Handicapper Tips & Picks

Race 7:  2 - 1 - 6

Late Pick 4 Ticket: 1,2 / 7,9 / 1,3,4,8 / 5,6  ($16)

#2 Mon Ami Fuzzie (5-2) is not a superstar, but he’s run perfectly fine in his last two without winning and should sit another good stalking trip from the inside. This is the lowest level he’s been at since February.

Race 8:  9 - 7 - 6

Any race that is only 5f on turf means one thing to me: find a horse with early speed. That fits the bill for my top choice, #9 Di’s Surprise (5-1). Trainer Rivelli has taught this talented filly to rate a bit, and she won last time for fun by 4+. She comes back pretty quickly, but will be a big factor with a similar trip. She cost $160k at auction and is supposed to be a good one, so I’m expecting continued improvement and another win.

Race 9:  3 - 8 - 4

Trainer Jimmy DiVito is an excellent horseman. He doesn’t have a big stable at Hawthorne, but is batting 33% this meet. #3 Coach Jimi D (8-1) just broke his maiden, but did it so well that I’m coming back with him. He won by 7 lengths and was competitive at Oaklawn in the spring. I like him more stretching out to two turns, which is what he got last time and today. He’ll have to improve again, but I think he can at a price. 

Race 10:  5 - 6 - 8

Turf conditioned claimers end the card here, and Trainer Block has #5 Cool and Collected (9-2). His numbers last year fit in this race, and last time he didn’t fire at all, but had excuses. It was his first start of the year, and was on dirt, which is not his preferred surface. Jockey Felix takes the mount, and I believe he’ll stalk and pounce to the Winner’s Circle.