Handicapper Tips & Picks

Had no option other than 1-OPTION. He does tend to tire late but he switches to the sharp apprentice in the irons and Manny has been able to hold these tiring speed types together all meet. Might be able to do it with this one. 2-TEQUILLA REVOLUTION had a wire-to-wire win and a narrow loss in his last two races. However, those races were at Will Rogers Downs and I’m not certain of the quality of the rivals he faced. Guess we’ll see. 6-STORM BORN drops. He, like so many in here, possesses good speed. Might put it to the best use at this level.

Had no option other than 1-OPTION. He does tend to tire late but he switches to the sharp apprentice in the irons and Manny has been able to hold these tiring speed types together all meet. Might be able to do it with this one. 2-TEQUILLA REVOLUTION had a wire-to-wire win and a narrow loss in his last two races. However, those races were at Will Rogers Downs and I’m not certain of the quality of the rivals he faced. Guess we’ll see. 6-STORM BORN drops. He, like so many in here, possesses good speed. Might put it to the best use at this level.

2-PINEDALE kind of looks like a no brainer after his sharp win and high speed figure in his first start after getting claimed by this barn but you have to remember that race was scheduled for turf and the runners he was meeting weren’t necessarily at their best on dirt. But it was a good win and he’s arguably taking on easier today, though most of those runners already went through their conditions. 5-GOLD BUCKLE was trounced in last couple at Oaklawn but those were salty groups he was facing in the starter ranks. His barn has been doing well here with three wins from 13 local starts but another seven finishes in the money. 3-BEEALEA hasn’t had much luck versus allowance company, including last where he finished 11 lengths behind top choice. However, he was dropped into starter company two races back and came within a neck of beating Moment, who has nine wins, and other assorted in-the-money finishes, in his last 15 starts.

2-PINEDALE kind of looks like a no brainer after his sharp win and high speed figure in his first start after getting claimed by this barn but you have to remember that race was scheduled for turf and the runners he was meeting weren’t necessarily at their best on dirt. But it was a good win and he’s arguably taking on easier today, though most of those runners already went through their conditions. 5-GOLD BUCKLE was trounced in last couple at Oaklawn but those were salty groups he was facing in the starter ranks. His barn has been doing well here with three wins from 13 local starts but another seven finishes in the money. 3-BEEALEA hasn’t had much luck versus allowance company, including last where he finished 11 lengths behind top choice. However, he was dropped into starter company two races back and came within a neck of beating Moment, who has nine wins, and other assorted in-the-money finishes, in his last 15 starts.

2-PINEDALE kind of looks like a no brainer after his sharp win and high speed figure in his first start after getting claimed by this barn but you have to remember that race was scheduled for turf and the runners he was meeting weren’t necessarily at their best on dirt. But it was a good win and he’s arguably taking on easier today, though most of those runners already went through their conditions. 5-GOLD BUCKLE was trounced in last couple at Oaklawn but those were salty groups he was facing in the starter ranks. His barn has been doing well here with three wins from 13 local starts but another seven finishes in the money. 3-BEEALEA hasn’t had much luck versus allowance company, including last where he finished 11 lengths behind top choice. However, he was dropped into starter company two races back and came within a neck of beating Moment, who has nine wins, and other assorted in-the-money finishes, in his last 15 starts.

2-APOLLO U ANYWHERE isn’t likely to be following anyone in this race; at least early. She wired the field two races back and came close to doing it again in last. Meets others that like the front end but think she has the edge in that department. 1-HER GOLD MINE turns back in distance. She’s been showing speed but tiring in recent route races but with the turn back, she could finish with a ton of run, especially if top choice gets caught in a speed duel. 3-GHAALEB’S MAGIC just missed while meeting somewhat easier company in last. That was his second race of the year. In this, his third start, he should be at the top of his game.

