Handicapper Tips & Picks

Really good to see a couple of 2yo races fill as we kick things off with the fillies. 7-ELIZA VANCE draws outside which could be a benefit as she will be the last to load. Rivelli is known to have his young horses ready to show speed as this once could quickly clear from the outside and never look back. 1-DANCING MAGIC will have to work out a trip from the rail in her debut as she has posted consistent drills coming into this spot. She is well bred and figures to take some action. 3-FAITH HOPE N LOVE could be worth a look off a nice pattern of drills at Fairmount leading into here. She comes up to run for the added money as she could be ready at first asking.

Only five in here but a competitive five as all could be a factor. 3-BLESSED ANNA looks to get to her race two back where she stalked the pace and took over late. She should be on or near the lead in here and I don't expect a very fast pace. Let's see if she can rally in the lane and outkick Izzy's Monster to the wire. 5-IZZY'S MONSTER did get the best of Blessed Anna last out as she stalked and wore her down late. I would expect a similar trip once again as the only thing that could work against her is a slow pace upfront. 4-SHE BE SHEEHAN stretches back out today as she could be the sleeper in here. She may look to try to sneak away early and if she can shake loose early she may be able to steal this one.

I was glad to see this race fill as it is a very competitive bunch. A horse knocking on the door at this level is 6-LITTLE STEVEN as he has tactical speed and could get a great stalking trip. Mojica is back in the saddle once again as the pace should be honest upfront. 2-EUCLID AVENUE is the one that looks to carve things out on the front end, something he has done in all three starts since stretching out. He wired a field of maidens two back and held his own in the mud last out. Felix has shown the ability to back things down on the front end and let's see if he looks to take that route in here today. 3-SHARP STICK is the one that could step up as he has run a pair of respectable races in his two starts since being claimed. He has tactical speed and picks up a strong finisher in Cohen in the saddle.

Good to see nine maiden boys in here with many in with a shot. 7-MURDOCK is the Rivelli runner that debuts off a nice workout pattern. He has a pair of snappy gate drills and I expect he gets sent hard early. 5-FACE THE FUTURE is one of two Roussel runners that has worked in company with Stranger's Church leading into this spot. Both can contend but I chose this one as Felix tends to be the regular rider for this barn. 1-COOLTHING ran well in his debut as he chased and show some run late. Having the race under his belt will help but he will need to get away cleanly from the rail today.

Stakes runners in the Buck's Boy in what should be an interesting pace race. Wondering if 5-READTHECLIFFNOTES could look to steal this one on the lead as there isn't much early pace in this race. He ran well in a tough turf event last out and battled late into the lane. This race is a 16th shorter which could benefit his chances today. 2-ANOTHER MYSTERY was a good second in that last out in his first start off the layoff. He is going to need pace to chase though as that's the one thing that could work against him a bit over the firm turf with the pace-less race. 3-RICHIESGOTGAME comes in for Mike Maker as he has been good at Hawthorne throughout his career and makes his second start of the year. His last was off an 11 month layoff as he has every right to improve today.

A lot of unknowns in this field with numerous horses stretching out today. One of those is 7-SHARP ATTACK as she makes her second start at this level. She ran a decent race in the mud in her last and I wouldn't be surprised if she showed speed with the stretch to two turns. 5-TRIBEST is overdue for the maiden score but she continues to run solid races and has past two turn experience. She's going to take a lot of action for a barn that has had a solid meet. 1-GOOD MAGIC WOMAN ran a decent race around two turns in her first start of the meet before a good sprint effort two back. She tailed off a bit in her last but looks to improve with the switch to Mojica in the saddle in here.

Another really competitive bunch here that is led by 3-CHARLIE LIGHTNING as he makes his second start off the claim. He was a strong winner last out under a good ride from Colon and looks to get a similar trip in here.6-VIOLENT GIGI runs for the new barn today and he was closing late in his last. He has come up a bit short in his last couple despite getting fast paces to chase and he should see similar in front of him again today. 5-READTHETRANSCRIPT was a good winner at a price here two races back and could get a perfect stalking trip today. The price should be right once again as Reyes has been riding well of late.

Have to think 5-RED HORNET will be very tough in here after scratching out of a spot on Saturday where I felt he was competitive as well. He gets back on the grass which should turn his form around and gets pace to chase. Expect him to settle early and look to rally in the lane. 3-ALL CHOKED UP wired the field in his last and looks to be sent away early once again. I don't expect the easy lead though that he found two weeks ago as he may have to work a bit to maintain his front end advantage. 4-LAWMAKER will benefit if there is a contested pace ahead of him as he ran well over this course last year. He was a good winner on the Indiana turf last fall as well and likely needed his last as he typically doesn't sprint. He's the price play today.

A wildly difficult field here with the likely pace of the race stuck on the far outside. Wondering if 4-FIRST MASAMUNE will take advantage of the hot bug Slevinsky in the saddle and the weight off as he stretches back out today. His last two races were solid while facing tougher and the combination of class relief and lack of pace could work to his advantage. 5-CHICKS FOR FREE ran a good race in his last as he battled the entire way. He has improved over his last four starts for a barn that has had a good meet, oftentimes with prices. 7-UNIFIED WEEKEND has been very popular at the claim box as he makes his second start off the layoff and first for the new connections. He has a tendency to get into the mix late but often comes up just short while at a short price. Mojica did ride last out though and returns in the saddle today.

Another really good wagering race as the 7 1/2 furlongs could make things interesting. With the shorter run into the first turn, both 9-COMMAND POINT and 8-LEA Ro figure to take back early and look to tuck in. Command Point has been very consistent as she showed versatility with a good dirt effort last out in a race taken off the grass. She was second and third at this distance last summer but appears very tough in here today. I'm expecting 10-QUILTING PARTY is send for position early from her outside draw as she has the ability to show a little early speed. She will be a price in this spot but has improved in each start this meet and figures to once again. 8-LEAH RO will just have to work out a trip as she figures to drop back early and make one run in the lane.  She tried hard over a Yielding course in her last and merits a look once again.

This race is as wide open as they come to close out the card. Every horse in here can win. I went to 7-TAKER BACK as she returns to the main track today and should be able to show some speed in here. Her Oaklawn slop sprints were strong and she should be forwardly placed in a race that doesn't have a ton of pace. 10-LALY is the other possible speed of the field as she ran a really nice race last out. She may get sent away from the outside today but a repeat of that last performance will put her right there with these. 3-COME ON LADY chased in the race with LALY last out as she has run a pair of good races on the meet. She draws well and may find herself in a perfect stalking spot.