Handicapper Tips & Picks

Starting off a great wagering card on the grass as there are four turf races on the evening. There's not much pace in here which flatters the chances of 6-SUNSET PAYNTER as she makes her second start at this level and stretches back out. She was compromised at the start in her last as she hit the gate and got away last in the sprint. With a clean break today, along with the move back to two turns, I expect a much better effort. 5-CANDY KICK appears to be in a drop, hopefully win, and get claimed position as the meet nears its end. This barn has been very solid but this is quite the plunge in class after being claimed for $40k last October. 8-INEEDAGIRLLIKEYOU has run her best races on the grass. She closed with a rush in her last but that was off an insanely fast pace upfront. I expect she rates closer early in here and contends in the lane.

Sometimes you just have to give the nod to the favorite and move on. 5-BERNIE LOMAX won't provide much value but is the best horse in the race. He has a couple of poor lines but 4 of his last 6 starts have been solid as he has earned back the $15k claim price from January. A win and a claim here puts the connections ahead in the end. 2-OVER CALENDARED has tactical speed as he comes back from Belterra for this spot. There are some others that may be faster early, but a stalking trip will put him in position to contend late. 4-LIMA ZULU runs his best when forwardly placed and may be pushed to show speed in here. The connections are having a strong meet and the price should be right.

We welcome jockey Jareth Loveberry back to the saddle and hopefully back to the winner's circle as he returns from injury aboard 7-COMMAND POINT. The horse has been solid on the year and ran a fine race against $20k company last out. With really no early pace to speak of in here, expect her to rate close and draw clear in the lane. 2-APRIL'S GEM was a good winner at the distance last out. She get the solid riding Hernandez in the saddle, who has been very good this meet and is another that may rate a bit closer to the early pace today. 6-ROMANTIC ATTACK takes the class drop as she comes off a solid effort against allowance-company in her last. Her running style should put her just behind the early pacesetters as she will look to get the jump on the closers in the lane.

This one appears to be a slam dunk and as long as there's clear sailing, I find it very tough for this field to defeat 5-SHACKLEFORD STRONG. A great claim for $5,000 earlier in the meet, he has defeated starter company in three straight, doing it impressively. As long as he doesn't have a terrible break from the gate I expect he is in full control. 7-TRY TRY AGAIN has been so consistent this year and defeated Shackleford Strong four races back. He needs some pace to chase which is the one concerning factor in here but he could settle in the second flight and close ground to finish underneath in the gimmicks. 4-VIOLENT GIGI may be the one who can push things upfront as he returns off a bit of a layoff into here. If he can get back to those races at the end of 2022 or early this season in Oaklawn, it puts him in with a shot.

A really strong Starter race with a decent amount of pace but 6-W W HOTSHOT has a different type of speed from the others. He looks to try to clear the lead and I expect he does. This is his best distance and with the return to the familiar Becker barn I expect a big performance. 2-BLOW TORCH could be the sleeper in here as he has won three of the last four. If another happens to battle W W Hotshot early, he could be the one to settle in just off the pace and rally in the lane. 1-LYKAN was claimed off a victory in his last, running a solid figure in that spot. With the drop to the $20k rate he becomes eligible for this spot. His style figures to have him settle a bit back early, but look for him to close some ground in the lane.

It is his first start of the year, but 10-STACK SHACK is very fast and should be able to get a good trip from the outside draw. If expect he gets away in good order and should rate just behind a contested pace before moving forwardly in the lane. Let's see if he can pull off the upset as he has worked consistently toward this spot. 7-GET NONE loves the grass and the distance. He has just the one race on the year, which was a win, but was claimed and the claim was then voided. Time away since that race and now returns. With the layoff, and potential short price, I know he has a shot but could be upset too. 4-WAY TOO SMARTE has run some big races in the past on the grass and at the distance. If the pace is contested, let's see if he can sit back and close with a rush.