2-APOLLO U ANYWHERE isn’t likely to be following anyone in this race; at least early. She wired the field two races back and came close to doing it again in last. Meets others that like the front end but think she has the edge in that department. 1-HER GOLD MINE turns back in distance. She’s been showing speed but tiring in recent route races but with the turn back, she could finish with a ton of run, especially if top choice gets caught in a speed duel. 3-GHAALEB’S MAGIC just missed while meeting somewhat easier company in last. That was his second race of the year. In this, his third start, he should be at the top of his game.

1-IAN GLASS gets the nod but it’s almost imperceptible. Like the speed he showed in last going a mile in a stakes-quality allowance race but this is a different ballgame. His speed could be tempered a bit by the turn back in distance. He has never won a race at this short distance but he could be ready to break that streak. Not sure what to with 6-REAL NEWS. He has raced for some of the top barns in the country through frequent claims. He’s making his first start of the year with a series of good drills under him, however, and not sure he’s going to be ready to tackle such a salty group. 9-KENNESAW finished far back in his first turf start of the year but he’s taking on somewhat easier company today. He had a couple sharp turf sprints here last fall. He could finish with a ton of run with the turn back in distance.

I’m not in love with 5-WILMA MANKILLER but she does seem like the only real speed in this race. She showed little here last year. She won her first local start of the meet. Shouldn’t have to work too hard to get to the lead and just put it on cruise control. 3-RAINY MOUNTAIN didn’t show a thing in her debut but has gone of to score two wins and finished second four times since her lackluster debut. Today she adds blinkers which could help her focus. It could help even more if one of her rivals was kind enough to pressure top pick early. 4-STYLE won her last two and three of her last five in Tampa. She usually comes from far off the pace but she was claimed from last and maybe her new connections will be able to coax a little more speed out of her. 2-PALACE MAGIC might be the only one capable of pressing the early pace. She has displayed good speed at times but doesn’t always show it. 

6-PAT’S PROPERTY could sneak in under the radar. He ran well at Oaklawn all meet, with a win, a second and a third in his three starts in Arkansas. Good tactical speed should have him laying right behind the early pace and he could be sent to the front when they come out of the far turn. 7-READTHECLIFFNOTES has been so good here for so long. In his life, he won 12 of 26 starts but his Hawthorne record in move impressive with nine wins from 12 starts. However, he raced only two times last year and he finished last by 24 in his lone 2023 start. Which horse shows up? There should be plenty of pace to set things up for 3-NOTARY. His races at Oaklawn this year haven’t been all that sharp but this promises to be a good wake-up spot.

6-PAT’S PROPERTY could sneak in under the radar. He ran well at Oaklawn all meet, with a win, a second and a third in his three starts in Arkansas. Good tactical speed should have him laying right behind the early pace and he could be sent to the front when they come out of the far turn. 7-READTHECLIFFNOTES has been so good here for so long. In his life, he won 12 of 26 starts but his Hawthorne record in move impressive with nine wins from 12 starts. However, he raced only two times last year and he finished last by 24 in his lone 2023 start. Which horse shows up? There should be plenty of pace to set things up for 3-NOTARY. His races at Oaklawn this year haven’t been all that sharp but this promises to be a good wake-up spot.

Hard to get past 5-MY LIPS ARE SEALED. She’s been an East Coast fixture with races at Saratoga, Belmont, Aqueduct, Gulfstream and most recently Tampa. She really hasn’t been all that successful with three wins from 16 races but think she’s going to be meeting a significantly easier group of rivals in her local debut. 8-LEA RO, like top choice, ships in from Tampa. She’s moving up in class but there is a world of speed ahead of her which should set up for her late run. 12-SAFE TRAVELS is a speedy runner that figures if he draws into the race. Last, but maybe not least, is 10-GYRUZA. He’s coming off an easy dirt win against maiden claimers. Blinks on seemed to help him greatly. But the reason for his inclusion here is his connections and pedigree. He’s bred to love the lawn and his barn has sent out a number of homebreds by Gio Ponti that ran surprisingly well at huge odds. Might want to include him in vertical gimmicks.