Handicapper Tips & Picks

4-ICE AXE does seem most likely. He’s been in good form for a long time while meeting better rivals. The drop to this level could get him to the winner’s circle first. However, he comes from off the pace and he’s going to have to catch what appears to be the lone speed. 6-ANNA AFTER MIDNIGHT is a filly facing the boys but she does appear to gold a considerable speed advantage over the rest of the field, especially with the stretch in distance. She ran out of gas in last, her first two-turn start, but could be better prepared to get the distance today. 2-MY TENNIS SHOES is another that should have benefitted from his first local two-turn start.

This race has an abundance of early speed so I would normally look for a horse that comes from out of it. However, none of these horses like to run late. So, I’m forced to find a runner that might not “need” the early lead. I ended up with 4-MY CRAZY NEIGHBOR. He showed little in his first two starts at the meet but he will be taking on marginally easier in this spot. He does own decent speed but his two wins resulted from stalking trips and he should be able to get that kind of trip today. 5-TABLE MONEY either seems to run very well or not run well at all. He’s not as quick as some but he did manage to win a pair of races at the top Oaklawn meet. 2-BALADINE’s wins have been all speed but he has shown some ability to come on late. If the expected pace scenario does develop, his smart rider could take advantage.

1-KAELY’S SISTER was a little short in her first start back from a year and a half layoff but she came right back with a vengeance to win her last, over similar rivals, going away. She’s quick enough to keep up with the early speed but unlike most in here, can also finish with authority. 3-SHEMEANSBUSINESS could be tough despite making her first start of the year. Most of her races were against Iowa breds and expect her to ship there shortly but she is as quick as any in here and she has been able to display sustained speed. 2-BALI DREAMIN was bet well, especially late, in her most recent start but she folded after being pressured throughout by top choice. She did beat that rival in their previous meeting. Unfortunately, looking at her lifetime pps, she does tend to fade late when pressured early. How long will she last with all the other speed in here?

Not sure this race will stay on turf so just have to figure the “best” horse. Going to take a flyer with 4-GI GI’S MAP. She’s racing at a slightly higher claiming level to make her local and turf debut but she’s one of those shipping in from Oaklawn in decent form. She’s bred for turf and her barn sports a respectable win percentage when they move horses from the main track to turf.  8-ALEXANDRA’S SONG was claimed from a non-threatening fourth-place finish in her local debut. However, think she’s the quickest member of this field, and she is bred to like the lawn. 9-BLAZE BEAUTY drops into straight claimers for the first time. She had a pair of turf races previously and didn’t show much in either but they were against tougher rivals. Might wake up at this level. 

3-HUNTER’S GHOST is as consistent as they get. He finished in the money in 12 of his last 14 races, winning three times, including his last two races. However, he seemed to kick it up a notch after getting claimed by this barn two races back. He won his first start for them easily. He’s stretching out today but like the way he finished last. 5-GITA’S LAD wired both fields he faced this meet. Overall, he has 12 wins in 30 local races, with another 10 in-the-money finishes. Meets others with speed but has proven that he thrives under pressure. 4-TRY TRY AGAIN might be overlooked but he fits perfectly with this group. He took on far better in his first start of the meet but that was a prep. He's dangerous at a price at this level.

3-BREAKING NEWS can win right back. He finished second in his first two starts of the meet before taking last. On or off the lead he could be tough. 8-RISKY BOY certainly figures. He won his first start of the meet, beating top choice, before finishing second to the tough Time Heist in last two. Like top choice, he’s capable of displaying decent speed or coming from out of it. 4-ROBUST might be the quickest of these. He was claimed from last couple and raced for three different barns in his last four starts. He tired badly in last but he is capable of leading all the way.

Interesting race, on or off the weeds. On grass, think 1-COMMAND POINT has the edge. She’s been a consistent contender and she sports a long series of good drills to get her prepared to make her 2024 debut. Her barn wins with about 30% of runners returning from similar layoffs so you would think she’ll be ready for her return. 12-QUILTING PARTY has to overcome a tough post but she did win one of her two turf races and with the drop into claimers, she might be the one to beat if this race gets moved to dirt. 10-SUMMER DAY has been better on turf but she could be a factor if this race does switch surfaces. Her last couple works indicate that he’s ready to go. 11-APRIL’S GEM is in poor form but she’s been racing on the main track lately and she’s been far better on turf. She won three in a row here last summer, beating top choice the last two times they met.

5-VALIANT WEST gets a slim nod in a very tough race. He finished third in his first race of the meet and second in last. However, especially like that his speed figures have gone up with every passing race. We might not have seen the best of this versatile runner yet. 4-GOOD APPLE is two-for-two at the meet and won both races wire-to-wire. He’ll have to deal with other speed today but already proved he could last under pressure. Like Good Apple, 3-MOONLIGHT ROAD is trained by Chris Block. He is fresh off an impressive maiden victory. Unlike Good Apple however, he will finish with a rush. Could fly by them all. 8-BEEASY moved a little too soon in last and couldn’t sustain the bid. Needed the race coming off a layoff. Could be tough at a price.

Not sure about 6-ABSOLUTE MIRACLE. She’s shown little in three races but all were contested in dirt sprints. Today she stretches out and tries turf. Her barn wins with 40% of runners running trying turf for the first time as well as 29% with runners stretching out. 3-ANQA ships in hoping to try turf. She wasn’t much of a factor in a synthetic sprint in her lone race but she’s another with the pedigree and connections to do better on the lawn. 11-REALISTIC GOAL could be a factor on either surface. She raced surprisingly well in her first start of the year after getting only one three-furlong drill under her belt. Could be ready for a much bigger effort.