Handicapper Tips & Picks

#10 TICKTOCK TICKTOCK has the outside draw as the main hurdle as her form this season stacks up with this group and appears in the right time and place for the win. As far as her races this season, there was a legit trip excuse on 9/17 and 9/23, followed up with the 9/29 race against older and caught wide with off timing as she returns from the 10/7 event. Longshot, #7 SAGE’S SANDSTORM fits right in with this group and upgraded on value alone. Her most competitive start this season was back on 9/17, a condition similar to today finding class relief from the two more recent starts. 

#1 HONOLOULOU turned in a BTL effort despite the racing line and finishing position on 10/8, that effort was a step forward from her prior local starts. One of those being a common race back on 9/24 catching the eye from that event, #6 FOX VALLEY JESSIE with a BTL effort getting shuffled back in traffic playing a role in the 4^th place outcome.

#3 LITTLE CHIPPER caught the eye way back at the start of the meet on 9/10 and earned a follow. He had some setbacks before returning on 10/8 and projects a move forward in this second start of the form cycle. #2 D’LOUIGI showed something with adversity on 9/24 and similar last week (10/8) though unable to overcome the outside draw forced to use early moving up into a solid pace before losing ground. The post change today could make a difference to at the least allow him to show his ability. 

#1 FOX VALLEY KODIAK returns from 10/6 Race 9 and holds the edge from that group, his overall form this season and positive driver change with Stewart back today.  That was a big effort from #4 GOTTA GO GRAM on 10/6, though the class question still looms as he has struggled to put forth that “winning” race at this level. Looking through this field, that same question is present on most and can be the equalizer to move them up today especially with all the horses returning from an October 6^th race and the 7^th race, the event GOTTA GO GRAM returns from might have been stronger than the 9^th race, upgrading #5 ASHLEECOLDMUFFLER and #8 DOWNTOWNLEROYBROWN as well. 

There is a group in this field with HoP form and finding some class relief that could assist for both #5 RYANS AMBASSADOR (second start on the circuit, not asked for best on 10/7) and #8 JIM STRIKESITRICH looking to get back to form in this spot. #7 SILVERSTONE also held HoP form this season and while he might not be as “fast” as the other two on his best day, he carries upside, solid current form and has been competitive at this level this season.

#1 THREE GRAND is upgraded as he makes his second start of the meet, was able to get fitness setting a solid pace last week and returns with a driver change to K. Wilfong to suggest further intent today. A driver change is also present on #4 WATT A HARDY and similar second-off form cycle that projects a move forward from the trip and conditioning to step forward to a top effort today.

#2 MR JD is overall softer than some of today’s rivals to sit as a prime contender, though finds some subtle changes with the driver and back to the level from 9/24, where he turned in his most competitive race this season, that effort puts him in the mix for a share. 

#1 UNHYNGED SPEED has some of the strong back numbers that stand out in this group and catches a softer group than most of his starts this season. He has not been on the level of the competition this meet, but as this field lines up he move up. 

Giving #1 ONE R ANDIS STAR the edge over rival #7 DANDY’S SHOWTIME as they return from Race 10 on 10/7. DANDY’S SHOWTIME was able to move up late with the race flow and her overall effort was right in line with ONE R ANDIS STAR, one that made an early wide move. The post change for the pair and projected value assigned by the morning line are further factors in play to separate the pair. 

#1 BIG FLICKA reunites with M. Rogers and could suggest intent given the “trips” this season under J. Franco. Based on her form this season, she looked to be sitting on a top effort on 10/7 however the poor tactics, had her well off the pace early and showing interest but left with far too much to do to contend for a top spot. #9 ADALECIA has moved up here at Hawthorne and comes back with conditioning from the 10/7 start after missing a few weeks. She shares common races with many in this field, including getting the better of BIG FLICKA back in July. #3 KARATOP MOOSS should present a move forward today as she looked to be “given” the race coming off the barn change on 10/7 and returns here from that event with a positive driver change. 

#2 RJ ROCKS stands out in this field as he ships in to make his local debut and considerable class relief off his races this season. #3 ARNIE ARMY has been progressive this season and should continue to hold his form and take another step forward in this spot, given the slight preference over rival #4 FRANKIEPARK returning from the 10/8 common race.

#7 CAMMILLS MONEY MAN is a three-year-old against older and much older given some of the horses in this field. He can present upside on that alone as he has started to show progression this season and projects to improve once again from the 10/6 visuals. Similar age and maturity upside could carry to #8 ONE BAD DRAGON, though based on the morning line appears shorter than the two and not any edge to compensate for the price discrepancy. 

