Handicapper Tips & Picks

Interesting race starts the day as there's a bit of pace in here. Hoping 3-SWEET NELLIE can rate a bit early and look to run on in the lane as she comes off a solid victory in her last. With Helen Mae's Song and Cookin Roses likely to hustle away, she should be able to rate in the second flight and get the jump at the top of the lane. 6-THINK BLUE makes her first start of the year and she comes in with just the one work into this spot. She may eventually want to go longer but while sprinting she tends to settle and make one late move. 1-JOLIE RULER ran well while facing better in her last. She has been good at Hawthorne throughout her career and runs for the increased Illinois claiming tag.

Not a ton of pace in this race as it appears 2-RAVIN'S TOWN will be able to clear and possibly never look back. He gets Lasix for his first start as a 3yo and has been working well. Let's see if he can shake loose early and never look back. 1-MOONLIGHT ROAD ran well in his first start of the meet. He may benefit from the added distance today as Mojica takes over in the saddle. 7-MIDTERM debuted here last fall, posting a good effort first out. He got away slowly in his most recent race and was never in the mix. He has since worked well toward the return as he figures to close ground late while at a price.

A short field for this quality bunch with a couple of talented Illinois-bred runners in here. Looking to the speed of 3-CAT ATTACK to make the top and wire this bunch. She has been good over this track throughout her career and comes in off a sharp workout. 2-COTTON CANDY ANNIE may be chasing the entire way as she makes her Hawthorne return. She ran a good second at this level here last summer and is working consistently as she prepares for her return. 1-QUILTING PARTY will be running on late as she has always worked forwardly toward her return. She's another that has been very good over this Hawthorne strip and the distance suits her nicely.

Lots of pace in this race which could be beneficial for 1-HALLIE'S RAINBOW.  She makes her second start of the meet as she had a bit of a troubled trip last out. With the added distance and inside draw, I expect her to tuck in right behind the early leaders and look to take over in the lane. 6-YOU'RE A DANDY is one with speed who ran a game race in her last. This barn has gotten off to a sneaky good start as we will see if she challenges for the early lead once again. 2-OPALINE makes a quick return as she comes off a game win in her last. She runs for a strong barn and is another that could be close early. 

The added 16th could be all 3-MISS RIVER RAT needs off of her first start of the meet. In that spot she was left to chase a good one in Rietta as she closed well from the outside draw. She comes into here off a nice workout and should get enough pace to chase. Another likely to improve is 7-REBA ATTACK as she ran a strong race in her last at huge odds. She was coming into that race off a lengthy layoff but had been working well. Don't be surprised if she's able to repeat that performance today. 6-R KATIEBUG has some speed as you can put a line through her last as she stumbled at the break. If she gets away clean in here she has a chance to make the top and try to steal this race.

I really like this spot for 8-KHOZAN'S SUCCESS as he makes his second start of the meet. He had some traffic trouble early in his first start of the meet on a day where speed was good. He was still able to run on in the lane against a quality bunch. With the class drop today and the outside draw, I expect he finds a good spot early and runs on in the lane. 2-DOUBLE THUNDER runs for the tough Arnett barn as he is one that could show some speed in here. He steps up off a good victory in his last and has a couple of works over this strip. Let's see if he can stalk the speed of Gita's Lad and get the jump on the closers late. 4-DANVILLE has been very good at Hawthorne, hitting the board in 10 of 13 starts over the track. He drops in class off a couple of tougher starts to open 2024 but is another that likes the distance and figures to get a good tracking trip.

Surely he needed his last start as I expect a much improved effort out of 7-ONE WAY HOME today. The 9yo made his first start of the year around two turns in his last off just one drill. He chased well into the lane before tiring late. With the second start out, expect him to show speed and carry it to the wire on the drop in class. 9-UNIFIED WEEKEND comes in off the claim as he chased the lone speed in his last. He could be in a similar stalking spot today as a repeat of that last performance will put him in the mix once again. 3-MIDNIGHT BLUE NOTE comes out of the same race as Unified Weekend last out as he chased in that spot. It wasn't a bad effort effort while at a big price as he figures to contend once again in here.