Handicapper Tips & Picks

Kelly Von Hemel will send out a pair in this race: #4 SHE’S TABOO finds a lateral change in class from the debut last May and subtle flow upgrade as she rushed into the lead and a solid early pace before losing ground. #3 MONEY IS TIME will make a belated debut showing up as a four-year-old. She was working here at Oaklawn last season, unable to make a start, though that suggest some intent for this circuit and can have runners race ready on debut. #1 EVIE’S ENCORE has shown a pattern of SLOG and perhaps that could work in her favor with today’s group. Many in this field have shown brief early speed failing to stick around late and that could allow EVIE’S ENCORE to pick up runners late. 

Going back to the 11/24 common race, #2 DIXIE RAG went off shorter than #1 SPITE LITE and that could be reversed as they return today. SPITE LITE broke SLOG though was able to save ground while DIXIE RAG was shuffled out of position and the race chasing COVERed up against the dynamic/X_FLOW after.  The MCL event those two return from has a higher race strength than the event both #3 CRY IF I WANT TO (one that has come up short as a big favorite twice without excuse) and #8 BUMP IN THE NIGHT exit back on 11/5.

#7 CALIFORNIA CODE makes a local belated debut as she was entered a couple times during the cancelations. She has form at the two turn route distance and makes a lateral change in class to run on this circuit.

#4 GI GIS MAP might not have shown her best yet and this could be the time and place for her to do just that. Going back to her debut, she was favored and raced GREEN unable to fulfil her obligations in that role. She should benefit from the local experience coming back from the 12/31 event especially with the slight change in class. She has been off SLOG in both starts, though from the visuals does appear to hold more tactical speed and that looks to be the plan with all the changes including rider, Harry Hernandez. 

Number wise, #4 DOUGHTY recorded the highest figure in the field with her MSW win last February. The pattern of layoff lines must be noted and likely part of the reason the connections are willing to race for the claiming tag today as she returns off the layoff in her seasonal debut.

#5 GOLD STRATEGY will also run for the claiming tag today a big change from 2023. She has run for the claiming tag going back to the first part of the 2022 season and appeared at the right place for her abilities. She was also consistent in that cycle with the blinkers on, a change returning here. Of the two on the drop GOLD STRATEGY might not be as likely, but she will present value of the pair.

#3 BE MY HUCKLEBERRY returns to make a belated second start this season and can improve off the trip going back to 12/15. She was forced to rate WIDE from off the pace and in hand (NO_PUSH) for most of the race started to MOVE up late down the center of the track. #6 SMARTY’S ANGEL also returns from that 12/15 common race where she was a shorter number coming back from the layoff. She might not have been the best value, though her race was over just as it started breaking a step SLOG then taking a hard bump (TROUBLES+) soon after and from there showed run through TROUBLE. She has been given a reset and a rider change to project a move forward. #7 PETULA the show finisher stayed on with a WIDE trip. She has been an honest type and her maiden win figure from last May put her in the mix in December and back here today.

#8 COROMANDEL does not hold any overall edge and another returning from the 12/15 common race. On the day she broke SLOG and suffered excessive (X_WIDE) ground loss to project a move forward. She also has a sneaky good off-track record and could present a further upgrade on a runners that expects to be longer odds in this field.  

#6 RED D G P will make his first start off the claim and could present intent with the connections showing up on this circuit. They had entered in a $25k N2 back on 12/30 at AQU unable to compete as a vet scratch. Consistency has not been this one’s game, though he has run some select fast races and those races of or near the lead to make they a threat here today.

#2 FUNNY UNCLE has also been less than consistent, though some of his better races to date recorded over this Oaklawn main track. That could be a positive as they return to this circuit and the barn quietly having a strong meet so far. The pace could be contentious enough as they project to chase and make a late run with the return to the 6f distance.

#4 TIM TAL returns from the 1/5 common race and making some changes for this second start off the layoff and claim. He was claimed back for $50k in November and could be seen as “protected” last month in for the $75k tag. He had some adversity out of the gate (TROUBLE_S) and made a WIDE MOVE behind the pacesetting chalk winner, Favorite Outlaw. 

#6 SCOTT CITY did make a few starts last season, though had some excuses with the timing, track conditions and distance when dropping into MCL company. The MCL event last March turned out to be a strong race for the level and was the only time he was in for the tag sprinting. Coming back from the layoff,  he has turned in some steady works and encouraging half mile from the gate on 1/10 and the barn has sent out live runners including a few with Esquivel aboard.

#1 PREACHER’S KID returns for their second start and upgraded off the EX – EXCUSE on debut. He was compromised with the SLOG and from there showed run though forced to stop/start with TROUBLE and continued to GALLOP+ out with overall visuals suggesting this one can IMPROVE and has more to show. His debut figure was not far off the two numbers recorded by fellow AR-bred #3 THIRD WATCH last year and one that makes a lateral change in class racing against older and open company. While capable, he projects to be favored with the connections and coming into this race does not hold any strong edge to justify a shorter number.

