Handicapper Tips & Picks

#2 MACHO STRIKER had a look earlier this month off some buried form in his first two starts. He will find a change today to run for a tag and shift to open company. The race par and purse is lower that could move him up naturally. A similar change comes into play for #1 GENTLE BEN to take on open. He will distance change back at the sprint distance. He has upside off his trips this year and some consistency with another honest effort to be along for a share. Both of these runners have shown early speed and that could be an advantage in this field.

#5 LAST DIAMOND could present some upside in this second start and with a class drop. He debuted two weeks ago and over a course that was tough to make up ground and the winner was clear by open lengths. #6 KANT CONQUER ME and #7 DAY JO return under similar conditions exiting the 3/3 common race with DAY JO earning the better outcome and higher earned figure though the 6yo could find a tougher group here.  

#8 TAP VALLEY could be okay in this group as they have been consistent though have not shown improvement. Perhaps this is the time for them in the second start off the layoff though must improve and could be short given the connections. 

#3 MITOLE’S LEGACY will give up recency making her first start of the year. She improved race to race last year, and the second start was game behind a pacesetting winner with a subtle trip. Both of those July races in her juvenile season and a lateral move in class to shift to this circuit with intent off the local works as well for the new barn.

With those races and juvenile figures recorded from MITOLE’S LEGACY some improvement projection could be given and currently those numbers sit higher than rival #8 TORREY STREET one that will also make a lateral change to MCL company on this circuit and while she has had the WEATHER impacted race days she has not shown much in either start and must get faster to compete. A case could be made for TORREY STREET though not at the shorter number projected given the connections.

#4 CATHOLIC SUE moves up on the class drop. She turned in a competitive effort back in late January though overall not on the MSW without improvement figure wise. That should transfer here holding her form and finding a rider change with Torres taking over.

#2 SHARP ATTACK will debut for Rosin and the barn is capable with FTS. She has been on the grounds all meet and some concern making a late debut though if race ready and with some run she could make an impact in this group – something that carries to the other debuting runners as well. 

#2 JUST LIKE MAGIC would be no surprise in this race with the class drop and some of her better races to date positioning her strongly as the horse to beat. It was an ambitious placement in allowance company last month and taken out of her runstyle in that group played a role in the outcome. The drop and slightly shorter distance is in her favor though the big drop suggests they are willing to move on from here and not even trying a higher claiming class.

#7 HALAGA was claimed for $30k back in January and reclaimed by McKnight last month for $16k. They will run here for $10 though could be intent with the timing the races this season and the distance change given her prior route form and with early speed should try to take them as far as she can on the front end. She could find company in that role with #1A AMAZING GAL, #6 UNDECODED and even #8 FLOWERSFORSHANTELL in this field.

#6 UNDECODED wheels right back and could be present improvement. She dropped in for the tag on 3/17 and set the pace on a rare Oaklawn day where the course favored off the pace runners. Her form and figures this season are on the lighter side though going back through her career she has figures that fit on par and given the timing with the quick turnaround she could be no worse for the wear and returning here to improve.

With AMAZING GAL looking to stet the pace, that could assist entrymate #1 LONGLEGGEDLAVERNE with a stalk and point trip. She has had some success on the lead though can rate and finish just as she did over a week ago and will look to hold her form and step up on this circuit and class level. #5 NEVERSAYNOLETSGO brings in similar form and a late kick with some changes for this race. She has foundation around two turns and a BTL effort on 2/4 with another every other pattern would have her sitting on a peak and competitive effort today.

A contentious pace could also suit #9 HASHTAG WINNER returning from the conditional claiming event along with UNDECODED wheeling right back  in this second start off the layoff and has buried Oaklawn form that is stronger than her published record with the bulk of those starts from prior seasons in allowance or higher claiming company than what she faces today. 

#6 LOOK SHARP is the horse to beat in this race. He shows up here with the higher figures that stand out in this group. He brings in upside for this second start off the layoff and meet going back to the 3/3 event when reluctant at the gate, drawn outside and showed interest making a WIDE MOVE.

Jockey Alexander Chavez makes a local appearance, a rider that has been having a lot of success on the west coast and will look to transfer that to this circuit and aboard #4 GUST OF WIND. A rider change could assist this horse one that is coming in with current form and back number that fit today’s par and upside with the conditioning and quick turnaround in this third start from the layoff.

#5 QUEBRANCHO also started out at HAW last year and has held his form this season though at a higher race par than today’s event which could move him up naturally. That could also assist showing more tactical speed wheeling back in a week to the sprint distance and left himself too much to do last Thursday with most of his run late behind the 1-2 pacesetters and upset 42-1 winner, Konteekee with a big GALLOP+ out after the wire.

The Konteekee connections will be represented here with #3 PREPAREDNESS one that has shown some run this season in spots though has had gate issues though on an every other pattern with a faster racing surface has this one right there with this group. 

#1 C. C. HARBOR could find herself in the right time and place today looking for that first win of the season. She turned in a BTL effort with the show finish under Harr against open company back on 2/4 and comes back to statebred company with the right timing between starts for a top effort. Part of the show finish that day was assisted by a Very Fast early pace, a Fire Contention and higher SpeedRate and given the complexion of this field should find a similar setup here.

