Handicapper Tips & Picks

P 1 Hot Coe Coe 9 Jacinda 6 Ireland Seelster

P 1 Cabot Beach 2 Bet The Bb 3 Strapper Hanover

P 3 Watch Your Tone 8 Dance On The Moon 5 Bet On Lucas

T 7 Grateful 1 Prince Of Sussex 10 Jayport Roadrunner

P 9 Elises Delight 8 Voom Voom 3 Splash Of Pink

T 4 Shes Got Pizazz 3 Memo 8 Royal Leaf

P 10 Pass The Dream 5 Team Colors 7 Indra

P 9 Quentin Quarantino 4 Tricky McWicky 7 Cobra Creek

T 7 Bella Cavalla 5 Jack Fire 2 Phoenix

P 5 Lets Go Jude 4 Shreddar 3 Kyles Art

T 1 Cadillac 6 On The Ropes 9 Tymal Tarot

#6 HAPPY TALK ran competitively on debut despite the 5^th place result made a WIDE MOVE after a SLOG and continued to build off the first start with improving numbers coming into this race. She returns with local experience from the 12/31 event and less than ideal trip/TACTIC- on hold between horses and find a rider change here. The 12/31 common race is one of the stronger events with the winner Pun Intended had been training with stakes stablemates and likely to find stakes company for her next start; horses returning from upgrading the others from that race with HAPPY TALK brushing with #4 AMY Z in the lane, one that had a more favorable trip and projects to be much shorter returning here from the place finish. #3 AVA’S LOOK had a similar covered up (TRAFFIC) trip showing interest making a MOVE and could project a move forward with the experience and just a second start.

#8 OFF THE LAM will make her debut here and have not seen her work though off the published series there is plenty of foundation. The barn is capable with first time starters and with the right horse. Letruska won plenty of races at the top level including one of her first local races here at Oaklawn back in 2020 with Ricardo Santana aboard. 

#1 STOMPING HOTROD moves from one post extreme to another in this second start of the season. The change in post is paired with a significant drop in class and rider change to move up off the experience and fitness back from the WIDE trip. Trip is key for #4 HOLDING PATTERN one that has shown more tactical speed in the past and must stay closer than he has the recent starts to compete. The progression coming into this race is positive, improving with each start and finding a much softer group exiting higher par events in this third start of the cycle.

#6 BLAME JD also returns with the class drop from the 1/1 common race and another that can project to show more tactical speed based on prior form and from the covered up trip returning from the layoff with Hernandez back aboard, however is less appealing at a shorter number in this field. #8 CAMPISI also projects to be on the shorter side, though has some upside in his second start this season returning to statebred company and with threatening early speed.

#11 CITRUS BAY is a longshot to keep on the radar as he has run some of his faster races at Oaklawn and one of those under N. Juarez. His current form leaves something to be desired, though has the local foundation from December and a freshening for this race with the big class shift back to statebred company.

#7 REEF’S DESTINY should be sitting on a peak effort today and placed where he can compete back under statebred claiming conditions. 

#1 PLEASINGLY finds a change in class for the second start this season and with legit early speed along the inside should be in the right spot both on level and trip. She exits a higher MCL event than both #2 ANGELIC VISION and #9 BIG BOLT, both runners upgraded from their trip on the day and at longer odds here to get into the mix.

#3 CHOCTAW GRACE could get overlooked for the connections as she shows up in this spot with buried form with intent for this meet as she was entered under similar condition back on 12/16. Her two sprint races were against MSW and the two MCL starts at the route distance, fair to say she has yet to run a “bad” race with each compromised by ground loss. The lone on the board finish, the CD place finish (and second choice in the wagering to the winner) on 9/20 at CD could suggest she is at the right level for her abilities.

#4 OCEAN BIRD and #12 ART QUEEN are two runners that easily could be in the top three selections however there are some value knocks with BIRD expected to be favored and must improve while ART QUEEN takes the worst of it at the draw.

#4 OCEAN BIRD faced much tougher in her debut and might have faced better horses than any in this field and that is tough to dismiss, though has been off since last October and has a series of local works to suggest intent, though as projected on the morning line should find wagering support. She. #12 ART QUEEN also finds the change in class and was upgraded at the times she was entered during the cancellations, though takes the worst of it at the draw.

#1 BERTIE’S CAUSE had some adversity at the break coming from off the pace to score first out last season and will look to make it a belated 2 for 2. As far as the placement, she will race protected here given the time off and a clever move for the connections that have been forced to be patient off the claim. The poor start should be noted as she has been given time since and might have the ability to show more tactical speed, though there appears to be other proven front running types in this field where a similar off the pace trip could be effective.

#3 PIVOSKY does not hold any strong edge in this field, though has form to fit at this level along with others in the group and should be the higher odds overlooked for the connections and off the recent running lines. She comes into this race with improving form off the layoff and intent back at OP for the connections and cam improve off a subtle 12/30 trip.

A case can be made #11 WHAT’S TO DO is the most logical and justified in the morning line favorite role. With that said, trip must be considered not only from the outside post but with her runstyle as she lacks early speed and must be concerned about losing too much ground at the start both wide and from the others in the field.

McPeek returns with a pair of sophomores that broke their maiden on the lead. While #8 AZTEC EMPRESS has the improving higher figures into this race, #7 MARCO SUNSET has the local experience, is a flow upgrade from the 1/12 race, a race she was likely not at her best for wheeling back in just over a week. 

