Handicapper Tips & Picks

This race has a group of “new” faces and horses returning from layoffs. #9 GENIE INA BOTTLE is given the preference though with a tough draw outside. She carries more upside making her four-year-old debut whereas #6 IDEAL TOY shows up here as a nine-year-old and #7 INTHESKYROCKET A giving up recency in her local debut without an edge over the local group off her form this season.

C. Stewart sticks with #8 LOOK KIMBO in this spot and she is on an “every other” pattern that also come with the change in class returning o the level where she has been competitive this season. In terms of #5 ADMIT, she returns off a new top and in similar form cycle patterns, she has shown some regression off a top, though her consistency can get in the mix today.

This group is not as “fast” as some of the others and given the inside draw to assist: #1 CASTILLE will give up some recency returning from the 10/7 race – she was given a follow with a BTL effort and much more competitive than the line and finishing position suggests. #3 DUNE DAME was upgraded from 10/6 and further upgrade running against the bias inside on 10/13. Rival #4 GO WITH FLOW also given an upgrade going back to the sneaky good effort in her own right that day and returns with a driver change.

This field ran in a common race back on 10/8: #5 JUSTA HINTOF SPICE led the group with the effort and outcome. #6 JUSTA NOTHER BAG projected to improve with a BTL effort in his 5^th place finish and did just that coming back at HoP on 10/18 to win. #2 ROCK PARTY is much better than her two races this season and given an excuse in that common race has every right to rebound here.

#3 DOUBLE PARKED finds class relief from the races this season and looks to be in the right spot for the win and to catch on the front end. #1 MY UPTOWNE GIRL has some early speed though not the speed of DOUBLE PARKED though could sit the trip in a position to stay on for a share and can improve off the 10/1 effort. B. Bates jumps to #5 JD’S QUEEN LORI for trainer H. Herrera and could be the more intended of the two - #2 IDEAL’S NICOLE coming off a win at a slightly lower condition last out. 

The lone filly, #7 DESIRED LUCK stacks up in this group. She has paced some of the fastest races this season and finds class relief off the two most recent starts and since the 9/15 win. #9 FREEDOM’S PLAYBOY has been compromised with the draw in his recent starts and while he is outside again today, his class edge at this level can overcome.

#3 TELSTAR is logical as the favorite with form that fits today’s condition and preferred over the rivals from common races including, #5 ISLE COACH, the likely second choice. #4 CCCULATER could still be a race out as he has been off a long time, though keying off the juvenile form, those races stack up on par and could still present upside off those efforts given maturity. His stablemate #9 MAZIN BLAZIN as a juvenile, also projects overall upside, though has a tough test here giving up recency and taking on older. 

#5 WILD ROSA has been consistent all season and shows up here with the circuit switch and into this event, where she stacks up as a strong contender.

#6 GRACEFUL HORIZON has back numbers and class to fit on par and coming off an excuse on 9/24 and competitive race on 10/7 (a common race with #7 ROCK IT OUT and #8 TELL THE DREAM) looks intended here by trainer/driver T. Warren.

Numbers a little softer for the inside group of runners and those coming out of common races this season: #4 LORRAINE SMOKE was favored in the common race back on 10/1 and with back numbers could return to a top effort here. She will again face stablemate, #3 DANDY’S MMM one that has held form with common rivals #1 SKEETER MACHINE coming off a perfect trip win and #2 BOMBAY PARKWAY one that has had to settle with trips and picks up a driver change here. 

Looking to get creative here with a couple of horses with buried form, trips this season that have not allowed for them to show their best. #4 CHIPLOSIVE was given a “prep” on 10/1 and despite that pacing line and finishing position, he showed he has “run” and likely to take the step forward to compete here. #6 JACK VERNON was BTL that day and “winning” type effort for the level, despite the 5^th place outcome. #7 PERLUCKY set a solid pace and projects to be on the engine right from the start given his preferred runstyle and outside draw.

#2 LOUSCARDAMON finished behind #3 HEATH BAR (a big effort behind On Higher Ground) last Saturday, though should improve in this spot and off his form this year finding a favorable spot to compete. 

#6 ILIKEMEBETTOR A ships in for Erv Miller and picking up C. Stewart looks well-meant for this spot. He has been consistent in terms of form, figures and picking up some checks though found the competition at HoP a little too tough.