#4 SULWE scratched from a statebred OC event last week for this spot and a spot that will keep her at the route distance. That could suggest intent and back under similar conditions from the 2/23 race where she adversity on the day playing a role in the place finish as the favorite and comes back with a rider change. On class #7 KABOOM BABY and #8 HOT SPRINGS BLING fit here as contenders and with current form, however the par have shown distance limitations at times and require things in their favor and as a player price compensation – something that is also required for #2 CASHMERE BABY stepping up to take on winners. The value could shift to #3 RIVERCREST GIRL one that has the route foundation and form this season as she returns to statebred company with form this season, fitness and established two turn form over this course. 

#6 DELUCA is logical type. He Is one of the older horses in this field that is back at the right MCL level for this abilities. He will return from the 3/1 event with a rough break (SLOG, TROUBLE_S), WIDE trip  with those factors playing perhaps a bigger role than the messy stretch run that had the unofficial winner DQ and DELUCA promoted.

#2 FAMOUS FINAL SCENE will be tested against the older rivals though has sneaky form coming into this race and the right placement with the class DROP to compete. He improved despite the SLOG and outside post opening week and a flow upgrade setting the pace before fading on 12/31. He had a big look when entered under similar MCL conditions last month, a trainer scratch from that 2/11 event that featured #8 GREERS FERRY.

GREERS FERRY moved up with the class drop and has remained competitive at the MCL level this season and logical right back in this spot though likely shorter of the two. He is tough to knock after a competitive effort on the drop in February and coming back from the 3/10 race when finishing together and clear with the winner Golden Plate returning with Torres under similar conditions here.

#6 KAVA will shift over to take on open company though a slightly softer race par wheeling back from the 3/8 event. She had a look on the day with the foundation, class change and key distance change STRETCHing out. She presents some upside off that effort given a rough/TROUBLE_S and WIDE trip and the connections might feel similar as without hesitation come right back for this race and make another rider change. Juarez was aboard KAVA last out and sticks with #8 ALAMO as she makes her third start this season. The class DROP was necessary after the MSW visuals not on that level. This could be the time for her to improve with the foundation this season and added ground with a slightly softer race par than the two other starts this season.

#5 MONEY IS TIME will make her first start off the claim and back under similar conditions and fitness from the 2/18 race. She had some upside into that event off her debut, though another SLOG left her too much to do making up ground late. She has not worked from the gate in a published move but has three works since keeping up her conditioning while waiting for this race.

#3 ANNAMARIA also brings in fitness from the FL series of races and first start on this circuit as one of two for John Ortiz. While she has those positives on her side, today’s event does not present a class edge and unlike some of the other sophomores including her stablemate #2 LATIFAH will face older today for the first time.

Another pair of sophomores from the 3/16 common race can be given a look for different reasons: #1 PRINCIPAL ANITA turned in a BTL effort where #4 BOOGIE ON will stretch out and should appreciate the added ground. Both must improve and lack the class change that others find today though still worth a mention.  

#11 IM THE MACHINE is the wild card in this field as he makes a local debut and first start back from the long 321-day layoff. He will make his first start on this circuit and statebred company something that could present intent for the connections and barn change. Number wise if he is able to transfer his form, he fits on par with the right runstyle to work a trip in this field.

In terms of the early pace it should be contentious and would add more fuel to the fire with either of the AE runners drawing in. #3 MACHO ROCCO has early speed and held his form this season and back under similar conditions from the February series of races. He finds a similar race par to when earning place back in January and could find that similar trip tracking outside the two speeds drawn to his inside and all of those front runners kept honest with the quick #7 ATTA PARTY and #8 MACHO RONNIE in the field.

The contentious pace has benefit #10 MAHOMEY this season and could once again with the outside post and fresh off the 48-day freshening and some potential intent with the connections scratching from a statebred starter last Friday to run here instead for the higher purse. The trip could also assist #9 BLAME J D one that could be back to top form and some intent first off the claim for live connections. Pace should be right for #12 WHERE’S RANDY back at the preferred SHORTER distance in this third start of the season. He has form from prior seasons that make him a player, though can be his own worst enemy with the consistent SLOG pattern that could be expected here though also reunited with Torres the rider that started off his career could suggest intent as well. 

A competitive group to close out the card with the sophomores looking to establish who they are going into the summer season and where they fit. #11 SEARCY will get another look at this level and fresh with the rider change coming back under similar N2 conditions. His trip on 1/28 was rough from the start and compromised making a RUSH into a Very Fast early pace and WIDE against an inside favoring profile.

#9 WILLY D’S turned in a competitive effort in that 1/28 common race despite the 7^th place finish and validated that effort with the place finish under similar N2 conditions earlier this month. While he has the established form, conditioning and the right runstyle for today’s race, he has not shown much improvement number wise to support for the top spot though kept in the mix. #7 GEWURTZTRAMINER also is on the softer side on numbers though ha shown some improvement race-to-race and given the trip and shift off the rail could easily present a move forward from the February effort.

As far as early speed the pace should be honest given the complexion of the field and many in this group winning on or near the lead. Many of those won with favorable pace, race flow or track/weather aided front end trips including the other B. Cox, #5 BIG TO DO stepping up on this circuit and taking on a much tougher group today and could get a lot of attention off the earned figure, open length win and the connections.

#10 GIVE ME A REASON has shown improvement race to rate and had to earn the 2/24 win over a game place rival in Will Take It. He has shown early speed though not necessarily a need the lead type and drawn outside could have some options here.