Handicapper Tips & Picks

First of four on the grass for the Thursday card. With the class drop, 2-DRIVEN ONE figures to be very tough. Trainer Ingrid Mason won a pair last week and the barn looks to be heating up. This one should be able to rate close early in a race that doesn't have a ton of pace. 6-IOYA AGAIN has run a pair of good races at this level on the meet. He just needs some pace to close into as he tends to sit back early and make one run in the lane. 1-DYNABLUE is another that tends to rate and rally, but not from as far back as Ioya Again. He has also run two good turf races recently and may benefit from a ground saving trip.

Not much pace in this race which could benefit 1-HIGH BROW from the inside. He scratched from a tough turf race on Sunday for this spot and has won on the lead in the back. Let's see if he can clear and back the pace down early. 5-DANVILLE was a sharp winner last out. He tracked the early leaders before moving at the top of the lane to take over. He likes the track and could get a similar trip once again. 4-GLOBAL EMPIRE figures to settle in the second flight and look to pick off horses late. The lack of pace to chase may hurt him slightly but he has had a solid year and fits at this level.

No standouts in here so worth looking for a bit of a price. 2-ARRINGTON tries the turf for the first time as she ran well on dirt at a similar level two starts back. She should be able to rate closer from the inside as the pace isn't likely to be too quick. 7-LOTTA ROSES is overdue for the maiden score. She ran a good race last out as she led late before being caught nearing the wire. Look for her to try to clear some horses from the outside early to get position into the first turn. 5-TEXAS PRINCESS also improved with the move to turf last out. She figures to tuck in just behind the early leaders and should move forward in the stretch.

Only five but a really tough allowance bunch as some shippers come in for this spot. The pace may be contested early which could help 5-FROSHADO as she ships in for trainer Eoin Harty. She ran a couple of big races at Tampa and chased a tough bunch at Keeneland in her last. She comes in off a recent bullet drill and looks sharp off the layoff. 4-BLACK FOREST has also faced some tough company. She tried the grass last out but turns back to the dirt sprint today as she has enough speed to contend early. 1-WILMA MANKILLER looks for three in a row as she has been sharp in her last two. She cleared and never looked back in her last and figures to be on the gas from the start once again.

A good turf allowance with a lot of different directions to look. 2-CHROME ATTACK ran a nice race in her last as she settled before rallying in the lane. She gets some pace to chase as she may look to tuck in early and hope traffic clears at the top of the lane. Really liked the effort of 9-BLAME NELLIE off the layoff last out. She got a perfect trip and was able to catch the leader nearing the wire. She drew outside that day and does so once again in here. 4-PEACH COBBLER has speed and some back class which could make her tough. She got bottled up a bit along the inside in her last and may look to rate much closer early today.

There's a couple that figure to go in here which could set things up for 3-GHAALEB'S APPEAL today. She rallied in her last couple and just missed behind the lone speed in her last. With a more contentious pace upfront today, it may be the perfect setup for her. 2-KITTEN ROCKS ran well on the grass last out but figures nicely in here on the class drop. Look for her to also sit back early and make one move in the lane. 4-FOGGY KITTEN has speed as she will look to outkick Little Bella to the front. If she clears easily she may never look back, but if she has company then it could compromise her chances.

Taking a shot in the finale as 8-ICE SHARD runs for a barn that has had a solid meet and the leading owner in the meet. He was intended for turf in his debut and stayed in when the race came off the grass. He had a very troubled start but recovered to move forwardly in the lane. He could step up off that effort at a price. 7-EVEN THE WIND is a horse I have followed since the spring in Tampa. He ran well on the grass here last out and figures to move up today. He also figures to take a good amount of action in this spot. 2-TEN COUNT has speed as he may try to clear and wire this field. He makes his first start out of the meet and potentially could be the fastest to the front. Let's see if he is ready off the layoff.