#7 PLAY ME ROCK has been consistent this season and at this level. #8 HE’ZZZ A WISE SKY put in a big race setting one of the faster race paces this season. Some concern as that effort could present some regression, especially as they were all out to win and timing alone could see another jump up today. Place finisher, #4 GET E UP had buried form and ran to it though again finds a tougher test, especially for the win end. 

#1 SNAP KRACKLE NTROT looked to be given a “prep” making a local debut here on 9/30 and looks to have some intent returning here and retaining K. Husted. #4 TANKMETODENNYLAND, the winner of that race returns after a couple starts against tougher and reunites with T. Seekman. In terms of driver change, C. Steward taking back over on #7 LOUS ADONIS with the hopples back on could see a return to a top effort, that has him back in the mix.

Value is the concern with #8 ROCKEFELLER LINDY making a local debut and will be forced to work a trip. The opposite end of a trip for #6 POKO LOKI with his early speed and should be right on the engine here with T. Warren in the bike. 

The change in draw could assist #1 SOMESTARSANDI to try and turn the tables on #10 FIRST OF HER NAME wheeling back from a dominant win last Sunday. #9 READ BTWN THE LIES has been solid all season and the edge over the rivals she returns from common races (#3 DRINKING AND DREAM) with, though has a class test here with those two class droppers. 

#4 SONIC FLARE looks to be much shorter than he has been this season though logical off that current form and racing against the bias last Friday. #5 MISTER SLEAZE also fits logically off his form this season and appears intent with the driver change to C. Stewart. #8 JIM STRIKEITRICH missed his local debut last week and will give up even more recency, that being the main knock as his form stacks right up with this group. 

#2 TOOKADIVEOFFDIPPER is double upgrade with the class drop and pace upgrade returning from 10/15 against the flow. They were well intended last week and that should continue here, C. Leonard back in the bike. #4 BRANDON HANOVER was compromised with the trip failing as the favorite last week under similar conditions and still turned in a “winning” effort from the visuals.

#8 ROCKIN MEDICINE finishing third in the 10/15 common race, should hold their form right back in this race. Driver, J. Franco has struggled this season, though could have a live one coming back with #1 FOX VALLEY CRETE taken out of his runstyle last Friday on the off track and has the class to compete at this level. 

#4 BET MINE returns to this circuit and with some class relief off his races this season. He has been holding his form and form against solid rivals, Play Me Rock and He’zzz A Wise Sky. #5 RJ ROCKS will step up in class coming off a dominant win last Sunday. His overall form this season, stacks up against most in this field and on his best day with BET MINE.

Morning line longshot, #10 LUCKONURSIDE has competitive form at this level keying off the 9/24 effort and can improve from the 10/13 trip racing against the bias. A driver change with T. Seekman could project further intent. Sophomore #7 FOX VALLEY JASPER will be class tested against those other two, though comes into this race in form and back with regular driver, C. Stewart. 

#6 PERCEPTIVE is one we might not have seen the best from yet. That must be kept in mind when looking at her figures compared to others in the field. She debuted back in June sprinting and off the visuals projected to need more ground. She required time before returning last month and showed more run than the line suggests making a MOVE X_FLOW not the ideal TACTIC- from the rail. She has the fitness for this start with the added ground and second of the cycle with added intent with the rider change.

#10 OPENING BUZZ will give up some recency returning in this spot but returning in a spot where she can compete. She fits on class, speed and for today's conditions and has been able to fire fresh. Her class allows for versatility in terms of working a trip and can fit today's race shape with her RunStyle. The IMPROVE Projection was given in her most recent start, the Giant's Causeway Stakes back in April and has been entered (trainer scr) twice since, an allowance at KYD and a graded stakes at PID both in September and has kept up consistent training coming into this race.

#8 QUEROBIN DOURADA is pace and trip dependent though otherwise fits and looks to have some intent showing up here. She closed X_FLOW to finish second in the Giant's Causeway at 87-1 and showed that was no fluke coming back to win an allowance in her next start.

#3 REDEEMER looks pointed for this spot and a return to with intent for the connections. He comes into this race off another layoff but also with buried and progressive form. He improved with each start of the dirt even the race over this course last October compromised by the TROUBLE_S, forced to race WIDE X_FLOW impacting his outcome and speed figure. He showed his potential though again had adversity earning a B OptixGRADE and strong 98 OptixFIG, both on par as a contender. 

