Handicapper Tips & Picks

While it appears there are a couple of horses in here with speed, I would expect that 3-MISS MELODY is the fastest to the front. She scampered away to clear while going three quarters in her last. She shortens up a 16th today and could easily take this race from gate to wire. 4-BEG BORROW N STEAL has to hope Crystal Snow pressed Miss Melody early as she figures to settle and run on late. She dropped to this level for her last and ran well as her best races have come here at Hawthorne. 1-JUDY'S MS. OFFICER has tactical speed as she stalked her stablemate last out and ran by late. Look for her to be in a similar position early but we will see if she is chasing one horse or a duo in the stretch.

Solid allowance field that could have a contested pace. One that comes out of a tough field last out is 6-SPECIALIZIN as she has speed but doesn't need the lead to win. She faced a tough one in Kan't Believe It in that spot but held her own late into the lane. I expect she chases again in here early but should be able to run on late. 2-MAGNA MASSA will benefit as well if there is a quick and contested pace as she figures to settle early and rally in the stretch. She's another that has held her own against solid horses and should fare well from the inside draw. 4-R KATIEBUG has speed as she battled the entire way in her last and got her nose down on the wire. She faces open-company today but potentially could be the fastest to the front.

Forecast doesn't look great for turf but anything can happen. One thing we know is that there is very little pace in here and 1-PRANCIPANTS is in the top form of her career. She has run well in her last four starts and looks to be lone speed on turf or dirt. 6-COMMAND POINT is likely turf only as she comes off an impressive score last out. She will need some pace to chase but there's the potential that she gets a very similar trip to the one she got two starts back when she was left to chase Pancipants and couldn't get up in time. 4-ON A TOUR looks to figure on turf or dirt as well as she has been claimed in her last two starts. She likes this track and has never missed the board in six starts at the distance.

Sometimes you just have to stick with the favorite as 6-LARRY THE POET appears to be very tough in this spot. He battled with Tahoe Run last out before giving way at the top of the lane. Tahoe Run followed that victory up with a sharp allowance score last Sunday. On the class drop expect Larry the Poet to be in full control throughout. 1-GHOST BIKE ships in with some speed and the rail draw. He is the one that could rate the closest early to Larry the Poet and the recent bullet drill is a plus as well. 3-GOLD SMOKE could be a bit of a sleeper in here as he has some races around two turns that would  figure with this field. If the top two happen to hook up early, he may be poised to pounce in the lane.

Selections could go two different ways here, depending on scratches. If the field holds together as-is, I think 1-STOPSHOPPINGAMY gets the trip. She should be able to sit behind a likely contested pace of 5-FIRST KITTEN and 6-FIRST SQUADRON. In that case if both of those runners battle upfront, I expect Stopshoppingamy to run on by late. Now if 6-First Squadron scratches, as trainer Brian Cook also has 4-GO STORMIN GIRL entered, then I think the race is over and I will flip my top two as First Kitten should make an uncontested lead and never look back. 4-GO STORMIN GIRL was the unfortunate one last out as she ran a huge race after a poor break. She was full of run in the turn and won going away. She was taken down via questionable DQ and placed third but you can't discount her effort. Either way, she is likely running for a spot underneath but her chances do improve if her stablemate stays in.

Basing this solely off the forecast for rain and potential for this race to come off the turf. 10-DIALED INNA is going to be extremely tough if this race comes off the grass. She ran a big race on the dirt two starts back and looks to find more than enough pace to tuck behind and run on late. The barn has been exceptional this meet and Centeno appears to fit this horsee well. 4-JOURNEYIST looks to show speed on either surface. She has improved since the addition of Lasix and should be tough if the track comes up wet as well. 13-BERTRADA will need some help to draw in but figures to be a factor if this one comes off the turf as well. This will be a sizeable class hike but she has run well on the dirt this year and also stands to benefit from an off track.

2-GUN RUSH could be one of the best going horses on the grounds as he looks for his fifth straight win. He has speed and isn't afraid to take it to his competition. With the inside draw he figures to head for the top and try to wire this field. 5-JEFF THE LION was closing ground behind Gun Rush last out. He caught the quick pace to chase and was full of run late. The only question here is if he gets another heated battle upfront to close into. 9-PINEDALE ran a really nice race back in mid-May but hasn't been able to repeat that performance in his next two starts. He does have it in him though and also has shown the ability to run a big race on an off track.