Handicapper Tips & Picks

Quite a drop for 5-VOSTRA. But he finished third versus very tough maiden specials the last time he ran here on the main track. Throw out his last on the turf and his previous start at Churchill and he looks like he should win this. 2-CHERRY ORCHARD finished in the money in last couple at this level. Completes the route-sprint-route cycle. Expect him to chase the early speed and maybe overtake the leaders late. 1-ANCIENT MAN is another dropper. He also didn’t handle the lawn in last but many of his previous starts would make him a top contender today.

We’ll be off turf for the next couple days due to nearly nine inches of rain on Sunday. 1-MINING CAMP drops back in for a tag and stretches out. Thought he had a big chance on turf but maybe even a bigger chance on the main track at this level. He looks like the best of the speed. Might take it all the way. 5-LITTLE STEVEN hasn’t shown much so far but he’s shipping from a tougher circuit, he’s making his first start for different connections, and he’s stretching out for the first time. 4-ELECTRIC CHARGE had a couple decent efforts on the turf in his last two starts but he finished second in his previous three starts on the main track. 

Sometimes things work out your way when you drop a horse trying to get them eligible for starter allowances, sometimes they don’t. 3-LIKE A SALTSHAKER might be a case in point. He was claimed for $40,000 in his final start of 2022 but shipped to Turfway and didn’t show a thing. They dropped him to $10k in last at Churchill, maybe with starters in mind, and he was quickly claimed from a daylight victory. Now he is eligible for starters for the next couple years. His barn has been highly successful with runners in starters and this gelding could turn into their next ATM. 2-LATIN CASINO is fresh off victory in his first start after getting claimed by this barn. They took him for $12,500 and he jumped up to win a straight $20k claimer. He beat two of the remaining four members of this field in that last start. He might be able to do it again. 4-MISTER KELLY and 5-LAKE MILLS battled for the lead throughout in last and only a head separated them at the finish. We might see the same kind of trip today.

1-FABRICATOR stretches back out. He didn’t show much in previous two-turn races but in a race with little speed, he might be able to secure an easy lead and take it all the way. 5-STOLICH drops. Probable favorite has been competitive in optional claimers downstate in his last two starts. Could show even more with the drop into a straight non-winners of two. 6-WICKED SUPRISE dominated maidens in his most recent start. Like that he worked since. Could be at his best once again.

No idea of likely scratches. Most in here are fine on both turf and dirt but some are a surprise. Find it interesting that 1-WEST WARPATH is dropping to $10k after just winning an allowance race. Of course he was claimed four starts back for $7500 so he has more than made his money back. But have to appreciate his good form versus better. Can repeat. 5-DRAGON DREW just finished third behind many in here but he got away slower than usual and had to come on late. If he breaks alertly, he could be the quickest of these. 8-KENNESAW hasn’t been in the best of form but he is dropping to what could be the lowest level of his career.

Hard to imagine 2-QUEEN’S UP losing this race. She finished second in the final Arlington Washington Lassie, had an on and off year in 2022, but seems to have regained her best form this year. She was second in her last two at Oaklawn and proved she could be tough on or off the lead. Not sure any in here can give top pick a run for the money but 5-RONAN might be the only one. This stakes-placed mare, however, won only four times in 54 starts while finishing second 17 times. 6-STYLE ’s been in good form recently. Might be best for third place. 

An abundance of pace should set things up for the one-two finishers from a similar race in last. 1-BAREFOOTBOOTLEGGER and 7-NYOMAN. Less than a length separated them in last with Nyoman getting the best of his rival. Both runners would probably prefer six furlongs but both will come motoring down the stretch. 2-WILDWOOD SECRET could be the best of the speed. He showed little on the turf in last but he was narrowly beaten by Bootlegger in his previous start after leading from the gate.

Could see a lot of scratches in this race since it will be contested on the main track. 2-LAWMAKER could be tough. One of my all-time favorite plays is runners turning back from a mile and a sixteenth to seven and a half. Unfortunately, this race will be contested at a mile but think he’s still finish with good energy. 5-STORM APPROACHING showed little at Canterbury in last, in his first start for this barn via claim, after losing his rider in his previous race at Oaklawn. But, he is dropping in class and he could prove to be the best of the speed. 10-STORM’S REFLECTION could press the pace and still finish with something left.