#11 MIRACLE SHOES has competitive figures and efforts at the MSW level to compete here and looks to be intent with the class drop. The layoff lines throughout her career make this move logical and the timing similar coming back for the second start off the layoff. Looking at the running lines one would expect her to race from off the pace, though the chase in class and complexion of this field could have her closer to the pace than what it appears on paper.

Rivals #4 DR. WOODS MIRACLE and #7 REAUX BINA have the benefit of being older runners and a big class change for their second start of the meet, though at the sprint distance make their run from off the pace , a tougher task on the win end though can keep in the mix for underneath.

#2 LATIFAH takes on older for her second start though will find a change in class and timing as Ortiz has sent out some live runners here as of late. She has the benefit of local experience from opening week, 12/8 and the two runners that have come back from that event, the 8^th and 10^th place finishers (Presley’s Turn and Natural Touch) improved their figures this month and both finishing second.

#3 FIRST CLASS GIRL was scheduled to debut back on 1/14 and has been rerouted here for the first start. She has some challenges with the timing and against older, though could be live for the connections and with Torres aboard as this team has connected in similar categories in prior seasons often at big numbers.

#2 THERESASILVERLININ wheels back from a subtle trip against a higher starter allowance group three weeks ago over a drying out race track. The outside post played a role in the trip and ground loss and the 4^th place result, a blanket for the minors as the top two ran on from off the pace. #3 TYRONA has buried local form as each of the five starts on this circuit was in against allowance/MSW company. She should be at the right level for her abilities here and with current form in this third start of the season. #8 SHELL SHOCK does not find a class change returning under similar conditions from 1/1, though upgraded off the trip, visuals and projects to IMPROVE all around and find herself more competitive today. 

Conditioning or lack of is the concern with #1 ICARUS one that was entered three times during January given a look at the time based on intent and prior Oaklawn form. He clearly was unable to compete through the cancellations and could be a hurdle with the most recent start back in early December and does not show a published work during January. #4 WINDCRACKER also entered at times last month and also gives up recency though will trade for tactical speed, intent and form over this course and distance.  #11 CANADIAN PHAROAH is unproven over the dirt, though has held his form on the turf and synthetic and has tactical speed, class, figures on par that fit at this condition. 

#6 LEGADEMA broke her maiden earning a strong figure on debut at a time during the CD meet for a live barn. She was tested 30-days later in stakes company and at the two turn distance. The race outcome was not as expected as the second choice, though should benefit from the foundation and looks to have come out of the race well working twice since and shows up here.

#4 DEBOISBLANC also showing up from a stakes at the FG, though is more of a lateral move in terms of race par and her established form does not project much upside at this point.

#5 CURLIN’S MAGIC remains protected as stablemate #1 HITTIN MY STRIDE races today for the higher claiming tag. Number wise there is not much between the two though MAGIC was on the improve leading up to the stakes at ZIA and should continue to build off those races in this sophomore debut.

#9 XTREME DIVA should benefit from the local experience and conditioning from the 12/17 event. The outside post forced their hand and were caught WIDE on a Fast early pace DUEL, playing a role in the outcome. She comes back today with a rider change as well as Lasix and looking to get the connections going this meet.

The outside post and giving up recency creates some knocks on #12 COPPER EM one that can be upgraded from the 11/26 allowance back around one turn. 

There are some specific conditions to today’s starter allowance and makes for a competitive field. Broberg will be represented by a pair in this race with consideration to both runners. #1 RED N WILD up until last fall had run against much tougher including his one race on this circuit in allowance company back in 2021 as a sophomore. #7 BANDERA AZTECA has the benefit of recency and current form coming into this race. Class wise this is a lateral move coming back from the conditional claiming win last out with a WIDE trip over a drying out race track.

#8 MIDNIGHT SPECIAL will look to get the connections the first win of the meet. While they have yet to take the photo many from the barn are firing. Off that trend, it only a matter of time for that first win and this could be the horse as one that fits the condition, holds current form and a runstyle with tactical speed to get a trip in today’s race shape. He could be overlooked of that group that includes #2 MAN ON THE MOON, #9 HAPPYMAC and expected favorite, #12 ARIDEOFALIFETIME.

Trip will be key for #10 WYFIRE from the outside and coming back from a TROUBLE trip when he was forced to check early taken out of his runstyle and unable to compete coming up short as the favorite 1/6 behind rival, BANDERA AZTECA. That one race last month is the race that makes him eligible here and a clever placement for these connections first off the claim. 

BAYAKOA (G3)

#8 SKRATCH KAT will get another opportunity in stakes company and appears well intended in this spot. While off the board in the two recent stakes races, her visuals and closing run were BTL and should have some pace here to close into. The pace should be honest with #7 HOT AND SULTRY one that has legit early speed though has shown some distance limitations and should be kept honest with #6 COMPARATIVE on her inside. COMPARATIVE is more established of the two at the route distance while does not hold any speed or class edge over HOT AND SULTRY. Franco comes into ride and while he has a mount for Cox in R8, this spot seems the reason they are in town. #9 SHOTGUN HOTTIE is not a need the lead though has enough tactical speed to put herself in the race and will be required to do so with the outside draw. She was able to find an outside stalking trip picking up the win over this course and distance last March under Torres and should look to find similar here.