The 8-1 morning line sits as more than fair odds with #6 ALL I WANT IS YOU. She carries upside going back to her debut over this course in April recording a solid 89 OptixFIG, a number that sits on the higher side of today's OFR/Par and co-highest in the field isolating turf sprints. As far as current form, she is upgraded from the 9/22 CD allowance when in against older males and higher OFR/par than today's event back in with fillies - and potentially straight sophomores with the two four-year-old fillies sitting on the AE.

#5 SUGAR FISH turned in a BTL effort at DMR on debut and can improve wheeling back in three weeks with the added ground given the STRETCH Projection off her visuals. 

#6 BARSABAS returns to the course and distance where he has run some of his career best races. His most "recent" win was over this course and distance back in November 2021 though did post a B OptixGRADE with the BTL BLANKET show finish here in May under today's starter allowance conditions. His current form has kept up and stayed consistent keeping in mind the higher class and shorter distance series of races at DMR. He looks well spotted for this event and fresh from that summer meet; value should stick off the recent running lines paired with the connections. 

#1 PALAGIO has been a longtime maiden and some value is required to play with that race record. Looking over his races, he has yet to run a "bad/Red" race and some of his more competitive effort and figures have come here at Santa Anita. 

Closing out the card, #4 DARK MARCUS will get a lot of attention as one of the older horses in the field with the higher speed figures. With that said, he has almost come up shorter without much excuse and even come up short at the maiden claiming level and that could open the door for another in the field. #1 MAXVILLE must improve on speed figures as he has been consistent since the debut. If he is to take the step forward this would be the time and with the BTL August 31st race to key off of racing X_BIAS. #3 CHROME TO RICHES also looks to be sitting on a top effort. This will be his third start back off the layoff and finds class relief exiting a wide trip against open company last month. #7 CITY OF ANGELS had an excuse with a hard bump at the start on debut and improved in his second start to post a 78 OptixFIG; a repeat and translation of that effort here puts him in the mix. 

8-LOOK KIMBO-Won the last two times he raced this level here

5-ADMIT-Overcame years without a win in last

3-DUNE DAME-Last suggests she’s rounding into form

5-JUSTA HINTOF SPICE-2^nd last two this level

3-ROCKYROAD ALDO-Improved with L1; maybe even better at L2

4-NEVER MIND N-Needed last; speed threat

5-JD’S QUEEN LORI-Interestingly Bates chose this one over 3 others

3-DOUBLE PARKED-Speedy enough to lead throughout

2-IDEAL’S NICOLE-Scored in two of last three

7-DESIRED LUCK-Meets much easier; L2

9-FREEDOM’S PLAYBOY-Better chance with stakes exit

5-SUPER SHARK-Great at fairs; 2^nd in Haw debut

9-MAZIN BLAZIN-Think he’s finally ready to rock

3-TELSTAR-In competitive form for months

8-IMPERIAL HANOVER-Improves with second Lasix

5-WILD ROSA-Indy shipper will be tough

7-ROCK IT OUT-In great form; may be tough on the lead

8-TELL THE DREAM-Surprised in 2 Opens already this meet

1-SKEETER MACHINE-Never far off the pace

7-PERLUCKY-Outside post might not matter; catch me

2-LOUSCARDAMON-3^rd start of the year; might be ready

6-JACK VERNON-Expect strong finish

8-HE’ZZZ A WISE SKY-In control every step of the way

7-PLAY ME ROCK-Won both local Opens

6-ILIKEMEBETTER-Been racing in Hoosier opens

8-ROCKEFELLER INDY-Should be best with the class drop

2-DAWN OF CREATION-Found a much easier spot

4-TANKMETODENNYLAND-Could display surprising speed

10-FIRST OF HER NAME-Gets the nod despite the post

9-READ BTWN THE LINES-Reeled off four straight wins

1-SOMESTARSNDI-Been in competitive form lately

4-SONIC FLARE-Likely tough with the drop in class

1-FRANKIEPARK-Might leave them all behind quickly

8-JIMSTRIKEITRICH-Hoosier invader might be fastest of these

2-TOOKADIVEOFFDIPPER-Seems to outclass this group

9-JIMMY THE DUKE-Won 3 of 4 in 2023; 2^nd in the other

8-ROCKIN MEDICINE-Needed last after long layoff

4-BET MINE-Looks considerably faster than his foes

7-FOX VALLEY JASPER-Won 9 of 19 races; always a threat

5-RJ ROCKS-Quick off the gate; catch me