. 2-PAPA ROCKET had no chance after a poor break in his first start after getting claimed by this barn. There should be plenty of pace to set up for this late runner, even if he doesn’t break alertly. 4-TEE BURN does well on this track. He tired downstate in last but he had been in good form for months prior to that race. Can bounce back.

3-COMMAND POINT looks tough. Good late move should have her sailing late. The biggest question is whether this race is long enough for her. We’ll soon find out.6-WANDA STRONG has the distinction of being the only one with a win at today’s distance. She’s dropping back in for a tag. She finished third in her last turf start which turned out to be a “key” race. She could be a major player at this level at a great price. 2-GHAALEB’S DREAMS is hard to gauge. She narrowly lost her only turf start, racing at this level, but she hasn’t run in a year and a half. Would expect this barn to have her ready off the long layoff but there’s no guarantee.