Handicapper Tips & Picks

#7 GUITAR MAN fits as a solid favorite in this race and will look to hold the edge over main rival #8 YOU NEVER CAN TELL for a third time this season. As far as class #6 FOX VALLEY KODIAK will be tested against. Though given a mention and follow from a BTL effort on 9/10 and coming back last week (9/17) a trip with an “excuse” more subtle trouble, excessive ground loss and projects to all around improve. 

Coming back from the 9/10 common race: #4 FOX VALLEY JASPAR can be upgraded making an early wide move into a solid pace - a pace that benefit #5 GHOST SHARK with his better timed wide move for place. #1 SHARK SOLICITOR was behind that pair saving ground though finds reasonable class relief here. The class will be tested for #3 FOX VALLEY PATRIOT coming off a dominant win here last Friday, a common race with #2 FOX VALLEY PRESLEY one that did lack room in my opinion, a contrast view to the “garden trip” chart comment. 

The class change, drive and trip upgraded #5 ARCADIA SPORTACULR coming back from R3 on Friday, 9/15 into this event. A subtle change in class comes into play for #7 WESTWIND IDEAL from HoP, however he does not hold any overall edge with the circuit change into this spot.

The common race for the others back on 9/15 gave the result and edge to #4 JIMMY THE DUKE. Would have preferred to see a driver change on #8 MYSTIC REVENGE returning here given the trip that day and with better handling can improve off the recent effort. 

#7 FOX VALLEY JULIAN is in top form as he comes back today looking for his third straight win in as many weeks. Going back to 9/10 he popped with the track record though did have the race flow in his favor. Taking a forgiving approach from that event, an excuse can be made for #1 DOWNTOWNLEROYBROWN though as far as class he has struggled under similar conditions to today’s event.

#6 GORGEOUS BIG GUY had the edge over #5 FREEDOM’S PLAYBOY on 9/10 and validated their form with PLAYBOY coming back to win last Sunday at a lower class level and regain confidence. Also returning from that 9/10 event, #3 ENRICO PALLAZZO ran well behind a flow winner last Saturday and similar overall effort to #2 R TYLER TOWN going back to opening weekend. 

The effort from #3 MAJOR HARLEY was a “winning” type race for the level though caught a dominant Fox Valley Patriot, one running earlier on the card, to settle for place on 9/15.

#8 SUNMASTER returns with the slight class relief from 9/15, a change that should move him forward and back to more competitive ways here. Value is the main concern on #7 LUCK ON THE BEACH a capable type though cane be tougher to trust.

#1 DUNCANS RANGER can outrun his odds once again, his trip in the show finish last week was far from ideal and he earned that award though adversity and returns under similar conditions today. The overall was in line with #5 KOA, one that projects to be the shorter of the two again today. #6 ARA DASH was a cut below (similar C+ for #9 DUM LUK MOOSS) those two last week though showed run making a wide move and also was warm, something to look for today on the track.

C. Stewart sticks with LUCK ON THE BEACH over #10 VINNY LOU one that dominated the field (albeit flow-aided) last Sunday and steps up as he returns today. #4 SPORTSMADNESS also driven by C. Stewart on 9/15 when he flew under-the-radar coming back from the opening day common race (subtle trip) to pull off the upset – both will step up in class coming off those wins last week. Class also could be hurdle, especially on the win end for #2 REVEREND SCOTT, though worth a follow as he returns to this circuit. 

#7 FOX VALLEY YORK returns from a 9/10 solid race and overall competitive effort behind some solid runners throughout this season. #5 FOX VALLEY DURHAM has finished in front of many of today’s rivals and the “winningest” horse in the race. That edge will likely see him heavily favored here today and capable in the same right.

#5 FOX VALLEY LANDEN was the 9/10 winner and did so dominantly though noted a ground saving trip and figures to be a legitimate threat again, though most obvious. #3 FOX VALLEY CAYMAN earned a follow from the 9/10 common race. It was a BTL effort despite the result off the board and not only can improve though could figure intent with the driver change as Casey Leonard takes over and the two teamed up for a check on 8/29. Rival #4 FOX VALLEY STEELER also returns with a change today following a wide trip; and one that has back numbers that make him competitive with a rebound. #2 FOX VALLEY LANGLEY might still be a start out from a top, though has common running lines and including a win over LANDEN last season. 

