Handicapper Tips & Picks

A really solid race kicks off a really solid card. Only five in here but all could be back in the Romacaca Stakes later in the meet. 5-CAT ATTACK has the advantage of having speed and may be able to sneak away and never look back. She won on the front here last month and looks to be tough once again. Let's see if she can shake lose early and never look back. 3-SHE CAN'T SING comes off a solid stakes try at Canterbury in her last. She won't be too far off the early pace and catches a bit of class relief after a lengthy string of stakes starts. 2-WAVE OF GOODNESS battled late into the lane at Churchill in her last. She was defeated by three next out winners in a key race. Look for her to possibly push things along upfront early in here.

Competitive bunch with a couple with speed. Hoping the pace battle sets it up for the closing move of 1-RONAN. This is a much easier bunch than she has faced recent and the move back to two turns is the only question. If she's able to settle early she should come charging late. 2-GIANNA'S GIFT comes in from Indiana as she has been away from the races since the end of the Oaklawn meet. She's one that does have some speed so we will see if she goes with Free Love early or chooses to rate and run on late. 4-FREE LOVE is likely committed to the front as she was a good winner on the stretch in distance in her last. If she can shake loose from Gianna's Gift in here she may never look back.

She's still looking for her first win of the year but 1-COUGAR has found the board in all five starts and figures to control things on the front end in here. With the stretch in distance there is unlikely to be any challenge early as she should catch a breather and never look back. 4-GHAALEB'S DREAMS gets some class relief off her last, a race that came off the turf. She was away for a lengthy stretch before returning this meet but hasn't appeared to be the same horse. Let's see what kind of a trip she gets in here. 6-WEEKEND PASS figures to be one to rate back early and come running in the lane. She closed some ground last out and picks up Ortiz in the saddle in this spot.

Nice turf sprint for 3yo fillies with a competitive bunch. Looking to 6-NO KAY NEVER (IRE) as she returns to Hawthorne for her second start over the course. She has tactical speed and was just hung a bit wide in her last. Expect her to rate a bit closer early in here as she looks to save ground into the lane. 5-WILMA MANKILLER has speed as she will be on the gas from the start. This is her first turf try of her career but all three races on the meet have been solid. 4-LURE'EM IN will need that pace to chase as she figures to rate and rally. She had a good maiden score in New Orleans this spring and should be flying late as well.

Won't be much of a price but 6-LOVEYOULIKECRAZY sure looks to be the one to beat in here. She has enough speed to contend early and there isn't much pace in this race. Let's see if she can stalk Napabit early and take over in the lane. 2-COME ON LADY debuts with Lasix as she has been working in Kentucky leading up to this start. She has consistent drills and figures at a price as she picks up Tavares today. 5-FREEDOM ATTACK has run better races on the meet as she should be forwardly placed as well. She just needs to show a bit more finishing kick but is worth a look underneath in the gimmicks.

Going off of intent, it would appear that trainer Steve Manley wants turf for 1-BELPERRON as she makes her first start of the year. She scratched that week when races came off the turf and the track was sloppy. She looks to have some tactical speed and with the inside draw she likely won't be too far back at any point. 7-TAR HEEL GIRL shortens up off a good effort in her last. She is another that figures to settle in the second flight early before running on in the lane. 8-PEACH COBBLER has speed and comes back off a good effort at this level in her last. She gets the same distance once again as she should be able to contend well into the lane.

Two Rivelli runners both in with a shot as 4-ONASA will likely be the longer price of the two. He was a good winner here earlier in the meet and was able to track the leaders before running onto a nice score at Thistledown last out. With the amount of pace in here, he may look to rate and run on late. 2-FIT TO FLY figures to show that early speed but he may have company upfront. He is very quick from the gate though as the potential to outkick the others to the top does exist. 3-CORTESE was a $50k claim out of a Churchill race last fall and makes his return. This barn has seen numerous runners in similar situations post big efforts and this is another that could do the same.