Handicapper Tips & Picks

6-RIVZONAROLL-drops back in for a tag. He’s had some success in starters this year but he does figure to be much tougher when racing for a tag. 5-LUCKY SHOT looks like the main competition. He’s nearly as quick as top choice and he’s dropping to the lowest level of his career. 3-BREAKING NEWS is red hot right now. He won his last two starts and appears to be getting better with each passing start. He’ll be racing right off the early pace. Might edge by late. 4-TIME HEIST might be the best closer in the field and the pace certainly sets up well for him. 2-FIRST MASAMUNE is dangerous at a price. He finished second at over 38-1 the last time he ran at this level.

Tough little race. Seemingly strange spot for 6-TAHOE RUN. He’s been tough against open company on dirt but he also did finish second, going long, in his lone turf race. His speed figures say he’s the fastest of these but those numbers were generated on dirt. Not guaranteed that he’ll be quite as fast on turf but he is still the one they have to beat. 4-JOE THE TAILOR is lightly raced compared to most in here and he will be making his turf debut. However, he races for world-class connections who do well with 1st time turf and just as well in turf sprints. Good speed makes him a strong threat. Don’t think 1-J J’S SOLUTION can win this but he’s one of the few closers in this race and he has a good record in turf sprints. His high price could make him a valuable addition on the bottom of vertical wagers.

8-MADELYN BELLE could extend her streak to three. She’s always been tough here. She won four of her five local races and finished second, by a nose, in the other. Doesn’t seem likely to face much early competition. Can take it all the way. 6-STAND BY YOU makes her second start for this barn and her second off a lengthy layoff. She hasn’t been too effective lately but this could be the easiest field she met in a long time. 1-ADIVA didn’t show a thing in her first start for this barn but she was in far too tough. She had won her previous three starts. She’s going to be meeting an easier field than her last but not entirely sure she’s good enough for these, though her speed figures are among the highest. 5-STYLE just beat easier. She was claimed from that race by a barn that wins with about 19% of their first-time claims. She’s moving up in class but has raced competitively versus similar in the past.

5-TOP LOOK could get the trip. There’s an abundance of speed in this race, including her, but she is one that doesn’t necessarily need to early lead to run well. 8-HEART OF HANISH is one of the speedsters in this race. She finished third in last, her first start after getting claimed by this barn. Adds blinkers for this one. Might be able to put the rest of the speed away. 7-HIP HOP EMMY might not be quite as quick as some in here but she’ll never be far back. Makes her first start of the year but long series of drills for sharp connections will have her ready.

9-RIGHTEOUS FREEDOM has far more turf experience than any in here. However, not exactly sure that is a good thing. He’s still a maiden after five turf races, most of them against Louisiana breds, However, he’s had two sharp drills since getting here and at least we know he can handle the surface. Maybe today will be his day. 6-GIANNO races on turf for the first time. His barn wins with around 27% of runners making their turf debut and 29% with runners dropping from maiden specials into maiden claimers. He has been gelded since his last start which often makes a huge difference in their racing. 5-MY BROTHER MIKE hasn’t raced on the lawn since 2022. However, in his four previous turf races, he managed to finish third twice. His speed figures from back then rival those of top choice. Could be an upset in the making. 

So many in this race were low level claimers not long ago, including my other top two picks in this race and 3-BLESSED ANNA. But she has certainly improved. Just won a good starter allowance by daylight in her second local start. Her barn has been red hot. There’s a good chance she’ll make it two in a row. 7-IZZY’S MONSTER finished second in both races this meet and has raced well here in the past. Not sure there is quite enough pace to set up for her late run but she has to be given the benefit of the doubt. 5-CALISUE improved dramatically in her first start after getting claimed by this barn. She just missed in a race at this level in a field that was possibly tougher than this. 

6-BATTLE SCARS will be tough on the turf. Late runner hasn’t won in a year but he has been meeting tougher company. Adds blinkers to make his local debut. Always finished fast. Guessing today he’ll finish faster. 14-CALRISSIAN could be the one to beat if this race does come off the turf and could be even more effective if racing on an off track. Got claimed a couple times at Oaklawn. Good tactical speed will keep him close early but can still finish with a ton of run. 5-C’EST MAGNIFIQUE finished up the track in both starts since moving to this barn but if he can regain the form he showed in New York last summer, and his recent drills suggest that he’s back on the right track, he’s going to be a major player in this race.

Don’t really like the probable favorites in this race so going to try my luck with a longshot. 3-PIRATE MARMALADE raced in maiden specials in his first six starts and then when dropped into maiden claimers for the first time, his saddle slipped and he was eased. Now he drops to the basement. Might finally wake up in this lackluster group. 4-SENDEMDOWNTHEROAD tired in his lone start but had shown good early speed and raced against a runner that drew off by eight. He was claimed from the leading barn in that start by another hot outfit. However, he hasn’t had a work since then. Doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence. 5-SKY MASTER raced in a $62,500 in last, after getting claimed for $30k in his debut. Now he’s dropping to $6250. Nobody gives away anything in this game. Use caution.