Handicapper Tips & Picks

First two-year-old race of the season after this group was rained out last weekend. Getting another look and going with 5-DOROTHY CROWFOOT as this $500k purchase debuts for a barn that wins early. She comes in off a sharp drill into this spot and should be ready at first asking. 3-RICHIE'S GAL has some good works leading into this race, including a nice gate drill on June 18. Curious to see how she looks in the paddock. 4-DEVIL has stretched out to a string of half mile drills as she should have no issues with stamina. Let's see what kind of gate speed she shows today.

Short field and not much pace as 4-BEHAVIN MYSELF should be able to make the top and control things on the front end. He has run well in his last five races and Olaf has had a great meet in the saddle. 6-NOT VERY GENTLE has won his last couple as the Haran barn has been solid at Hawthorne as well. He may need to rate closer like he did in his last if he wants any shot to wear down the leaders in the lane. 5-BIG BLUE takes a bit of a class drop as he turns back to the main track today. He put together back to back victories to open the season and is another that could rate closer to the pace.

This truly looks to be a one horse race as 7-GO ON GIRL drops off a pair of decent races. She was claimed for just $7,500 last December and would still do well for her connections if she is able to win here, even if she is claimed. She has speed, there's no pace in this race, and she should be in full control. 4-EVIE JEAN has run the best races of her career this meet. She could be in a position to chase in this race and I like that Tavares takes the ride as her best race came with him in the saddle. 1-BUNNY SHINE was claimed from her debut at this level before stretching out on the class hike last out. She drops back down to the level of the claim and may look to show a bit more speed from the inside as well today.

Off the turf as all of the MTO horses get an opportunity to draw into this race. It shouldn't matter for 3-RIVZONAROLL as he makes his second start of the meet. He ran a good race against a tough bunch last out in his first start of the meet. He's back today as his early speed should be enough to make the top and never look back. 8-SONNYISNOTSOFUNNY ran well last out as he stalked the leaders and run on in the lane. He has found the board in all six starts on the year but will have to get going a bit sooner at this short five furlong distance. 11-TWIRLING ROSES looks to rate mid-pack early and run on late. Seven of his eight victories have come at Hawthorne as he will have to hope Tee Burns challenges Rivonaroll early to help his closing chances.

This race becomes tough because you have to determine what to do with 1-Blaze Beauty. I'm going to try to defeat the heavy favorite and go to some proven around two turns. Leading it off with 2-VOSTRA as her debut race and her start three races back could be good enough to win in here. She has enough tactical speed to rate close and Santiago looks to be a good fit for her. 3-J Z'S FINE WINE runs for a barn that has had an excellent meet, often times with longer priced runners. She also has some tactical speed and could be in a good tracking spot. 4-PACIFIC VIEW stretches out for the first time as she also runs for a barn that has had an excellent meet. She's run consistent races in her sprints and may look to show some speed around two turns.

Sometimes horses just figure it out and maybe that was the case with 5-TAHOE RUN. He had run a lot of good races, coming up short a few times in some tough spots at Oaklawn. In his last, he moved sooner and responded nicely in the lane. He should get a perfect stalking trip again and look to repeat that last performance. 2-FAMILY TRADITION returns to the dirt where he ran a solid second to Act a Fool two back. He could be running alongside Tahoe Run early and try to outkick that one to the wire. 6-ROCKET HOTSHOT comes out of that same Act a Fool race last out. He chased that one on June 4 and held well into the lane. He finds things easier in here and merits a look at a price.

Looks to be a couple with speed in this race off the turf. Thinking 7-IZZY'S MONSTER gets a good trip from the second flight as she steps up off a nice maiden score in her last. Santiago takes the return ride for Coty Rosin, who has had a nice meet. 1-MAYSTART is winless at Hawthorne but had found the board in half of her 16 starts over the track. She rated closer in her last and looks to try to stalk once again in here. 8-FREE LOVE is one that has speed and may look to try to make the top today. She was a strong winner two races back and runs for connections that have been going strong of late.

Really nice baby race to close out the day. A $300k purchase debuts on the outside as 8-RAVIN'S TOWN has worked well leading into this spot. He could look to show speed and if he can cross over with that short run into the first turn, he may never look back. 3-FIVE O' SOMEWHERE has a couple of races under his belt as he ran well at Churchill in his last out. He comes into here off a supper quick bullet drill and now just needs to figure out some gate issues that he has encountered. 6-CLASSIC RICHIE ran a decent race in his debut at Presque Isle last out. He was well positioned early but just raced evenly in the lane. Let's see if he improves off that performance.