Handicapper Tips & Picks

Think this race is 3-FORWARD CURVE’s to lose. Good inside speed, short run into the turn, and a rider that gets them out of the gate as good as anybody should give this gelding a fairly easy lead. He ran well enough in previous turf races and carried his speed most of the way in all of them. He’ll have to be caught.  7-GATE CREW could be tough. His recent races don’t give the whole story. He’s been running on dirt without a lot of success. However, he always faced much tougher on the lawn and more than held his own. Wakes up with the switch in surfaces. 4-PINBALLER had a pair of turf races, both maidens, and ran well in both. Surprising that they never tried him on turf again after that 2021 maiden win. But, he’s back on the lawn today and he might have the speed necessary to challenge top choice.

6-SWEET FRAULEIN was claimed for $15,000 in late March and then dropped into a $6250 NW3 in her first start for this barn. She romped, making every pole a winning one. Surprisingly her rider from that start will be the pilot of a different runner today. But she looks like the best of the speed once again. We could see a repeat performance. 2-BERTRADA ran well in both local starts, finishing third in last after a second-place finish in her local debut. She’ll be tracking the pace today, hoping top choice comes back to her. 4-NIFF switched barns after last. She’s getting the rider that rode top choice to victory in last. Might be a reason.

1-TIMEHASCOME has been great since getting to Hawthorne. He won his first two starts and then narrowly missed in last after getting away poorly. He’s among the fastest if he goes for the lead but he also showed in last that he’s good from off the pace. Looks tough either way. 5-IRONMAN RICHIE might be a little quicker than top choice though it’s hard to tell. He was caught in a speed duel in last with Bourbon Teddy while Timehascome was overcoming a poor start. But if he can break on top and not duel for the lead, there’s a chance he can lead all the way. 2-SPEEDY G could get close. He’s completing the sprint-route-sprint cycle. He’s going to be coming from off the pace and there is plenty of speed to set things up for his late move.

5-STAR OF TOMORROW fresh off graduation at Oaklawn looks like the one to catch. She’s not the only one in here with speed but she did have a couple good races at that tough Oaklawn meet. 4-FREE LOVE takes a much-needed class drop. She appears to have enough speed to challenge top pick early and she could thrive with the drop to the right level. 2-BELLS OF JOY could get the trip. She looks like the best closer in this speed-filled field. However, she’s making her 30^th start with only the one win to her credit. Hard to like.

3-GET NONE almost looks like a standout here. She hasn’t raced since October but she’s been training for a while. She has been a specialist at this distance, winning seven times in her 10 five-furlong races. Rider Chris Emigh has been aboard for seven of this mare’s 14 victories and he’s back as pilot today. 10-RARE ACTION ATTACK is worth another look. She has been competitive in most of her turf sprints, usually versus better company. Not sure if she’s capable of beating top choice but she’s a longshot capable of adding a lot of value to vertical gimmicks. 8-GO STORMIN GIRL isn’t as quick as some in here which means she isn’t likely to be one of the many fighting for the early lead. But she does have enough zip to race right behind the early leaders and she’ll be in the right position to make the first move if that group tires.

8-UNCAPTURED DREAM could turn out to be the quickest of these. He’s making his first start for this barn while shipping from a tougher circuit and adding blinkers should only enhance his natural speed. 7-MAD DRAGON has the pedigree and the connections. His drills, while not very fast, have been sufficient to get him into form. Can win at first asking. 5-GUST OF WIND will be coming late. Not sure he’ll close soon enough or fast enough but it does seem likely that he’ll get close enough to finish in the top three. 

8-OMAHA RED adds blinkers. He ran with them once, in the second start of his career. They didn’t seem to help but that was the only turf race of his career and he finished far back. But today they might help his focus. He had little chance against the lone speed in last and this field came up pretty tough but expecting him to be a major player. 6-MALPAIS has some back class. Versatile runner hasn’t been very effective so far this meet but willing to give him another chance. 7-COMISKEY PARK teased in many race before finally breaking through to win last. He’s among the best of the speed but just as capable when coming from off the pace.

1-GETTING DOWN makes her turf debut. She tired late in her only race but it was a strong prep. She has speed, the rail and a pedigree that suggests she’ll love the lawn. Beautifully-bred 10-BLAME NELLIE hasn’t shown a thing so far but she’s another making her turf debut and her barn is shipping her in to do it. Turns back in distance. Could come flying late. 4-GO ON GIRL is plenty quick. She tired in her lone turf start but she was favored in that race. Has enough speed to give top choice a run for the money.