Handicapper Tips & Picks

Hartman will send out a capable pair in this race making individual changes to compete. #3 ENCHANTED NILE comes back to Oaklawn fresh with the class drop in a different portion of her form cycle. Prior to her run here in January she was racing into shape and pointing to the FG claiming crown and off that place finish just given the race to start off the year and while off the board set a solid pace to present a flow upgrade and based on that form could position herself as the speed of the speed. Distance is the main question for #7 HONEY RUN. Her form and figures fit for this level and has a slight freshening with the 40-days coming into this event, a change from the prior route allowance races this season back on shorter rest while dealing with different WEATHER impacted racing surfaces.

#2 SUNNY ISLE BEACH has back numbers and form over this Oaklawn course and route distance to compete with today’s group. She has been protected since claimed from those 2022 claiming races and takes the drop for the first time for these connections. 

#3 MO TAP could hold intent for this spot making his second appearance this season. They were entered as part of an entry last Saturday in a $10k N2 and scratched for this spot. Torres is the first call rider for this outfit and was not named on that day though does show up here. #4 KID SHELLEEN follows a similar second-off pattern into this race. He made a WIDE MOVE into the show finish just over a week ago and should hold fitness returning here in this event. #6 AMERICAN ICON drops in class as he returns to Oaklawn in this second start of the season and remains sprinting with the return as well. The changes paired with his current form fit with today’s conditions though does not hold any overall edge and still must show up with a top effort. 

#5 TAKING CHARGE DESI picks up a better draw with the return today and could make all the difference for her in the outcome. She has held her form this season and at the right level with enough tactical speed to put herself in the race and Fuentes aboard last out remains in the saddle.

#3 ADIVA has paired up wins coming into this race and will look to continue that pattern. She took the drop to hold the edge breaking her maiden though handled the step up to winners and takes another step up in condition in this N3. #4 FUNTIMEGIRL has the races on more than on occasion that make her a player in this race including her debut that would make her very tough on repeat. The challenge for her is returning to those races, something she has not been able to do this season, though has had some subtle trips. Prather will make some changes with the blinkers off and a third rider change that could just come together today. 

#3 TWO PRACTICAL turned in a BTL effort on debut last summer and will look to build off that effort in this second start of the season. She had a hurdle returning on March 2^nd giving up recency off the layoff and making the distance change though showed run in spots to recover after the SLOG and chasing a Slow early pace. Some further intent could be in play with the front wraps added that day, a change to look for this afternoon and a rider change made with Bejarano taking over.

#1 QUEEN CLANCY turned in a BTL effort in her RP debut in November and with the circuit switch and distance change held her own on this circuit with the place finish. She did take some pace pressure though also was on a very slow early pace and that did appear to assist – a softer pace that appeared to carry her Dream Walkin Farm stablemate #2 ROSE PARADE on 3/2 and would need to improve off that effort stepping up here to compete.

#7 K’ANTHEIA was also chasing that softer pace with QUEEN CLANCY on 12/29 as the favorite and lost ground without excuse something she continued to do last month finishing off the board and while her number prior to the layoff make her the horse to beat her current form has not been the same and could be short once again here. Her stablemate #6 MY FAVORITE GIRL has some class concerns and number has not shown improvement though she has been consistent and comes into this race with conditioning with a better draw and significant ground loss in the February races. The pattern of SLOG and lack of early speed has been the hurdle for #5 HAPPY HAPPY though she has held her form on this circuit and surface switch showing race to race progression to build on in this third start off the layoff. 

#7 BYZANTINE has buried form and sneaky form this season that could have her in the right time and place for a competitive effort. She returns to a route distance, something she has prior experience with and was the intent for her back on 12/17. She looked well intended for the race that day in the second start off the layoff and making a return to Oaklawn though was unsettled prerace (WASTED) and might have lost her race before it started. She wheeled back in January with a show finish with Bejarano aboard and his presence is noted here.

#9 SALASALITA VERDE is a recent maiden winner this season with plenty of foundation and figures to compete in this spot. There could be further intent as she was claimed off that maiden win stepped up to $20k two weeks later against winners and comes right back in a softer claiming event holding her form along the way. #3 FEARLESS KRISTIE follows a similar second off the claim and race-to-race pattern from the 3/3 common race with similar intent all around for connections that have done little wrong this meet. 

#4 HONORABLE MISCHIEF takes the class drop as she returns from the layoff to make her sophomore debut. With the time off improvement could be projected from the juvenile season figures numbers that are not far off many of the sophomore numbers recorded in this field. #7 SHE’S NOT A JOKE has the benefit of local experience and foundation with the improvement at this level on this circuit. The rider change and tactics was what she needed to put herself in the race and gaining confidence with the improving finishing positions since her BTL debut place finish last June. #1 BUSINESS AS USUAL also wheels back from that 3/7 event and on the day had questions with the distance change though the class drop appeared the right move for her abilities overmatched in MSW company.

