Handicapper Tips & Picks

This race looks to get trainer Wayne Catalano one winner closer to 3,000 on his career as 4-STARINA will be a heavy favorite in this spot. She has ran solid races in her last couple and may look to sit a bit closer to the pace in this spot. On figures alone, she's a standout in here. 2-ELODINE comes out of a one turn mile race at Churchill in her last where she showed improved speed and contended into the lane. She may look to get away quickly in this spot and she can pose a threat to Starina. 6-W W LAST HURRAH debuts for Becker with Lasix as she has been training well leading to this race. She's asked to go two turns first out but the short field and outside draw could benefit her chances.

An extremely competitive bunch in here as there's a bit of early pace in this race. One getting some class relief is 6-MAYSTART as she comes out of a pair of tough starter races in her last couple. She will need some pace to chase but is expected to close with a rush. 1-GO STORMIN GIRL was a solid winner in her last as she rated close early and drew clear in the lane. Expect her to be sent for position once again from the inside as she loves this track and should be a decent price. 7-PALACE MAGIC has had some solid races over this track as she has some tactical speed. Her last two on the turf came against much tougher as she figures to benefit from the class relief.

With the inside two likely to show speed in here, expect some horses to run on late. Although the last couple have come on turf, 4-DOCS SEVEN has run well on the dirt and has been good at this distance. Mojica rode a beautiful race aboard him last out and should have him running on late in the lane in here. 3-ADIVA was strong in her Hawthorne start two back as she rated closer than I would expect her tonight. She posted three consecutive scores at Oaklawn this spring and the ability to rate just off the pace will set her up for a big effort in here. 6-TRIPLE SCOUT is one that figures to tuck in just behind the pace in this race. She posted seven wins in then starts last year while finding the board in every start. She's been just as good to open 2024 and will take a good amount of action.

No reason why 6-TRY TRY AGAIN can't win right back as he was very good in his last. He loves the track, he's much better sprinting and should be able to sit just off the pace. Reyes is riding well and the price should still be right. 1-LATIN CASINO figures to show speed from the inside as he starts for the new connections in here. He battled late into the lane in his last before giving way in the final 16th. Let's see if he tries to clear in here. 4-TIME HEIST will step back up in here off another solid score in his last. He is another that loves this Hawthorne strip and will get some pace to chase. Let's see if he can get Santos into the winner's circle.

State-bred turf runners in here as the first timers could determine what the pace scenario is. From those who have run, there doesn't appear to be a ton of early speed. I will try one on debut and look to 3-TOWERING STORM as he scratched out of an open race on Saturday for this spot. The four-year-old is getting started a bit later but gets Lasix for the debut and is bred to run all day on turf. 4-NAGY AND DA BEARS showed improved speed in recent races as he ran well in his first turf try. He led into the lane in that spot before giving way late and could be sent once again for the front. 8-CANYON SHADOWS gets Lasix for this race as he ran well on the grass in his last and stretches out today. He's been the most consistent in the race and figures to take a good amount of action.

There's only a couple with speed in this race but they have the potential to hook up. The one that could tuck in just behind the pace is 2-JET FLIGHT as he has run well in his last couple. He was a good winner two back and came back to post a good second in a stalking trip in his last. He should be able to rate just off the pace in here and could run by in the lane. 1-SLAVA UKRAINI is at his best when he makes the lead as he should get sent away for bug Slevinsky from the rail. If he can clear, there the potential he could get brave on the lead and hang around late. 3-BRUCE BANNER is another with speed as he battled in his last while facing tougher. He has run well over this track but I'm a bit surprised that Felix doesn't return in the saddle.

There's so much pace in this race which figures to set things up for the closing move of 6-DAPPER DUDE. He finds things easier as he has faced allowance runners in recent starts and picks up a strong finisher in Cohen in the saddle. This could be a confidence building spot. 2-WE MISS ARLINGTON is one of those with speed who also has class off recent Oaklawn starts. There's question as to how he will handle the grass but he has been trying to run on the turf and comes in off a bullet drill. 5-MY TENNIS SHOES could be the sleeper in here as he also tries the turf for the first time. He was a good winner two back and figures to be overlooked with the step up in class.

Wondering if trainer Manny Perez could run 1-2 here as there looks to be a good amount of pace to close into. 1-PIRATE MARMALADE has run well in his last couple as it has coincided with the class relief. He should be saving ground in here and continued improvement will put him right there nearing the wire. 8-KEYSER raced well with Slevinsky aboard two back as she returns in the saddle in this spot. He could sit a bit closer to the early pace but is another that figures to rally late. 6-NAP LOVER debuts for Robertson with Lasix as the Illinois-bred has a decent pattern of drills and isn't being asked for too much first out. His gate work was decent as I'll be curious to get a look at him in the paddock.

The maiden score for 7-CHANEL POINT was solid in the mud last month as she takes the logical step up in class. She rated closer in that race and could get a similar trip from just off the expected speed of likely favorite, 4-BOYCE'S BANDITA. Boyce's Bandita drops to win it appears as she faced allowance runners in three straight before this drop. She does race for the increased Illinois claiming tag and could possibly win and get claimed. 5-IMAGE OF CURLIN is worth the look while at a price as she was a good winner in her last with Slevinsky aboard. The bug girl rides back as she could get a very similar trip to Chanel Point in here.

I looked for a Manny Perez trained exacta earlier in the card and try here for an Eduardo Rodriguez trained exacta to close the day. 4-MOVE IT BABY has been a solid turf sprinter, especially at this distance. She was a good winner two back and held her own in her last. Let's see if she can handle the class hike today. 2-RAMBERT also steps up off the claim as she has had past turf sprint success as well. She should be rating close to the pace in here and figures to pounce in the lane. 1-MADELYN BELLE is one with speed as she scratched out of a tougher spot Saturday for this race. She won her only sprint on the turf here last summer and may be fast enough early to clear and never look back.