Handicapper Tips & Picks

5-JUJU’S SPECIALGIRL drops sharply. Those kinds of drops always worry me. She’s been a terrific turf sprinter through her career. But she showed little in her two races this year.  Should improve greatly at this level. But she is dropping for a reason, As always, caution is urged. 6-GOOD MONGOLIA also drops but she has raced at this level, and lower, in the past. She won the last time she took on rivals near this level. Can again. 7-STACY ATTACK is one of many in here with speed but she has shown some tenacity under pressure. Might outlast the rest.

An almost paceless race. With a race full of closers, who will go for the lead. That task might fall to 4-BIG BLUE. This recent claim isn’t exactly a frontrunner but he has shown decent speed in the past. Might be able to set a glacial pace and never look back. 3-VERRAZANOINTHESKY, 2-NOT VERY GENTLE and 1-GAGOOTS will all try to come on late but not sure how effective their closing moves will be against slow fractions. 

Apparently Larry Rivelli took over training 6-ALEXIS N NICO after last race. When this gelding raced here before, he was trained by Rhonda Thurman. He has the same owners. In any case, he’s dropping in class for his Hawthorne return. He’s meeting a field full of runners in decent form but they have been meeting lesser rivals. Would expect him to be the best of them. 1-UNCAPTURED DREAM just graduated in his 13th start but he has been in good form for a while. He had finished second in six of his previous 12 starts. Certainly figures. 4-FABRICATOR just finished second at this level and distance. He generally displays a pretty good late move. Late surge can get him close. 

Small nod to 3-WILMA MANKILLER. She didn’t handle the weeds in last but she has been a top contender on the local dirt track. Owns good speed but doesn’t necessarily need the early lead to win. 2-SWEET NELLIE is another that didn’t put her best foot forward when trying the turf in last. As bad as Wilma was in that turf race, this filly finished another eight lengths behind her. However, when they met on dirt in their previous contest, Nellie was only a neck behind Wilma. They could be neck in neck late again. Recent grad 4-IT’S MAGIC came from far back to graduate in only her second start. That race was at six and a half and have to wonder if this race is a bit too short for her but the probable lively pace could set things up once again. 

9-SLAVA UKRANI might surprise. He showed little in his previous turf races but this will be his easiest turf field yet. He wired the field, on dirt, at this level in last and with the turf course being as hard as it is, he might be able to do the same thing here. 10-FORWARD CURVE is another with good speed though he doesn’t seem to be as quick as top choice. He led most of the way in last before getting passed by a couple longshots. Could get the same kind of trip today if top choice doesn’t fire. 8-EL RAYO scored his second turf victory in last, paying a whopping $86. He should get an even better pace to run at today. Can repeat. Trainer Manny Perez has a couple live runners in here. 6-STORM'S REFLECTION won his last after narrowly missing in his previous two starts. 1-MODIFIER missed by a neck the last time he ran at this level.  

7-GIMME THE CANDY led almost all the way in his career debut. That race should have put the edge on his conditioning. Figures to be even tougher this time, though this race is a sixteenth longer. 6-JACK SPRAT is an interesting runner. He's bred to be better on the lawn and there are some races for 2yo’s on the grass coming up, but his works say he’s ready. 5-NEON DEION, stablemate of top choice, hasn’t impressed in drills, but the top barn always sends out live runners. 8-RED MOSCOTO has been training well for his career debut. Has a chance if he breaks alertly.  

4-GOLD OAK jumps in class but she displayed brilliant speed in her turf debut. Turf races have been very fast lately. Julio Felix, the rider, has been taking full advantage his speedy mount’s tendencies. Might never look back. 7-VIOLA has been training well for her debut. Runners from her barn generally run well at first asking. Could be tough. 3-WILDWOOD ENOUGH completes the sprint-route-sprint cycle. This filly finished fourth in both starts, though last was moved to the dirt. With two races under her belt she could finish with a ton of run with the turn back in distance. 1-LIMANI ships in from New York to make her first start for this barn. Previously trained by one of the top trainers in the country, she was favored in her last, on the dirt at Belmont, and finished a distant second. Could fit with these.