Handicapper Tips & Picks

Tough race. The most logical runners are coming off layoffs and the possible favorite is eligible for a non-winners of three. But going to go with 7-NORTHERN ALLIANCE. She didn’t show a thing in her lone race this year but that was a dirt race versus allowance company. She narrowly lost her two races at this level late last year. She could be flying late. 3-COMMAND POINT is eligible for a NW3 but she ran well in her first start of the meet after a couple good races in Tampa earlier in the year. 5-EMBARRASSING used to be a good one but she hasn’t been very effective lately and she hasn’t finished in the money since 2021. However, she’s never been in this easy on the lawn. Can awaken.  

4-GHALEEB'S APPEAL does have some appeal. He could possibly be the best closer in this field. Would like him better if this race was six furlongs or longer but if the pace is heated enough, he might be able to take them late. 6-PLAY TWENTY will draw plenty of action and might deserve it. He has a lot of “1’s” in his running lines and he did win two of his last three. However, he’s going to be meeting some other speed in this race and he might not even be the quickest from the gate. Will he prove to be vulnerable? 3-COOKIN ROSES is one that can challenge for the lead and he might be even quicker than Play Twenty from the gate. Of course, if one or the other speed runners doesn’t run, the remaining speed could be long gone.  

6-ALPINE GHOST might have finally found the right spot. This isn’t a big field but there should still be enough pace to set up for him. He should never be too far back and he could outfinish them all. Recent reclaim 1-ROGER MCQUEEN and recent claim 4-TIMEHASCOME could be vying for the lead and might be joined by recent winner Lucky Shot, right behind, pressing the pace. I think Timehascome will be first from the gate but the other two have been facing better rivals. 

4-ACT A FOOL has been impressive in his two local starts. He broke his maiden by five here on opening weekend and came back with another romp in his first start against winners. Can’t see anyone challenging him early. Can cruise home by daylight once again. 5-FAMILY TRADITION has never really shown any kind of speed but he’s a sprinter stretching out which would seem to enhance whatever speed he possesses. He won his last, his first race for this barn, but he might be taking on a tougher group here. 1-MILLARD'S SMILE and 2-ICY BLAST have shown some early zip in the past but think they would get used too hard trying to keep Act A Fool honest on the front end. They could be in a fight for second place. 

There is little speed to speak of in this race so the frontrunner duties might fall to either 2-SOUPER FORTUNE or 6-TIME HEIST. Time Heist used to be very quick but last fall they had him running from off the pace, which didn’t really work out. But in last, the race that made him eligible for this contest, he went right after the lead, put that rival away, and proceeded to draw off by daylight. Meets tougher in this spot but if he does turn out to be the only speed, he’ll never look back. Souper Fortune doesn’t always display speed but he could be as quick as any in here if they choose to send him. 4-BAREFOOTBOOTLEGGER came alive after they turned him back in distance. Winner of last two would probably have an even better chance if this race was at six furlongs or even six and a half, but expecting him to start motoring in midstretch.  

9-BLOOMING GARDEN might wind up being ignored in the wagering once again but he did finish second in his last two, he’ll be racing right behind the early leaders, and he’s getting a bit of a weight break with the switch to an apprentice rider. 5-UNCLE NICK hasn’t been in the best of form but he’s never been in this easy. Expecting a big turnaround with the drop in claiming price. 1-AWESOME WILLY tries to make it two in a row. He pretty much wired the field in last but he was clearly out of gas late and barely hung on. If he faces much early pressure again today, he just might fold. 

7-PRADA'S MIRACLE split the fields in her two previous turf races but she was in against better. Ignore her last couple on dirt. This will be the first time that she meets maiden claimers on the lawn. It could be graduation day. 10-MY JOJO makes only her third start. Like the way she ran in last when she made a good middle move to get into contention. That experience and the slightly longer distance of this race can work in her favor. 8-PRETTY IN PRADO never ran on turf but she is bred for it. Good speed should have her racing in close contention early. Could stay there throughout.