Handicapper Tips & Picks

Hard to get past 5-EUCLID AVENUE. I’ve never been much for big droppers but his drop makes sense. He was in too deep in the two races since breaking his maiden despite his great effort in his first start against winners. At this, the right level, he should be far more competitive. 6-CHARLIE’S BEACH is another meeting his easiest field ever. He owns pretty good sprint speed so it’s a bit strange that in all of his previous route races he hasn’t shown any speed at all. Maybe that will change today. He hasn’t done it yet but keep expecting 1-STOLICH to display better speed with the stretch out. Is coming off a good second at this level while sprinting. If he does get sent, he could be first or second all the way around.  

If 2-I’M WIDE AWAKE can emulate his effort in his last race at Churchill, he shouldn’t get beat. Of course, this race is filled with early speed so he might not be able to grab that clear lead he enjoyed in that last race. Still, I’m not sure any of the others in here are capable of running a :44 and change half. Guess we’ll see. 1-SHACKLEFORD STRONG might be able to challenge for the lead but think his best chance will come if he can let some of the others tackle top pick early while he patiently tracks the early pace. He’s been facing possibly tougher rivals than these. Should be a strong finisher. 5-PHILIPSBURG was just claimed by a barn with a 31%-win average with their first-time claims. He’s been the model of consistency with three wins, three seconds and two thirds in his eight career races. He’s taking on better here but he could be up to the challenge. 4-RED LABEL won starters in his last two starts. His speed figures suggest that he could be slower than some in here but he has to be considered after recent victories. 

Richard Ravin homebred 7-RAVIN’S RANSOM has popped some amazing workouts, especially for a 2yo. He races for the top barn whose babies and first times usually run well, at low odds, and he gets one of the top riders in the irons. 5-TAKEITAWAY is another homebred, this one by S D Brille LP, that has been training very well. Like top pick, he’s trained by a sharp barn that often wins with their first timers and he’s another that gets one of the top riders in his irons. 4-BOLD COMFORT finished 12 lengths back in his debut but the highly touted winner of that race drew clear by 10 and this colt finished third, less than two lengths back from second, while finishing well clear of the rest of the field. Experience helps. Figures.

2-LAST MINUTE went off as the heavy favorite in his lone race last year but failed to make an impact. Guess he had some growing to do. But this $475,000 purchase has been working bullets toward his first start of 2024. This time he’ll be racing on turf, the surface he was bred to love. Has a great chance to make amends. 1-MIDTERM should finally get to run on the lawn. He was entered for turf in his last two races but those races were both moved to the main track. This speedy runner has been fading after showing good early zip but that could change with the switch in surfaces. 3-PONCHO ATTACK will be flying late. He’s had two turf sprints and ran well in both, including a second, less than a length back, in last. Meets open company today but might want to include him in the vertical gimmicks. 

7-SUPRISE ME AGAIN is the most lightly raced member of this field. She showed nothing in her debut but Block-trained runners often need a race or two and she came through with flying colors in last, breaking her maiden going away. She’s meeting many that have been trying to get through this condition for a while. Obviously gives up experience edge but might have the most upside. 1-SALLY’S SURPRISE made a strong late bid in last, only to come up less than a length short. It’s possible that if that race had been at today’s distance, she would have passed them all. Maybe today. 6-DEVIL seems like the only legitimate speed in the race. Could try to steal this on the lead. 

4-CAT ATTACK is far from the only speed in this race but she could be the best. She had little chance in a dirt sprint in last but she’s stretching to her best distance on her preferred surface. She wired the fields the three times they stretched her out from sprints to routes. Might not look back. 1-TRAIL RIDGE ROAD needed last. This multiple stakes-placed runner faced an extremely tough stakes field in her 2024 debut. She’s going to be gunning for top pick late. 2-MOON RAY is worth a look. She’s racing without blinkers for the first time since arriving in the US. She’ll be making her first start for this barn and they win almost 30% of the time when runners come to them from other barns. 

1-KING ANTHONY lived up to heavy favoritism and broke his maiden in his first start of the meet. He raced in contention early, moved on the early speed late in the stretch, and finally drew away late. He’s meeting more experienced rivals in this spot but like the way he has improved with every subsequent sprint race. Can win right back. 4-STRANGE ARRANGE looks like the best of the speed. He tired in last while facing many of these rivals but his first two races for this barn were excellent. He has a better chance of getting an unchallenged lead today. Might take it all the way. The tactical speed of 5-GOOD APPLE should have him squarely in the hunt. He might not be quite as quick as Strange Arrange but he’ll be raging right behind that runner. He often finishes with good energy Would be no surprise.

4-GET N TIPSY came from far back to win last in Indiana, meeting rivals quite similar to this group. She also finished second the last time she raced here last July. This race should feature an honest pace, something required for her to unleash her best move. Can repeat. 1-KINGSBURY DREAM was outgunned in her first start of the year but that race should have set her up perfectly for this one. She’s dropping to fac her easiest field in a long time. Although she won only one of her 20 turf races, she has often been competitive despite meeting tougher rivals. Like top pick she’ll do her best running late. They could be matching strides in the stretch. 5-APRIL’S GEM is generally competitive. She has an affinity for races at this distance. Seven of her eight victories have been scored at what is considered is considered a long sprint, even though it is around two turns. Finished third in a similar contest at this distance last time out but we know she’s capable of doing even better. 

7-MY BROTHER MIKE drops and turns back in distance. He has probably been better in longer races so far in his career but he has never been in this easy. Expecting him to race near the back of the pack early and try to mount a challenge once they turn for home. 4-SENDMEDOWNTHEROAD could display the most sustained speed. Others in here are quicker but they quickly run out of gas. He’s still lightly raced compared to most of the rest. Might have some upside. 5-KEYSER looks like the only one in here capable of making a late move and the pace will certainly set up for a horse with that ability even though the distance is short.

8-LUCKY SHOT just finished second in a “key” race. He was favored in that event but fought his rider for much of the race and expended too much energy doing so. Both the winner and third-place finisher came back to win their next starts. This one drops a notch. Can make amends. 1-SCHMOOZIN won his first two starts of the meet, beating better both times, but got claimed from his last local race and sent downstate, He didn’t do much good there but he’s back here and dropping in class. We know he likes the track. Might wake up.5-BAREFOOTBOOTLEGGER pulled things together in last and won at a nice price. He’s meeting a bit tougher in this spot but should once again get a great pace to run against. Comes flying late.