Handicapper Tips & Picks

#6 SECOND TO NONE also has shown early speed and that going back to his debut last November when bet down to the second choice as a first time starter with an outside post at the Special Weight level. He has shown progression with each race this season and with his most competitive race on June 8th, the first time in for the maiden claiming tag. That effort (B- OptixGRADE) could even be upgraded further noting he was fractious rearing up in the GATE and lost his footing (TROUBLE_S) at the break and continued to run making a WIDE MOVE. 

#5 SNERDLEY has not shown early speed and a pattern of breaking SLOG though another that moved up against the maiden claiming level he returns to today and given a flow upgrade (X_FLOW) making a late MOVE into a Very Slow (O4S) pace. 

These two provide alternatives to #3 SIR RONALDO as he projects to be a big favorite in this race and capable as he could just land in the right field, place and time - however has a pattern of NO_FINISH to consider with all the attention likely to land there. He was also just recently scratched from a maiden $5k on 7/3.  

The is probably the right spot for the class droppers in this field shipping in, though a couple locals could represent (and offer value with those new faces) in this spot. #4 WOO WOO GIRL has shown legit early speed at this level, She has come up short though there might not be others in here that can run with her early and might have the pace edge in this spot. #5 STRONG DEMAIN has some buried local form keying off the April 25th effort, his only true race at the level (an excuse 8/22) and showed visually she is in the right level for her ability. 

#1 NINE POINTER holds some of the strongest form in this field and suggests some intent with the connections scratching from a spot on 7/8 to run here instead. Back on June 13th, he finished in a win photo on a day the WEATHER left the track sealed and in poor conditions with light rain falling during the race. #3 EPIC THE LEFIT also turned in a solid effort and competitive form though requires a bit more overall to get up over the bridesmaid hurdle to win - a factor that makes him less exciting as the morning line favorite and should that stick at post time. 

#7 STANDOUTJUSTICE gave off the visuals on debut last summer of a horse that needed more ground (STRETCH) and showed that improvement and progression late in the season. The pair of place finishes could get overlooked buried from last year. HIs races this season have been sneaky good with the WIDE trip show on 5/2 and the stakes try two weeks later taken with a grain of salt as he broke SLOG and was not asked/NO_PUSH by the rider. 

If #6 TALL GIRL does not win this race it becomes chaos, there are two ways to play this race and the obvious is more logical. 

#1 FIRST ELKHORN set a very solid VF/Very Fast pace LONE on the lead finishing second with the top two well clear of the others and could be tough in her. Rival #11 RAPUNZELS SONG has shown enough early speed to run with FIRST ELKHORN early, though the two with extremes in post position makes things easier to the lead for the inside filly. 

#7 SIGNATURE CALL could improve here in her second start noting she found herself against the flow, a VS/Very Slow OFS following a slight stumble out of the gate (TROUBLE_S) and WIDE trip in her 6/21 debut. 

#9 PURELY MINE is a longshot to make a creative case for. She debuted in a competitive group on 11/23 last season with a far outside post and WIDE trip. That race has been productive with many improving OptixFIG and also two of the next out winners, Allabouttheimage and Chimes, won off the layoff from that race making their debut here earlier this season. 

#12 KENTUCKY COOL and #13 RICOCHET are upgraded if they draw in off the AE. Those two failing to make it in assists #9 SUMMER ASSAULT one that are made sense in this race and likely favorite. He returns to make his second start this season and second off the layoff coming back from the 6/1 race, a race that was tough to assess as many in the field had "trips" to impact the efforts from the individuals and outcome of the race. 

#1 APRIL CLOVER has been pretty common in each of her three starts with two of those on this circuit, condition and coming up short without much excuse as the heavy favorite. #4 PERFECT MANHATTAN exits the 6/21 common race showing run making a MOVE through TRAFFIC.

Connections alone will land attention on #8 CANDI GIRL though there are more interesting FTS in this field and runners at higher projected odds.  

Based on the visuals #8 PEGGY'S WAY could eventually end up on turf, though she worked a 10 flat efficiently back in March and has some consistent works with a live rider and live barn tough to dismiss. 

McEntee will start a pair: #2 OLD FASHIONED GIRL was scheduled to debut back in April at Keeneland and some concerns with that scratch and has not been entered since, almost three months. #3 THIRSTY ACCOUNTANT with a more consistent and on paper "quicker" works is given the preference of the pair. 

#2 ALTAZOR could ideally benefit from added ground than today's distance, but his form and class coming into the race is an edge and could be overlooked off the recent finishing positions. The class edge is a little more obvious on #6 GOOD GOVERNANCE with the graded stakes races and consistent efforts in those Gulfstream Park events, just not quite to the level of his stakes competition required to win. 

#4 ELUSIVE TARGET turned in a competitive effort with a WIDE trip on 6/20, his first start on the turf and off that effort handled the surface and could take another step forward keying off his higher recorded OptixFIG. #5 FEBRUARY SON also returns from the 6/20 race and upgraded off the TRAFFIC trip impacting his result and has been competitive at his level keying off the B OptixGRADE last October and lacking ROOM finishing second on 5/29.

Similar form over this course is in play for #9 SPLIT THE WICKETS also returning from the 6/20 race and WIDE trip. Intent looks in play for this second start off the layoff and with Cannon picking up the mount. He has been riding strong this season and a live rider with success in limited starts when called up for Van Berg.