Handicapper Tips & Picks

Garcia sends out a pair in the opener both deserving of attention in this spot. #1 ZUPITA is upgraded as she makes her second start at the claiming level this season, the right drop from the allowance races. She can be upgraded from the 5/29 race making a RUSH (after TROUBLE_S) X_FLOW before losing ground/NO_FINISH late. Her RunStyle, weight break, the inside draw could present a subtle pace advantage. Her stablemate #9 NEVER TO MANY HUGS ran in the 5/29 common race, slightly longer odds than ZUPITA and overall similar C+ OptixGRADE effort. She moved up at the level on 6/10 making a CLOSE after a SLOG/TROUBLE_S. 

Garcia comes back in Race 2 with #5 ZIPPIN PIPPIN, the projected favorite and very strong in that role. She holds a major speed figure edge over the others with experience in this field and even a class edge making her first start on this circuit. 

#3 MIDNIGHT GRIND should be sitting on a top effort today. She recorded some of her most competitive races and figures here at HS Indy last season, those race when in against Special Weight company. She is moving forward in her form cycle into this race as the third start off the layoff. #6 ISABEL DE CLARE should be considered in this spot especially if she is any where near the morning line. Her B- OptixGRADE race in for the $20k tag at Churchill Downs on 6/2 puts her right on par for this race and competitive with the others in this field. 

The horses with racing experience all return from the 6/20 common race and all recording the same C+ OptixGRADE for the effort and without much excuse especially in the case of #5 SHAGBARK as the favorite and one that could take up that role here again. 

A first time starter could jump up in this spot. #2 HAWKEYE is worth a mention has some steady consistent works with potential intent. Haran already has turned out a live, debut winning first time starter this meet called Leo Springs (7.90-1) with Joshua Morales aboard winning the common race on 6/20. #9 HAY BILL debuting for Eric Foster; he does not have the overwhelming stats with fts/juveniles though is capable with the right runner. This could be one of those runners holding a consistent work tab and calling up a top rider in Ramos. 

The scratches change this race and likely to see #7 BECAUSE THE NIGHT even shorter than they were projected with the field intact. #10 MOODLIGHT JOKER the other FTS in this race is going out for capable connections and preferred as a newer face from the other two that have run. 

From the early pace, #3 ON THE RAYDAR could hold the early advantage. He ran a top effort (HARD) with the win on May 17th and has been given the 47-day recovery by Klopp coming back for this race. #1 BONNE CHERE has buried form over this course going back to last year. He has held his form this season and should move up returning to the allowance level from the higher OFR/stakes race on June 7th - another with slight 26-day form cycle freshening. His stablemate #9 FOLLOW THE MONEY has some class concerns back at the allowance level, though has held his form and projects to hold that form here. 

The overall race record is tougher to trust with #7 VICTOR'S DEAL though there should be price compensation here. He has competitive races including a B OptixGRADE effort in the 6/15 common race and similar going back to the B OptixGRADE on May 25th.

#8 WILLADEAN showed run in her debut making a WIDE MOVE and enough visually to suggest IMPROVE. Her second start was similar, though had a complex EX - EXCUSE with the TROUBLES+. She comes back today with the added ground and retaining Pedroza while also adding the blinkers, some changes to suggest further intent. #9 BARB'S VORTEX also returns with some changes and project a move forward in the second start for Glyshaw. 

Number wise #4 ZIPSY ROSE LEE has recorded some of the higher, consistent figures in this field and with the expected double-digit odds is tough to ignore. #10 TOURASTAR holds similar figures and possible upside in just her third start on this circuit/statebred level, though must show a move forward from the pair of B- OptixGRADE (similar for #7 BIRDSOFAFEATHER) to win today. 

#5 SISTER SAINT showed a lot of run after the SLOG to CLOSE (and GALLOP+) on June 8th. In addition, her form cycle shows an "every other" pattern to further suggest a move forward and return to a top effort here. 

#10 IRISH TAP has a very subtle trip at this condition back in May 18th. She returns today with a freshening as well as a rider change to Orlando Mojica, an suggest intent back under claiming conditions. 

#11 TATTERED HEART fits logically off her current form, figures and showing up first time on this circuit off the claim for Genaro Garcia. 

#3 MOWINS has been facing much tougher this season from class, purse and OFR. The placement has "buried" his form and made it tougher for him to compete off that placement. He has been given the near two month freshening for this race and should be in the right level and company to compete. His form over this course going back to his juvenile season was strong both on numbers and class and that carried to last year where he was competitive and often had some "trips" tough luck. 

This is one of those tricky statebred maiden claiming events where here are the "logicals" and others that could jump up and create chaos. #6 JACK THE BIRD being on of those that has shown some run in spots this season at the Special Weight level and takes the class drop to run for a tag for the first time. That same class change comes into play for #11 RUNNING SMART one that has had some GATE issues though has also shown run at times in the race and could be intent today with the shift to maiden claiming company and picking up blinkers. #12 RACING IN MY HEART also finds class relief with today's event the lowest OFR he has run in his career. Some further intent could be in play with the class change and Pedroza taking over as a positive for this barn.

#3 GRAY MIKE is another "wild card" in this race and could find himself in the right time and place to compete. He started off in Special Weight company here and with outside posts playing further against him. Since those races he has been running against open company and makes the change back to statebred here. Number wise he is on the lower end, though to his credit he has improved his figures with each race and another step forward is not out of the question.

The change in surface/distance could assist #6 THE QUEENS JULES in this spot. As far as speed figures and class she checks those boxes though has shown some distance limiations in the past.