Handicapper Tips & Picks

No guarantees that this race will be on the lawn since we are supposed to get considerable rain overnight and only one in here has off-track experience but we’ll see. Think the pair of Rivelli-trained runners will grab the most attention and probably deserve it. 3-MOMENT TO SHINE ran well in her debut at Churchill in November and finished third in that tough maiden event. However, she shipped to Turfway after that and finished up the track as the odds-on favorite. Did she not handle the synthetic surface or was it something else? Anyway, she’s back with useful if not quick drills and she’ll be running with Lasix for the first time. 5-SWEET LITTLE LISA, the other Rivelli runner, boasts much quicker drills. She’s making her debut. Wouldn’t be surprised if it was a winning one. 2-GO ON GIRL is worth consideration. She’s jumping in class but she does have turf experience and, maybe more importantly, she flies from the gate. We’ve had quite a few “unexpected” winners in these turf sprints who get away unchallenged and can’t be caught. 6-ANGEL EXPRESS might also be capable of surprising. Her career debut was in a turf sprint here in the fall. She displayed good speed but faded late. Like her recent drills.

3-SWEET FRAULEIN has to be caught. She easily wired the field in her first start after getting claimed but was able to grab an easy lead and still couldn’t hang on. However, she does look like the only speed. Might last. Would probably make 2-LITTLE BELLA my top pick but she hasn’t raced since 2020 and seven of her career 10 starts were on turf. On the other hand, she’s been training well and her barn is having a terrific meet. 1-BALI BABY ships from a tougher circuit. She beat only a total of three rivals from her three races this year but might awaken in her local debut. 

This seems like a pretty evenly-matched contest. I’m not in love with 5-ON A TOUR but she does make the most sense. She was claimed from last, a winning effort, and returns at the same level. Her barn also entered a “rabbit” in this race that should ensure a fast pace for this mare. She loves this track and there is plenty of speed to set up for her late run. Like the way 6-BERTRADA comes into this race. She has improved with every local start and simply dominated in last. Don’t think she’s outclassed at this level but she’s stretching out and might get caught up in a speed duel. Don’t think the connections of 3-TIMELESS GLORY would bother to ship this mare in if they didn’t think she had a legitimate chance. It helps that she’s dropping to get lowest level ever. 

Most of the fillies and mares in this race face each other often and take turns visiting the winner’s circle. But 4-SEAWARD might hold the edge. She won three of her last four races. Only one of those victories came here but she has basically been in good form all year. Good tactical speed allows her to run well on or off the pace. 6-LONG TALL WOMAN, as usual, is the one to beat. She finished second in her last three races versus similar after winning her previous three. 7-FIRST KITTEN is another in great form. She finished in the money in seven of her eight starts this year, winning three times. She looks like the best of the speed and is always a threat to wire the field. 

Another race that may or may not be contested on the lawn. However, few in here are really turf runners so it might not matter. I’ll go with 11-LUCY'S LOOKIN LEFT just in case. She’s entered for main track only. She’s been facing better recently with some success. Has been good here in the past. Adds blinkers for this race. But especially like that she’s a closer in a race filled with front runners. 3-GOOD MONGOLIA finished up the track in last but she did win her previous two starts. She hasn’t shown good turf form lately but she has been among the best of turf and she has been good on off tracks. 6-STACY ATTACK never won on turf but she just finished second at this level on the lawn and she won her previous race here on dirt. 

Mighty tough race. Going to go with 1-GOLDEN HORNET, however. Think he’s the speediest of the speed. He wired the field in last. If he can get the jump on the rest of the speed in here, he can do it again. 7-OMAHA RED can get the trip. He’s another coming off a local win. He has had seven races here, winning three times and finishing second another three. Will be racing right behind the speed. 4-WENT WEST doesn’t always fire but when he does, he’s as tough as the come. Seems to have more versatility than most in here and is capable on or off the pace.  

1-DYNABLUE could be the one on or off the lawn. He finished third at this level in his most recent race on turf but he has faced tougher for most of his career. He’s not a strong choice by any means but he could be best in this wide open race. 7-IOYA AGAIN is another that has been successful on turf. He won’t be anywhere close in the early going but he might just wave as he flies by in the stretch. 10-ANDTHETHUNDERROLLS has been racing over his head since early last fall. Finally drops. Should be a major player on or off the turf.