Handicapper Tips & Picks

See only one, possibly two, likely scratches for this race but who knows. 3-SWEET LITTLE LISA ran second in her lone start. That race was on turf but she is bred for anything and would imagine that she’ll be giving dirt a try. 7-VISIONISTA finished second in three of her eight starts, including her last here. She displayed the best speed of her career in that last race but lost her rider to another runner in here. Depending on how the first timers run, she could turn out to be the quickest of these. The well-bred 5-GLADYS ALICE, stablemate of “Lisa”, makes her debut. Her works haven’t impressed but she does race for the top barn.

4-SOUPER FORTUNE drops into the right spot. He was claimed for $8500 earlier in the meet and has been mildly competitive versus better runners but he will be far tougher with the drop to his lowest level since late last year. 5-BLURT could be an interesting runner. He tired badly in both local starts but those were route races and he displayed good speed for about six furlongs before running out of gas. Turns back in distance while adding blinkers. Maybe capable of surprising. 2-COUGAR has been in quietly good form. He finished in the money in his last six, dating back to last year. Gets a huge weight break, from 122 to 110, with the move to an apprentice in his irons. Seems like a logical contender.

Had a tough time finding someone to like in this race. Landed on 5-SWEET CRYSTAL. She wired the field to break her maiden here in the fall and then took 10 weeks off before finishing third of four in a Louisiana race. She might have some issues, even her works show breaks in training, but those same drills have been pretty good. 2-MUD HUT figures. She’s dropping in class for this. However, she was running for $6250 earlier in the meet and still couldn’t get the job done. Hard to gauge. 6-HOLY IMAGE drops to her lowest level ever. She hasn’t shown a thing since breaking her maiden at Arlington in 2021 but she’s had only four races since, taking 2022 off entirely, and she’s never been in this easy.

Nice little maiden race with virtually all runners having a realistic chance. The pedigree of 4-BLACK RAVEN screams stretch me out. He ran well to finish third in his debut but far better to finish second in last. Today he stretches out. Can graduate at a square price. 2-REGIMENTAL moves back up in class after getting claimed from last but he’s been competing on a tough circuit. He finished second in that last start, his lone venture into maiden claimers, in a slowly-run race but it was his races last year that suggest he’s a real threat today. 3-GONE AGAIN took a brief lead when stretched out for last but there was no way he was going to beat Tahoe Run that day. He finished six behind that runner but well clear of the rest of the field. His good speed will have him running on or near the lead throughout. 

There is so much speed in this race that you have to expect a late runner to pass them all. I went with 6-MEMPHIS PRAYER. He just finished second in a similar spot when the race was moved from turf to dirt. The pace of this race could be even quicker which should only enhance his chances. Even speed-filled fields are susceptible to one runner grabbing an unchallenged lead while the rest of the speed takes back a bit. I think 2-HURTS SO BAD is the best of the speed. He’s stretching out for the first time in a long time. He wired the field, sprinting, two starts back and didn’t handle the turf in last. But, he might get the jump on them and never look back. 3-FORWARD CURVE never really recovered after a troubled start in last, a race moved to the main track, but he had been in decent form prior. Good tactical speed gives him the luxury of running well on or off the pace but think he’ll be forwardly placed early in this one.

Wanted to pick against 5-APOLLO U ANYWHERE and would have if this race was six furlongs. However, at five and a half, you have to figure she’s going to have enough left to repel late runners after putting away the rest of the speed. 1-MI CRESCENDO is the sleeper in this contest. She had severe traffic trouble in last and couldn’t catch top choice. She finished second in her previous start, beaten by a runner that paid $47 and she was clear of the rest of the field. The pace sets up better for her today. Can surprise with a clean trip.2-GHAALEB’S MAGIC finished in the money in last three, including a victory. She has middling speed which will have her tracking the early pace.

It is slightly possible that this race will be contested on turf but the course is already soaked and more rain is expected. But is shouldn’t matter for multiple stakes winner 7-OEUVRE. She’s equally adept on turf or dirt. She has already bankrolled in excess of $500k. Should add to that today. Not sure that 6-KATIE M’LADY will run if this race does get moved to dirt. This speed-filled mare has had nine turf races, winning five and finishing second in the other four. She didn’t show a thing in her only previous race on dirt. 5-SUMMER DAY is still eligible for a non-winners of three but she is always competitive, on either surface, though both her wins came on the lawn. 9-WHITE LIES could benefit the most if this race is on dirt. She finished behind top choice the last two times they met and probably will again but she could turn out to be the best of the rest. 

3-SANTINO’S FANTASY should be tough. He ran well in all local starts, finishing second twice and graduating in the other. Got claimed back by this barn after they lost him two starts back. 8-STORM APPROACHING is hard to figure. He was claimed for $40k early in the year and came back to run for $20k where he was claimed again. He lost his rider in his next start, then shipped to Canterbury where he went off as the favorite in a 20K claimer but he finished up the track. Now he’s dropping to $6250. Caution is urged. 7-LAMELO just graduated. Like that he fought for the lead most of the race and never game up. He could even improve after getting a trip over the track. 

No idea who will stay in this race but going to look at a couple first timers. 1-ROCKET is a well-bred first timer with strong drills and a barn that knows how to win at first asking. 4-MANEUVER is another making his debut. Runners from his barn often need a race but he’s been working well enough that he has to be considered. Not sure what to do with 2-OVERDUE HONOR. He’s a shipped but might not be here since this race is off the turf. However, he did run well in his two main-track starts.