#3 TAKER BACK had a legit EX – EXCUSE on debut and claimed out of that first start she was not at the right level first off the claim earlier this month in MSW company. That race should provide some fitness setting a Fast early pace for the level and distance as she cuts back, drops back down to MCL and could present further intent with the rider change to Barbosa with the apprentice weight break.

#9 FROSTY VI takes the drop from MSW to MCL for her second start and while that change is notable the circuit change makes this move almost lateral if not even a step up on this circuit and must improve something to factor as she projects to get attention not only with the class change but for the connections. 

#3 BACKSIDE BUZZ follows an every other pattern and returns to Torres and the 2/11 conditions that had him competitive both at the class level, finishing position and solid speed figures that fits on par. #4 ABSOLUTE CHAOS will utilize the same races to race pattern wheeling back for this race second off the claim for Shea Stuart. The changes with intent in this spot should also allow this pair to present more early speed and effective with that trip and tactical change.

A contentious and fast early pace is what #6 LEAGUE OF LEGENDS requires to compete and has not had that scenario often in his career or this season. There is a scenario where that does unfold today and as they come into this race with buried and current form this could be the time and place and to play as well likely overlooked in this field.

As noted, trainer Jordan Blair has been sending out live runners and tough to dismiss off that trend. They return with #8 TRIPLE ELVIS one that could and must take a step forward in this second start of the season and on this circuit though on his best day fits. 

#5 UPSTRIKER has look in this spot as he makes his second start off the layoff and with legit early speed. He might have needed the race off the three month break and some slight setbacks into that spot. The timing, conditioning and rider change could present further intent all around and back to a top effort and his front running ways. His early speed could be necessary to keep #8 TEE BURNS honest one that has legit early speed and can be dangerous if left alone up front.

#9 RUGGS takes a big drop to compete here. While that type of drop especially off a layoff can come with reservations, the move just might be a function of timing for the connections looking for a win this meet and for this five year old to find where he fits at this point in his career.

#6 TROPIC STORM will make his first start off the claim for Diodoro and some subtle changes returning here. The blinkers being most obvious though the timing could be even more key his two prior start this season especially the 2/3 effort showing multiple moves through adversity was a sneaky good race and might not have been ideal timing wheeling back on short rest on 2/23.

#1 WILLOW CREEK ROAD has been moving forward with each race and on class fits all around. He will be tested for stamina, stretching back out for the first time this season, though a similar conditioning pattern from last year.

Today’s route distance shifts the preference to #5 MAN IN THE CAN over #9 ONE TEN STADIUM for Moquett. MAN IN THE CAN comes into this race with stronger form than it may appear on paper with the running lines and finishing positions. He was likely “given” the race coming off the  layoff last month and upgraded chasing WIDE against the track profile two weeks ago. Rival #6 DINNER AT CRUMPIES also wheels back from that 2/9 common race and also raced WIDE against the profile; he turned in a huge effort something tough to knock though in this case it could be potentially taxing with the timing wheeling back on short rest and minimal recovery time.

#8 IMPLICATOR is also upgraded chasing against the track profile in his local return last month. He was compromised by the ride poor start and timing, something they will look to improve on today coming back with the blinkers on. Torres was aboard last out and sticks with #4 LOCHMOOR one that might at this point be the “best” horse in the race and one that already won under similar conditions back in January. He has shown he is capable, but he has not proven himself at the route distance  and he has that hurdle here at what is projected to be a shorter number. 

#3 MARTINI BLU comes back and cuts back for this second start of the season. He should be fit with the conditioning last month and a flow upgrade staying on as the BOS through a solid pace before tiring late with the top two finishers together at the wire. The timing could suggest intent and placement while in for the same $10k tag, the race par is slightly softer.

#5 RISK PROFILE was reclaimed by Asmussen after losing him from the 1/6 event. This spot is a similar condition though a lower race par and appears well placed waiting out the timing and condition book. While this one is logical, he has shown the pattern of breaking SLOG this season and trip must be considered and carried to rival #11 BLACK STORM once again. #8 DRILL’S LI’L MAN could be upgraded with the post position change and moving off the rail for the first time this season. That perhaps played a role last out where they appeared well intended with the class drop second off, though a poor start had him compromised behind horses inside early. They have more early speed and likely to be the tactical plan today with a clean break and a rider change made. #2 MOR BIG LEE will get another chance this season after getting scratched at the gate earlier this month. They will return under similar though different restricted claiming conditions with Torres sticking aboard.