Handicapper Tips & Picks

This race is competitive and worth looking to get creative in: #3 ROMAN CENTURIAN turned in some competitive efforts this season at OP, however just required more time between starts. They find that change here and would regain top form with that subtle change. #8 COMMON BOND was more competitive on 5/17 than what might appear "on paper" with the running line and finishing position turning in a strong CLOSE in TRAFFIC and continued to GALLOP+ after the wire. The surface switch will be in play though he has shown versatility and a solid race on this maiden track going back to a 9f race (OC 80K N2X) in 9/22 earning a 94 figure, a number on the higher side of par and one that has been recorded in his current cycle. 

A tougher race to assess form with many returning runners and other changes for this race. Second time starters: #7 ON TAP showed more early speed in his works leading up to the debut and was unable to show that early speed (SLOG, TROUBLE_S) on the day something that could come into play here and can all around improve; #8 WHOLEHEARTEDLY wheels right back and with the slight addition (STRETCH) of ground in his favor making a WIDE MOVE behind the open length winner earlier this month. 

#2 PATRIARCHAL should move up on the class drop alone and no excuses on that front in here. 

#3 SHE'S ON THE ROCKS comes into this race with the slight freshening from the FG meet and out of the 3/21 event that has held form -- the winner, of the race, Way To Be Marie finished second in the Edgewood (G2) earlier this month. 

#4 CECILE will make her seasonal debut and return to CD and Leparoux, the combination of the win back on 5/13. While giving up recency and that tendency to make a dramatic late run, Schultz has sent out live here in a limited sample as a positive trend here. 

This race is competitive and the spot to take on #7 EXTRA ANEJO making his belated return. While he can win, he has a hype train and training wise has taken a long time to get "race ready" for a return this year. He will get a lot of a attention off the "bullet" works -- the bullet on 5/6 was in company with Disarm (a CD winner earlier this month) though EXTRA flipped leads and got cooked on the gallop out and flipped leads again in the two works that followed. 

#5 RAISE CAIN appeared live heading into the CD (G1) though might not have been on the level of the competition and no worse for the wear wheels right back and some class relief into this allowance event to regain some confidence. #9 SCOTLAND takes a lateral move in this second start off the layoff though a slightly lower par than the 5/2 event when giving up recency returning from the 222-day layoff. 

The three outside runners listed as the top three on the ML are all coming into this race off wins and favorable trips to get to the wire first. 

#1 MILA JUNES had a less than ideal, an EX - EXCUSE trip on 3/15 and freshened for that race returned three weeks ago forced to make a WIDE RUSH where the winner came from off the pace and the 7th place finisher, Windy Walk returned to win last week. 

#5 GABBY SQUARED cuts back to the preferred ONE_TURN distance on the return to WO. The connections had trips to run in under similar turf sprint spots last season though the weather (surface switch) played against them and the lone turn race was in a higher OC N1X with a rough ride (TACTIC-) on the day. 

#7 SMILES FOR DAVID appears to hold some intent for this race with the changes in play. The class drop as she makes her second start back this season and going back to her maiden win, the race she was claimed out of for the $7.5k tag. That race was also with K. Kimura aboard, a rider that has been aboard in the past going back to her early days and three other itm finishes. 

#2 KRYPTO GAINS presents value with the ML as she moved up on the drop (B-) earlier this month and placed according to her abilities. 

There is enough buried form and price compensation for #2 TEXENSIS in this spot. She turned in a "winning" race (B) with the BTL 4th on 10/26, a par similar to today's event. Going back to her debut last summer she projected to move up with the added (STRETCH) ground and when given the route change on 10/8 and 11/18 had EX - EXCUSES on both occasions. Part of that was self-inflicted at the gate, a pattern of SLOG and VSLOG in the return two weeks ago. She must overcome herself though if ever a time this could be it. 

#3 KANTBACKOFF was favored in the 5/11 common race and perhaps not the time for her in that role given the shorter 5.5f distance though should appreciate the start, the fitness from the WIDE trip and added ground here, the distance of her two wins. 

#1 TEMPORA finishing second and earning the B for the effort had to overcome a stumble (TROUBLE_S) at the start and change in her runstyle. While tough to knock the effort on the day, the effort could take something out of her, a taxing type effort off the 415-day layoff and wheeling back here on 19-days -- factors to consider if she is favored. 

The changes are the right move (DROP, TURF) for #4 NIKITA'S GEM in this spot and one that has shown more (OptixNOTES) than her race record.

#9 BRIT also showed more than her debut running line especially after (GALLOP+) and overall visuals suggest she can IMPROVE. 

4yo #6 ANNIA CORNIFICIA F projected to IMPROVE off debut and from the return/PREP earlier this month and second start at the MCL level.