#8 FOX VALLEY REEVA just sneaks into this condition light on earnings and holds an all around edge over today’s group. Trying to get creative with an under the radar price, #10 ENVIOUS ANGEL can project some upside in this third start of the cycle and some progressive form. She returns from the 10/6 race, a competitive event overall and a race where she was in against older and now returns to straight juvenile company. 

The connections looked to be giving #4 TOOKADIVEOFFDIPPER the race on 10/1 not asked at any point of call and with that start under his belt, C. Leonard back in the bike, a honest effort with the move forward is projected today.

Both #6 CLEARCHOICE DE VIE and #8 RUSH TO JUDGEMENT hold wins at this level with the edge of the two today to RUSH TO JUDGEMENT with intent fresh for this race to repeat a top effort. #9 ROCKIN PULSE also picked up the win here back on 9/17 though had the race flow flatter his off the pace RunStyle and trip much be factored into the price.

The effort from #3 TREY ROCKETTE was right in line with the winner, #7 LUCK ON THE BEACH and can present upside off that BTL effort and projects to be much higher of the two on the board. Longshot #1 FRANKSNATIVEWESTERN has some buried form this season and can step up for a minor share. 

#1 COURBE has the foundation to stretch out around two turns in this third career start. She was given a class test last month at CD in the Pocahontas (G3) with upside from that experience given the trip (SLOG, WIDE) and timing with Pletcher cold during that meet. 

#7 EXEMPLIFIED moved up on the class drop last month at CD and returns today under similar conditions, more than fair odds at the 6-1 ML. He should be able to hold his form, if not even take a step forward given a subtle trip in that place finish.

#8 CLOUDY ran a career best race over this course almost a year to the date and looks to have intent coming back today. The trainer pattern is similar as that race last year making the KYD to KEE shift. CLOUDY given that "tightener" last month still turned in a decent effort dealing with TRAFFIC and giving up recency on the day in his first start back in 315-days. 

#6 SWEET VIOLET caught the eye in her debut at Ellis Park back in late July. She Projected to IMPROVE and did just that last month at CD making a solid MOVE and CLOSE on the pacesetting winner, Our Keepsake, passing her on the GALLOP+ out. She earned a B OptixGRADE, a "winning" type Grade for the level and overall upgraded for that effort at a time when the Wilkes barn was COLD. 

#5 I HAD THAT ONE TOO returns under conditions where she ran BTL in her two most recent starts at DMR. In both races she ran competitive despite finishing off the board. She should have the race pace to run at for her RunStyle and even can sit a little closer if asked from Hernandez, the jockey taking over today. 

9-TICKTOCK TICKTOCK-Tough with class relief

3-DRINKING AND DREAM-Speed could lead all the way

6-DANDY’S MS SWIFTY-Expect better with Casey as pilot

3-LOUS ESMERALDA-Can wire them if she stays flat

1-HONOLOULOU-Short-priced favorite could be vulnerable

6-FOX VALLEY JESSIE-Finished in the money in most starts

3-LITTLE CHIPPER-Maybe in full control throughout

4-GRITTY GATOR-First Lasix may be big help

2-D’LOUIGI-Respect the connections

1-FOX VALLEY KODIAK-Should nail them late

5-ASHLEECOLDMUFFLER-Threat to steal this on the lead

4-GOTTA GO GRAM-Finished third in last two

1-THREE GRAND-Rail speed might not get caught

5-RYANS AMBASSADOR-Was in too tough in local debut

8-JIM STRIKEITRICH-Hoosier shipper figures prominently

5-FOX VALLEY PRESLEY-Just seems faster than the rest

1-UNHYNGED SPEED-Rail could give him the advantage

4-FOX VALLEY TREASON-Second vs easier in last two

7-DANDY’S SHOWTIME-Comes from far back to take them

1-ONE R ANDIS STAR-Class and post position relief helps

4-SOUTH GATE SALLY-Usually in the hunt

8-ILLINI BELLE-Never worse than third

7-FIRST OF HER NAME-Beaten favorite in last leg of “Tillie”

6-SOMESTARSANDI-Could be in the thick of things throughout

4-FRANKIEPARK-Forget last; won 2 back this level

2-RJ ROCKS-Indy shipper might wire the field

1-ARCHETTO HANOVER-In good form for last month

8-FOX VALLEY REEVA-Looks best by far

5-DEBRA D-Had promising qualifier

1-JIMMYLAI-Could get the right trip today

4-TOOKADIVEOFFDIPPER-Last was only a prep; drops to score

6-CLEARCHOICE DE VIE-Scored in last two

7-LUCKONTHEBEACH-Might finish fastest of all

8-RUSH TO JUDGEMENT-Won last two late