Handicapper Tips & Picks

Route runners kick off the day as some of these may be back in the starter series later this summer. Looking to 7-BLESSED ANNA on top as she has enough tactical speed to remain in contention early and should be running on late. The barn is off to a great start and she picks up top jock Centeno. 5-DIALED INNA should be just off the early pace as she looks for her first Hawthorne win. She has found the board in 4 of 5 starts here and put together some races last summer that would be good enough to win here. 3-SILKY WARRIOR (IRE) will require pace to chase as she figures to settle back early and make one run in the lane. With the long stretch, let's see if she can save ground and close at a price.

An interesting race in here as there's a few that have speed. 2-BOYCE'S BANDITA makes her first tart off the layoff as she switches to the Vanden Berg barn. The rider change and venue change both help as she has a nice workout pattern leading into this spot. 5-WRITTEN CONSENT is going to take a good amount of action as she makes her third start off the claim. She will be hoping for a contested pace upfront as she figures to close from the second flight. The concern with her is the 0 for 13 in the win column. 6-SISTER SWEDE debuts at 4 for Tracy as she has a nice pattern of drills coming into here as well. She gets Lasix for the first start but is likely to sneak away at a bit of a price.

This is a sneaky tough race with three in here that are very similar for talent as well as a couple unknown firsters. Going to look to 3-IRISH COAST as he debuts for Tanner Tracy with Lasix. He was worked consistently toward this start. and is well bred. He isn't being asked for too much first time out but may sneak off at a price due to some of the others entered in here. 1-SHARK STICK looks to be the horse to beat as he has been facing much tougher throughout his young career. He shortens back up today and should run on late but with this many tries to break through without a win, it makes it tough to endorse at the short price. 7-ALIBI IKE has improved in a pair of starts since being claimed for $7,500 back in February. He steps up again but his figures match him well with others in here. He has enough speed to rate close early and should get the jump on a horse like Sharp Stick at the top of the lane.

The implementation of the option to race for an increased tag as an Illinois-bred could be a factor here as my top three all have chosen to do so. 5-POSITIONDUMONI will be a decent price as the connections run this one for $37,500 while the other Pompell Illinois-bred, Heavenly Scent remains in for the $25,000. Positiondumoni held her own last out against some quality allowance runners as she chased well into the lane before giving way late. She may have needed that start off the layoff and has every right to improve with the class drop today. 4-JERSEY JET will be favored for Becker as she has speed. She makes her first start as a 3yo and has worked consistently toward her return. Let's see if she can clear and handle the distance in her return. 6-COWGIRL FRANKIE will be running on late as she has to hope for a contested pace upfront. So often she gets away from the gate slowly as that has been her major issue. With a clean break, and subsequent closer contention early, she could be an upset factor.

The 5 1/2 furlongs could be the difference maker in here as there's some pace to chase. I looked to 4-GO STORMIN GIRL as she ran a solid race in her first start of the meet and picks Emigh back up in the saddle. I expect she settles in the second flight early and runs on in the lane. 3-PLAY TWENTY is one with speed who should get away much better in here. This has been one of the better distances for her as she has shown the ability to win on the front end or to rate a bit at 5 1/2. 2-PALAGO looked to have needed her last as she came into the spot off just the one work. On top of that, she faced a very tough winner in there. Despite the 7th place effort, she was on two lengths off the second place finisher as she's another that will benefit from the added 16th.

Sometimes the favorite just looks to be the best and that appears to be the case in here. Looking to 5-CHARTED as he makes his second start off the claim. He looks to be better on a conventional dirt surface and has enough speed to clear. There won't be much value in here but this is the winning spot. 8-LUCKY PAL showed little in his debut last summer and was eased under the wire. You tend to wonder what the issue was, if any, or if the additional of Lasix turns this one around. With Loveberry up, he scares me more than any other to beat the favorite. 9-BLACK RUSSIAN comes off the layoff into today's race. He has a couple of drills toward the return as he was able to hold his own at this level last summer.

An intriguing maiden route closes the card with runners coming in from different venues for this spot. 8-STARINA gets the nod for me as she is bred to run all day and has improved in recent races. She faced some tough company in New Orleans before shipping here and will just need some pace to chase. 9-BOLTORO is the one to beat as she is overdue for her maiden breaker. She just missed in a race that came off the grass in her last but that was a 1 1/2 miles. Tend to wonder if the 1 mile 70 yards will be enough real estate for her. 6-MISCHIEF MY WAY showed little in her debut in New Orleans but also dealt with a poor start in that spot. She picks up Loveberry today and may be a sleeper at a price.