Handicapper Tips & Picks

The Thursday opener comes down to trip as there appears to be a good amount of pace in this race. 5-SPIRITCATCHER ships in for this race as she comes out of four straight turf tries at Belterra. She doesn't show much for early speed but has a good late kick. Expect Centeno to have her positioned well early and running on late. 7-LORRAINE'S LEGACY faced much tougher on the turf two back and held her own late into the lane. She dropped to win her last and was claimed out of that spot. She takes the logical step back up in class as she should be able to tuck in just behind the early leaders. Let's see what she shows us in here. 2-BLUE NEITH has speed and has been solid on the grass. She comes in off a bit of a layoff into here but has run well when fresh in the past. The question is how much company will she have in here upfront?

Off her last race and with the class edge, 4-RIBBONSINHERHAIR looks to be very tough in this spot. She rated mid-pack in her last and was running on in the lane to finish a good second. With some pace on either side of her, look for her to get a similar trip once again. 6-STYLE has to hope the pace is quick and contested as she tends to rate and rally late. She closed to finish third in her last couple was was gaining too late in each. I worry that she gets that same trip once again. 2-SECRET OPERATION ran well in her last, considering her big price. She's another that will need pace to chase but she could be picking up the pieces late.

The question here isn't the ability but more the surface as 8-TAHOE RUN will try the grass for the first time. After some near misses, he has rattled off back to back victories, defeating open company in his last two. He returns to face state-breds here and should be able to sit mid-pack early and run on in the lane. 2-MAN ON ATTACK has shown turf ability recently finding the board in both recent grass starts. He has some tactical speed and should be able to  tuck in just behind the early leaders. A rider switch to Centeno today and let's see if that makes a difference. 5-COOL AND COLLECTED looked like a different racehorse in his second career start compared to his debut. After showing little interest first time out, he was sent straight to the lead and extended in the lane. The 10-1 price was incredible in that spot but you won't get the same price today.

With the outside two likely to show speed, I'm looking to 2-TALKTOMEJUSTICE to find a good stalking trip and take over in the lane. She ran a nice race with Colon aboard two back and gets back to two turns, where she seems at her best of late. Class relief helps as everything could line up for a nice score. 3-MARIA'S GIFT has a pair of runner-up efforts at this level in her last couple. Centeno rides once again as she may be alongside Talktomejustice early and trying to outkick that one late. 4-EMITYAAZ has faced tougher throughout her career as the class drop could put her in a good spot here. She does have some tactical speed but figures to settle mid-pack early and run on in the lane.

Really competitive race as there's a few in here that could show some speed. 8-PENUMBRAS MAKER has run well in her last couple, both races that came off the grass. She was able to run down a game Spicy Italian in her last and that one came back and won over this track last week. With some speed ahead of her, expect her to rate and close in the lane. 3-R KATIEBUG comes off a solid performance against state-breds in her last. She stalked the leaders in that spot and just missed at the wire. She draws well here and could get a perfect tracking trip once again. 9-WANDA STRONG has been good this season as she has founds the board in all four starts. She just missed after a troubled trip in her last and will be another to benefit if the pace is quick and contested upfront.

She's lightly raced but has been good in her three starts as 1 -MADELYN BELLE looks to be a heavy favorite in here. She stalked the pace in her last before getting up in the shadow of the wire while facing open company last out. The race conditions allow her in here today as Loveberry picks up the call. 6-COWGIRL FRANKIE will be hoping for a contested pace upfront as she figures to settle early and rally late. She ran a really nice race on the grass in her last but has had her best success at three quarters. 3-LOVEYOULIKECRAZY has speed and could challenge early. She was an easy winner in a short field last out but will finds things a bit tougher here. Let's see if she tries to clear early and look to wire these.

A couple of shippers along the inside that are both in with a shot. 1-FIRST HILL has speed as she stretches back out today. She battled the lead two back before giving way late but in here may be fast enough to clear. 4-BONITA D'ORO stretches back out after a pair of decent turf sprints in her last couple. She has finished nicely late in each and may get overlooked at the windows. 2-APPLE EVER AFTER also ships in as she looks to get back to her turf form from last fall. She has only one start on the year which came on dirt but ships in as she picks up bug Rodriguez in the saddle.