Handicapper Tips & Picks

3-PHILIPSBURG is about as consistent as they get. He hasn’t finished out of the money in his career while winning two of his seven races. Good tactical speed allows him the luxury of going right for the lead or tracking any runner that outbreaks him. He just doesn’t show any quit. Will be right there. 6-BREAKING NEWS moves up in class but he’s at the top of his game right now. Winner of last three moves up in class his speed figures compare favorably with most in here and he might have the perfect running style to fit the pace of the race. 1-C F V BULLET was claimed for $30k three starts back, finished up the track against better two times and now drops to the lowest level of his career. He’s also turning back in distance while, so far, he’s been better in routes. Obviously off the drop he figures but…

6-LA PERFECT BEE won’t be on the radar of many but thought his debut was very good. He closed well to finish second at a long price. Today he’ll be running with first Lasix and he’ll get an extra sixteenth mile to work with. Can surprise. 4-KING ANTHONY looks tough. He’s making his first start of the year but has been training exceptionally well. He finished third in his first two sprints so the turn back in distance shouldn’t be a factor. Trainer Larry Rivelli has a pair in this race. I kinda like his rail horse Willie Bird a bit better but the barn’s most regular rider took the other, Tallapoosa, instead. 5-TALLAPOOSA is a first timer with modest drills but the barn does win with 24% of those making their debut. The other Rivelli, 1-WILLIE BIRD, finished fifth on turf in his debut but liked the way he was closing in that shorter race. He is racing back quickly but the barn wins with a high percentage of second-time starters.

Tough little race. Of course, it always depends on who fires. Off his last, however, 1-WENT WEST looks like the one to beat. He was a dominant winner in that race, his first off the claim. He was able to stalk the pace and unleash a strong move to win going away. There appears to be more speed in this race which helps his chances but the race is a sixteenth shorter which could diminish that advantage. 2-ELI’S PROMISE fell victim to the late run of top choice in that last start. He was favored and led from the start after a dominant win of his own in his prior outing. But the cut back to six furlongs definitely helps his chances. 5-RICHIESONAROLL was outgunned in a Grade 3 stakes race in his first start of the year but has been highly competitive in all races since.  3-ONASA could vie for the lead. 4-MANTA REY has been racing at the tough Oaklawn oval since December. He might feel like he’s getting class relief, even against this tough group. 6-COMISKEY PARK will be racing right off the early pace. If he moves first, it could be the winning move.

6-WHATDOYOUTHINKMARK drops in class to make his second start of the meet. He didn’t beat a rival in his first start of the meet but he was gelded since that race. He’s meeting easier and he has been training well since his snip. Could be the quickest of these. 2-TIZ THE TALE was a $375k purchase. He broke his maiden against maiden claimers in his last start. However, that race was in 2021. Really don’t like the way he was training but the last two drills suggest that the barn has him right. I also know that anything his barn starts is “live”. 5-MAHONEY ROAD is often in the hunt but it’s been over a year since he broke his maiden and he has been racing regularly. Could be vulnerable again.

1-DOROTHY CROWFOOT came up just a bit short in last but she was making her first start of the year and she had fought gamely from the start. It’s possible she’ll be caught up in a speed duel once again but she should be better prepared to handle it with a race under her belt. 5-BEEHIVE edged out top pick for second place in that last race but she already had a couple starts on the year. But she has been a tough competitor in all of her races despite having won only the one race. She and top pick could vie for the lead and might leave the rest of the field far behind. 6-SALLY’S SUPRISE turns back in distance. She has been competitive in routes but all three of her wins came at this distance. She’ll be gunning for the top pair late.

Have to give 5-TIGHTROPE the benefit of the doubt. He appears to be the quickest member of this field. He tired in last but that was his first race since August. He was claimed from that race by a barn that wins with 21% of their claims. If he runs the race that he did in his lone turf start, he won’t get caught. 1-DRAGON DREW might not be quite as quick as top choice but maybe only a couple steps slower. And he’s not one dimensional. He’s just as good, if not better, when coming from off the pace. He’s had far more turf experience than that rival. He took a little break since last after racing much of the winter but he has been working to get back into shape. Figures prominently. 2-STAR OF KODIAK is worth another look. His recent turf numbers lag those of the top pair but he’s had far more turf sprint success than those two combined. He scored seven times at the distance and earned over $192k in those turf sprints. 

9-RIVZONAROLL seems most likely. Speedy gelding drops after fading badly versus better. There’s no reason he HAS to win, especially with all the other speed in here, but he does figure to be the one to catch. 6-GETTIN PAID takes on better but he’s been improving this year and really came alive in last in his first start for this barn. Took on a NW2 field and won going away. Figures to be racing right off the early pace. His first move could be the winning one. 8-CODETOWIN is often favored but it’s been a year since he last visited the winner’s circle. But the pace of this race should suit him perfectly. Could come on late and pass them all. 

1-RIVER REDEMPTION finished up the track in both starts this year but both races were on the main track. He’s just been a better performer on the lawn. He’s had nine turf races and finished in the money in eight of them while winning three times. The drop in class and the return to grass should greatly improve his form and his chances. 4-RED HORNET is hard to figure. For much of his career he faced far better runners, especially on turf, and had considerable success. But in his final turf race of 2023, they dropped him in class and he finished up the track and he’s only split fields, at best, since that race. But he had been claimed by this barn from that last turf race and this will be the first time that he races on the lawn for them. Might wake up. 7-WICKED SUPRISE could surprise. Although he has had only two turf races, he did win one of them. He can challenge early or might even go for the lead. 

2-KENNESAW needed last. He was making his first start of the year and got caught in a speed duel, almost from the very start. Could have an easier time getting to the lead in this one and that could make all the difference. 6-BAREFOOTBOOTLEGGER might finally be coming around. Late runner showed some signs of life in last after three lackluster races to start the year. The pace will set up. Can score at a huge price. 5-MAD DRAGON wired the field in last. That was only a NW2 and he’s taking on more successful and experienced rivals here but he could be up to the challenge.