#2 DARIO has recorded some of the higher figures in the field on more than one occasion. The 15-1 ML gave him a “longshot” look returning on 1/12 with the added ground in the second start of the meet with the front wrap removal a further positive. His trip was less than ideal forced to rate though overall expected more from him. The connections perhaps felt similar as they wheel right back today and with both the distance and rider change, Vazquez has been effective for this outfit this season. 

Contreras has come out with live runners since opening week and finding the right spot to place horses. That looks to carry with #7 SHANIAH as she makes her third start back off the layoff and has eligibility for this condition. She comes into this race with current form from similar race par events at CD. The former Contreras trainee, #9 ROCK STAR PARKING lands here first off the claim for Diodoro. Her back numbers and form here at Oaklawn make her a major player, the connections appear aggressive with this placement running today for the $10k tag picked up for $30k 51-days ago.

A contentious early pace is one scenario and a scenario that would set up #6 NEVERSAYNOLETSGO. She has form and figures that stack up on her best day and with the pace to close into. As far as current form, the connections wheel right back in just over a week where she was off SLOG and made a MOVE along the inside while having to check encountering TROUBLE. 

#10 SHEZZ KOLDAZICE finds a considerable change in class since the Maker claim and should be in the right spot to compete. Her current form stacks up on par and that includes form over this course and route distance. #6 SICILIAN GRANDMA, a former Maker trainee, has on her best day recorded some of the higher figures in this field. As noted, the live Contreras barn in an earlier race, she has held her form this season in N1 allowance company though has come up short on the win end (or winning effort) and today’s race par does not present the class relief as suggested by the change.

#4 DELPHIA has the one start back on 11/26 that makes her eligible for this condition and takes a subtle drop for this second start of the meet. Going back to the 1/13 event, she chase inside holding in a photo for place as the battle for the day was for the minors as the race winner, Stellar Lily was dominant on the front end. Number wise she must step up though should present some value in comparison to some others in this field with similar figures and project to be shorter perhaps on connections along.

#8 THESTRAL will find a lateral change in class shifting to this circuit and on a quick 10-day turnaround. She was entered as MTO as was the winner, Tiny Temper those two finishing together at the wire. Her presence in this race given her natural early speed should play a role of today’s race shape, something that would change dramatically if she were not present in the field.

#3 KABOOM BABY turned in a solid effort coming off the layoff last month under similar conditions. Throughout her career she has often presented a move forward in the second start of the cycle and has that pattern in play returning in this spot.

#4 GRAMERCY PARK also should benefit from the layoff return in that common race last month. She should also return to show more natural early speed, something she was unable to do with a poor start and WIDE trip last out. #5 UNBRIDLED TWISTER also has shown legit early speed in the past and under Santana. She was fractious in the GATE and that likely had an impact with the start and overall effort and encouraging as she put in a half mile work on 1/30 and retains Santana. Those two capable of showing more early speed will be key to the race and trip as #7 CONNIE K could look to take advantage of the lead and set the 1/13 pace with her stablemate winner, Kantex making the late move from off the pace to win by open lengths as the favorite. 

#1 ONE MORE KELLY has the local experience edge over stablemate #7 ACADEMIC HONOR and Leparoux should take a more assertive approach in this race with the rail draw and coming back from a subtle trip on 1/1. She was stalking in a favorable position before getting SHUFFLEd as others started to make their move. #3 STOIC LUNA also returns from that 1/1 common race where she made a positive PRERACE+ appearance and while did not have any adversity in terms of trip and must improve, this would be the right timing.

#5 INTO DISCO holds a pair of wins over this course and two turn distance last season. She had favorable trips in both races and could fall into similar here with the complexion of this field.

#4 DEMI is cross entered on Saturday and has held her form this season and has form at the two turn distance as she stretches out here keying off the BTL effort last January. She was able to catch the right field and trip picking up the win opening week and ran a new speed figure top in the process. #2 WINDY BAY returns for the second start of the season and fell into the right trip picking up the win. She had yet to run as “fast” as others in the field and must show she can step up in that department to compete here. 

#12 GETOUTOFMYKITCHEN fits at this level to compete and look to clear the maiden condition. Most of her races to date were contested at a higher level or higher race par as was the case on 1/7, where she had a subtle trip impacting the outcome and can IMPROVE. A similar upgrade from the 1/7 common race can be given to #13 DIFFERENTLY currently sitting on the AE.

#4 CHOCTAW BLESSINGS will make her belated debut noting a pair of vet scratches last year in MSW company at PRM. She will debut here as one of the older runners in the field, for capable connections with a live rider in Esquivel.

#7 ADIVA falls into a grey area in the selection process as her speed figures from KEE land in 2022 standout strongly in this field and running back to those efforts she is the clear horse to beat. The challenge as she has not run back to those numbers and has had the layoffs and a lack of excuse since. She has the benefit of local experience coming back from a fine effort on 12/17 though was not the strongest group. Claimed out of that race she will make her first start for Asmussen and a top effort could be projected though with that change the public interest should follow.

The change in class comes into play for #3 CREDITOR and requires some edge as she takes on older. A move forward can be projected as she makes her second start off the layoff and given a flow upgrade as she was hard sent for the lead from the outside post and into a Very Fast early pace before losing ground.