Handicapper Tips & Picks

Good to see our first two-year-old race of the season as a mix of the boys and girls line up. Going to start with the filly, 3-J Z'S LAST SCHANCE as she was entered to face the girls in a race that didn't fill on Saturday and looks to take on the boys. She has worked very well leading up to her debut and appears to be very quick early. She will provide a little value with some quality runners from the Rivelli barn figuring to take some action but she may have some ability. 5-SHEZAFUNKYDRUMMER debuts for Rivelli as she has a solid work pattern coming into here. She is well schooled from the gate and figures to be quick early. Expect her to take a good amount of action. 2-LIT MISS HAT TRICK comes in for trainer Harry Lynch off a very fast work from the gate at Fairmount. She could be the sleeper in the spot and is likely to provide some value.

There's a couple with early speed in here as things should set up nicely for 5-TRIBEST to rate and run on late. Tribest is overdue for the maiden breaker but runs for a barn that has had a fine meet and the insured fast pace ahead of her may make the difference. Let's see what kind of trip she gets in here. 6-PEGGY'S WAY is one of those with speed who figures to break her maiden soon. She battled in her last but gave way late when pressed. She's going to have company once again. Let's see if she can dig in and prevail. 2-MAGGIE E is very fast early but lacks the stamina needed to finished. With that said, she has found the board in 13 of 22 career starts and will be winging it again. She likes this track and if she can outkick Peggy's Way to the front, she could potentially steal this. A pace duel won't benefit either runner.

A few in here that have been trying to get onto the turf for some time as this is a quality bunch. Gave the nod to 7-RAVIN'S TOWN as he showed ability early in his career and has run a pair of fine races on the main track this meet as well. He could be the fastest to the front in here and if the course has a bit of give to it, it will figure to benefit those with early speed. 5-MIDTERM ran a nice race last out in a spot that came off the turf as he's another that has been looking for grass. He figures to settle just off the early pace in this race but did show more focus with the addition of blinkers last out. 8-RED RIZZLER could be the price play today as he ran a much improved race last out. He could benefit from a pace battle ahead of him as he figures to rate and run on late.

A horse that likes this Hawthorne strip, 3-VERRAZANOINTHESKY has found the board in six of ten Hawthorne starts with three of those coming as victories. He figures to rate and run on late but with speed to the inside and outside in here, he may get the perfect trip. The only question is if he is ready off the one work off the layoff. 2-D'ARCHER is another that likes it at Hawthorne as makes his second start of the meet. He may have needed his last off the layoff but possesses some early speed and should be able to rate just off the early pace. 5-KENNESAW returns off the rest as he makes his first start back off the claim. He runs protected for the waiver in here which is a plus and has been very consistent in his workout pattern toward the return.

This is a quality bunch in a field that has a lot of early pace. Curious to see if that last start from 8-MOONLIGHT ROAD was just an off day as he should get a great pace setup ahead of him. He ran a big race in breaking his maiden two back and maybe the outside draw will help. Let's see if he can improve at a price in here. 1-STRANGE ARRANGE looks to be a good claim as he returned to win on the rise in his first off the claim. From the inside he figures to get sent once again. The main concern is how much company he has or if the connections choose to rate. He has been fantastic on the year though and looks to be ready to take on Allowance runners. 7-BILL'S HONOR is another that step up to the allowance ranks off three consecutive daylight scores. He is also very fast early and from the outside may choose to try to clear the lead.

Hard to overlook just how good 1-COMMAND POINT was over the softer turf last out as she took over into the lane and won easily. She goes a bit longer off that race and finds a couple in there that should set things up on the front end for her to close. Expect her to be very strong once again. 4-LEA RO also ran a fine race last out one the grass as she was chasing Command Point late. She has found the board in five of six over a wet turf so with an expected off turf, if races stay on, that will play to her benefit. 5-APRIL'S GEM had to overcome an outside draw in her last but was good enough to hold third in that spot.  She figures to rate closer early than the top two choices as that could benefit her chances if there isn't  a ton of pace in this race.

A very evenly matched bunch closes the day as on turf or dirt I expect 8-MCMONEY to be a factor. He was favored on the main track in his last couple and ran solid races, only to be beaten by 10-CATEGORY TEN in both but I do believe he is a slightly better horse on turf. A course with a little give shouldn't bother him either as he figures to even rate closer early on the grass. 10-CATEGORY TEN was impressive in his last couple as he is an unknown on grass. The barn has been strong in recent weeks and his tactical speed could put him in position to contend early. Let's see if he can make it three in a row. 5-MONSTERONTHEMIDWAY is likely turf only as he makes his first start of the year. He won three of his last four to close out 2023 and figures to sit mid pack early and run on late.