Handicapper Tips & Picks

2-IRISH VALOR showed little in his local debut but he was making his first start since October and sprinting. Drops in class and stretches out and he has been far better going long. Wakes up big time. 1-WHERE’S THE DAY GO was an easy winner in last in a similar spot. He did win two of the last three times he ran at this claiming level and finished third in the other. His stalking style of running could give him the perfect trip. 5-MIDNIGHT BLUE NOTE can vie for the lead. Old timer was more successful on turf but he seems to thrive when fighting for the lead and that can happen in this slightly easier field than he has been facing.

Tough little race but have to go with 5-PEGGY’S WAY. She was favored in last, her first start for this barn, her first race of the year, and her first at Hawthorne but she came up a half-length short. But she figures to be far fitter with a race under her. She’s likely to be racing right off the early pace. Can edge by late. 3-TEXAS HOTTIE is fresh off a third-place finish at Oaklawn where she was facing rivals similar to these. That was her first start after getting claimed by this barn. Fits well with this group. 2-TRIBEST is probably the best of the speed. She finished a couple lengths behind top pick in their last race but she just didn’t fire. Adds blinkers for this race. Improved focus helps her chances.

2-DAPPER DUDE isn’t a strong choice but he’s dropping to a far better spot. He’s also returning to the surface where he has had the most success. He gets a red hot rider in the irons. The pace should set up perfectly for his late run. 7-COOL AND COLLECTED returns from a lengthy layoff but his barn sports a lofty 36% win rate with runners coming back from similar vacations. He wired the field to break his maiden here last year. Would seem likely to try for the lead once again. Especially dangerous if not challenged early. 8-HIGH HEADED hasn’t shown much since he broke his maiden and he has never been on turf but he races for top-notch connections and they are shipping him here to give turf a try.

This is one of the races where you can make a case for and against almost every runner. Ended up with 5-MCMONEY. He was favored in his local debut but didn’t really fire. Sometimes runners need a race over the track. The pace will set up. Might be able to make amends at a price. 4-CATEGORY TEN just beat many in this field. He successfully jumped in price from the $12,500 claiming level. He didn’t show much there but the pace of that last race set up for him; the same way it will today. Can repeat. 6-STAR KANOO does seem quicker than the rest. He was claimed from his last at Tampa, narrowly losing a slightly easier race. He is facing many with speed but he could be quick enough to clear them quickly and make the others catch him.

This race could turn out to be far more competitive than many Illinois-bred maiden races. Just going off numbers, 3-MISS MIKOS could be tough. The 70 Beyer Speed Figure she generated in her last is far above the typical number for Illinois maidens. By that alone, she would figure to win this race by daylight. But, no guarantee. 7-IRISH SPARK generated a respectable number in her lone race but she was facing a far tougher field at Oaklawn. She’s adding blinker for this. Her barn wins with 30% of runners making their second starts. I thought 1-LION LAW would be a logical favorite in her next start after her sharp 2024 debut but she could have a tough time beating the top pair. However, she does have the pedigree, she has speed and the rail. Might surprise. 4-JOYZELLA runs her heart out and is often in the money but think this field came up a bit too tough. 6-COME ON LADY didn’t show a thing in her debut last year but she has had some outstanding drills coming into her 2024 debut and she gets the services of the leading rider.

2-CODE NAME could be tough in his local debut and his first start for this barn. He’s plenty quick but like the fact that he’s capable of racing right off the pace and still finishing with plenty in reserve. 6-WHATDOYOUTHINKMARK dazzled with a 15-length maiden victory in his Canterbury debut last year but stopped badly as the odds-on favorite when taking on stakes rivals in his second start. He’s been on the shelf since August but has been working well for the top barn. Gets Lasix today. Very dangerous. 1-SIMPLE LOGIC has had a bad case of seconditis on turf. He’s had 17 races on the surface and managed one win but finished second eight times. However, the pace should set up well. Beware the late runner.

This looks like one of those races that anybody can win and nobody can win but someone has to win. Think 6-SKYLANE might hold a small edge. It’s not that he has been great at any point but he’s had 10 races and finished in the money in seven of them. He’ll never be too far off the pace. Might simply outlast the rest. 3-LATE BLACKSMITH stretches out for the first time. After the speed he showed in a sprint last time, he should be expected to get the early lead today. Just not sure how long he’ll last. 5-PRINCE IS MY BOY isn’t much of a closer but he does seem likely to be one of the few in here capable of making a late move. Could get into striking position by midstretch.

2-RAVIN’S TOWN could be tough on turf or the main track. Speedy $300k purchase. Stretches out for the first time. On turf, he might be the lone speed but on the main track he would probably be fighting Coach Jimmy D for the lead. Could outlast them all either way though his barn, the leading barn, sports a paltry 4% win rate with runners stretching out.  14-COACH JIMMY D is entered for main track only. He’s been facing maidens at the tough Oaklawn meet. He finished a distant third in his only two-turn race but think he’s capable of far better. 12-EVEN THE WIND last raced in August but he’s had quite a few good, long works getting him ready for his 2024 debut. He raced competitively in most previous turf races and his barn wins with about 36% of runners coming back from similar layoffs. He will be attacking late. 6-INTERLUDE showed little in his last start in New Orleans last year but he did finish second in the first two races of his career, all on turf. He’s nowhere near as quick as some of the speedballs in this race but he’ll never be too far off the pace. If all the speed gets tied up vying for the lead, he might be able to slip past late.