#7 CHECKME raced against some common rivals back on 9/9 where he was compromised on trip given an Excuse parked extra-wide making a move against the flow and overall showing run in a sneaky BTL way.

#3 PLAYTOROCK also earned a follow with a extra-wide trip and overall effort in line with the DQd #9 MUCHO DIAMANTE and projects to be the bigger number of the two today. In addition, PLAYTOROCK returns from the 9/15 common race when contact/TROUBLE from a rival knocked him off stride and from a better result and one that could be overlooked here today.

The winner of the 9/15 race, Sportsmadness, was an also-ran with subtle trip on 9/9 and from the common race many return from here. #1 RESERVED PARKING has shown improvement race-to-race this season and from those common races. #5 FROZEN SHARK could get overlooked today though one to keep on the radar as he could get lost on the board and showed a strong closing move on 9/15 to catch the eye.

As far as the lightly raced types: Juvenile #6 TOPVILLE GRANDROCK must improve though can step up on this circuit and not far off #10 IMPERIAL HANOVER a lightly raced four-year-old coming out of the common race on 9/15 with the blanket at the wire making his place result not that much better than the others from that race and should be shorter given the “2” on paper. 

#1 HOLDEN STEADY is an upgrade from the 9/17 at a slightly higher level trip lacking room when making his move with the race slowing late and overall competitive nature to the field. He shares some running lines with others in this field including, #10 INCREDIBLE BOMBAY one that is seeking his first win of the year though has maintained form and with a return to this circuit. 

As an individual, #4 MAGGIE AT BAT makes sense in the role of the favorite, though in terms of trip, she needs pace to run at and could have that as her main hurdle today. On that same “pace” note rival #8 LION VIRGIN coming back from the same 9/15 common race caught the eye with her strong late run and pat the wire, though another that can need pace to target and a more assertive ride today.

#9 ROAN BY DESIGN looked to be “given” the race on 9/10 and showed run in spots though not to the lever of that competition. She projects to improve in this field and class level as well as return to front running ways, perhaps that tactical assist on her main rivals.

A subtle class change is in play for both #2 SHEZ SELFCONTAINED and #3 ROCKNROLL DAKOTA from the common race on 9/15 and on the day not much between the two where the board could serve as the separator.

#6 ERIS has some positional speed and one that should move up as she finds the much required class relief coming back from the higher level event last Friday - overmatched. #5 RUNAWAY DELIGHT has some tactical speed and that could carry in this field and for her local debut.        

7-GUITAR MAN-Monster in the making

8-YOU NEVER CAN TELL-Just paced a very fast mile

2-LOVE IS BLUE-Forget last; can grab a share

3-FOX VALLEY PATRIOT-Guns them down late

4-FOX VALLEY JASPER-More effective from this post

2-FOX VALLEY PRESLEY-Could lead most of the way

3-TELSTAR-Dangerous on the lead

4-JIMMY THE DUKE-Huge win off long layoff in last

7-WESTWIND IDEAL-In from tougher meet

7-FOX VALLEY JULIAN-Set track record two races back and won again

6-GORGEOUS BIG GUY-Never worse than second

5-FREEDOM’S PLAYBOY-Scored first win impressively

10-VINNY LOU-Can overcome 10 hole

3-MAJOR HARLEY-2^nd both Haw starts

5-KOA-Last says getting it together; big threat

5-FOX VALLEY DURHAM-Just looks faster than the rest

2-RED HOT SKY-Good spot for first win

7-FOX VALLEY YORK-Finishes fast; can surprise

5-FOX VALLEY LANDEN-Reeled off 8 wins in 9 tries this year

2-FOX VALLEY LANGLEY-Good here at two

6-ILLINI JETSET-Won the Incredible Finale Final last year

7-CHECKME-Tough trip in local debut

3-PLAYTOROCK-Likely attacks late

10-IMPERIAL HANOVER- Tough post but just missed

5-DASH AROUND-Won last time Husted drove this level

10-INCREDIBLE BOMBAY-In the hunt a lot lately

9-AL’S HAMMERED-Off a year; anything left?

4-MAGGIE AT BAT-Recent form says she’s the one

2-SHEZ SELFCONTAINED-Expecting improved effort tonight

9-ROAN BY DESIGN-Maybe left alone on the lead