Handicapper Tips & Picks

This is a competitive race to kick off the Monday card. #3 APPEAL DENIED appears live off the layoff and a contender if race ready as he checks the boxes other than recency. #1 MANTA REY is a price to keep on the radar. He wheels right back from the WEATHER impacted Hawthorne race last week and a contentious field on the day with a WIDE trip. He is moving forward with each race of the cycle and on his best day fits as well as any in this group. #5 W W CRAZY has been freshened following the EX - EXCUSE back on 5/25 and another placed where he can compete though trip will be key with his off the pace runstyle at the sprint distance and over this course which at times has favored speed, though lately can close if "best" given the right setup. 

The course profile is mentioned in Race 1 and something to follow as it would move up #3 CURL GIRL one that could be played against as she requires the track profile in her favor otherwise does not have an edge in this field and has been flatted off prior trips/tracks. 

The value should be right to get involved on #6 HIGGINSVILLE coming off the 8th place finish just over a week ago. The placement was not to his ideal outclassed in MSW company and fractious in the GATE struggled over the track (NO_HANDLE) and was not asked/NO_PUSH. Skipping over that race his two prior MCL efforts fit on par including a B OptixGRADE for the place, BLANKET finish on 4/7 recording just one of two B OptixGRADE efforts in this field. The other "B" #4 ROYAL SALUTE for his show BLANKET finish over this Ellis Park turf course last August while at the MSW level and looks well placed back at the scene and on the drop. 

#6 LADY KATHRYN was bet down on debut from the 10-1 ML with the outside draw and turned in a strong effort and figure first out that sits in line with rival #3 MURPHY GIRL one that has the edge over the others from the 6/7 common race returning here. 

Here's the thing, #10 ELLEN JAY is fine. But she's just fine in this spot and will be favored. Her debut was BTL good all things considered and she WASTED energy before the second start and from the rail made a RUSH into a solid pace. Number wise she did not take a step forward, is a 3yo and likely has shown her best which might be good enough here (number wise no edge) or just enough to open the door to an upset.

Tough to know where #1 FUN LOVING fits with the distance change though does hold form coming back this year and if able to build off the juvenile numbers could be sitting on a peak effort today. The distance change is positive for #6 LIFE'S SAGA back at the ONE_TURN here and third start with a softer par from the first two events. #9 JUS EVELYN is one of a few 4yos in the field and one that has tried to get to the turf sprinting and will look to have that opportunity here.

Trainer A. Rice was on a tear with the small string of runners at CD and looking to carry that momentum here with #6 TILTED TOWERS, one that should present a pace advantage (Q1) in this field. Should also note the connections scratched out of an $80k stakes race at PID to run here instead. #2 SOGNO DI CAMPIONE is worth getting creative with on the distance change, the SHORTER distance should move him up along with efforts on his best day that fit on par. 

Against #6 ROCKY JOY one that could be favored as he has been short in the recent starts and come up short with the place finishes without excuse. He had mild pressure in those races, though still set moderate paces and even the Very Slow early and late pace on 6/16 had no excuse there and today's par is higher. 

#4 GLOBAL STAGE is the most likely winner, though comes back today on the class drop from sus visuals on 6/6 to create reservations. GLOBAL STAGE running back to his best has every one chasing for place, though a repeat of the June figure opens up this event. #1 REWIRE and #10 PROTEGE are right there despite giving up recency and can work a trip with their runstyle and bookended post positions. #8 DEWEY'S BEAST will also come off the layoff and will look to go gate-to-wire though likely to find company in that role.

#6 MERLOTTI is a longshot to consider as he moves off the rail, a positive change and has races that are not as strong number wise as others though sit on par running back to a top. #2 BEAUDACIOUS COLTON also sits on the lower end one of the sophomores in this field though finds a class change to run for the tag and overall right move for this one. 

#1 SHEAR MAGIC could almost be treated as a FTS given the changes for this belated second start and going back to his debut for a COLD barn. #9 ACTING DEBUT projected to IMPROVE off the KEE debut and dis just that last month at CD though caught a tougher MSW group and the connections taking the DROP here is reasonable looking for the maiden win.