Handicapper Tips & Picks

#7 TAISHAN holds an edge on back class and while he is no longer the horse entered in graded stakes, he is placed where he can compete. Since returning from the layoff, he had an EX - EXCUSE off the bench (6/16) and moved up two weeks later with the B- on 6/29 at LRC. His form should hold here and even has the license to move forward once again in this third start of the cycle.

Trainer S. Knapp sent out everything live at LRC but waited on #5 BIG BUZZ for DMR and could suggest intent as this individual fits this race all around with solid local main track form.

#8 WINE AND WHISKY is a longshot to keep on the radar. He earned a follow (IMPROVE) returning from the freshening on 5/31 and wheeled back with an EX - EXCUSE in the TROUBLE trip protected on the turf in his most recent start, 6/16.

#3 STONEVICIOUS fits at the class level and with current form. He was not asked for his best in the TuP April event prior to the three month break he returns from here. With that said, the biggest hurdle here is distance as he has shown some limitations in the past; something that also has been present on ML favorite, #9 ATOMIC DROP though their job could get easier on the front end without the presence of the AE runners. 

Over the years BB has been very live with the juvenile runners and that trend could carry into the first "baby" race of the meet with #4 GETAWAY CAR one that comes in fit and race ready, tough to knock on the visuals training into this debut.

The biggest threat with D. O'Neill sending out the pair: #6 DR RUBEN M turned in a solid B effort in his debut and worked together with stablemate #3 RANK on 7/14 those two heads up - visually preferred DR of the two splitting mechanics and efficiency of movement.

This is the time to look for some value taking on the top two ML favorites: #4 NESSO'S LASTHARRAH one that has been very good as of late and will get attention off their race results with the public ignoring this one will be tested with the rise in class and coming off a PERFECT trip. #12 ANMER HALL fits on class and speed, though is a deep closer (Q4) cutting back to a much shorter, specialized distance.

#1 NEWS AT TEN was cold on the board for his local and layoff debut back in May at SA. In terms of the effort, he made a RUSH into a solid early pace (X_FLOW) before NO_FINISH and H. Berrios wrapping up (NO_PUSH) late. He will find a lateral change in class and potential intent for the connections here at DMR to step forward in his second local start. 

#5 INVINCIBLE will be required to take a step forward though that is not out of the realm of possibilities from the juvenile season as he makes his 3yo debut. 

#8 MAS RAPIDO appears well intended as he makes his second start back off the layoff and return to DMR. On 6/7 he was TACTIC- allowed to race well off the pace (PREP?) before making a late CLOSE. They have shown tactical speed (BOS BLANKET over today's course distance 10/23) in the past and appears intent with the class change finding the drop and racing first time for the claiming tag.

#9 KING APOLLO also a second off type with a lateral class change. His race record is more of an underneath type (similar could be said for #11 DANCING RINCA) APOLLO recorded a B OptixGRADE with a BTL effort under similar conditions back on 11/26. 

AE #13 GOOD WITH PEOPLE can be left on the radar should they draw in with sneaky turf form and early speed that will create more heat (Fire) should they participate. 

#7 TELOS is far from the most obvious in this field, though one that has races that make him a contender and buried form coming into this race. The connections have pointed this horse to DMR going back to his juvenile debut here in 2022. On the day, he caught the eye with the BTL MOVE and overall EX - EXCUSE here at DMR, a course they can back off the layoff in the 2023 with redemption recording his best figure to date over this course and distance. That 95 figure (recorded on 8/12/23) is slightly higher than anything ML favorite #6 DE'MEDICI has posted and in line with #8 MUCINO. They return here with a freshening and again intent with another summer start that could see him pop with a big effort. 

This is a very competitive allowance filled with solid fillies and more than the move to the TURF the shorter odds on #5 IN THEORY create a bigger knock in this event. 

While a case can be made for many, #2 ESPRIT ENCHANTE is one that has been on the radar since her BTL debut last summer. She followed up that initial start with the MSW win next out and closed out 2023 with ambitious placement in the BC Juvenile Fillies (G1) and a less than ideal TRAFFIC trip in that key race. In addition, she presented TURF visuals and returned to make her seasonal debut on the grass in the 6/13 sprint and showed run making a WIDE MOVE that should set her up for a move forward in this second start of the cycle along with the added ground. 

#1 BATTLE OF LEXINGTON is a standout (ABOVE+) given the placement here dropping in for a claiming tag. The move can come with reservations though for this individual is at the right level for their abilities and has been overmatched in allowance company.

#1 BELLOFTHEBLUEGRASS also finds an upgrade though a more subtle change than the move in R1. She remains at the MSW level, though today's par is much lower than what she has faced in the four prior starts to move up naturally in today's group. 

#2 SANG finds a subtle drop with the slightly lower par today and has shown improvement race-to-race while on the main track and had been pointed to the turf. #11 ELHUBOOB recorded her best figure on debut in the April turf sprint at GP under a similar par and projected to IMPROVE off the initial start. While she remained consistent given the time before returning last month at WO, the winner of the race, Stealin Time came from off the pace to present a slight flow upgrade as the PRESSED pacesetter. 

On class, form and figures #3 DIVINE ARMOR checks the boxes (ABOVE) and upgraded from the BTL effort back in May. The change in distance comes into play stretching back out around two turns. He has back races at the two turn distance that fits with their current form and par and even upgraded from the 9f event back in April at KEE making an early RUSH into a race shape that was VF/Very Fast early and late. 

#5 J. P. RACE looks to hold the class edge of the two T. Amoss runners and with the others in this field. He is eligible for this condition based on just two claiming starts the other times in against much tougher company and appears the drop and even today's placement on this circuit and group is where he fits. 

#9 BEELIVE HER moves up with the change in class and form cycle pattern. She drops back in for the claiming tag and class relief rom the starter races after the MCL win in May. #6 JUST LIKE YOU was given a follow after the EX - EXCUSE back in May at HS Indy and returned there last month with a credible place finish in N2 allowance company. The circuit switch makes for a lateral move and logical spot to compete. 

OCEANSIDE STAKES: 

The highlight race of the opening day card usually comes with a lot of excitement though not a lot of big talent (at least so far) shown in this group. Even with the M. McCarthy trio where the public will default to #2 FORMIDIBLE MAN as the "safe" option, perhaps #6 WE'RE IN TROUBLE turns out to be okay and stretches out with #7 BLUE EYED GEORGE one that had a WIDE trip in the American (G2) though like FORMIDIBLE MAN was also a big longshot on the day and at the least some of that should hold here. 

The race dynamic as a whole sets up for #4 GUY NAMED JOE and #10 ROTHSCHILD two runners that have yet to prove who they are, where they fit and class but this is that type of race. 

#11 SIMPLEXITY is the wild-card making his local debut though his 2023 finale finished in front of #3 KING OF GOSFORD, the likely race favorite. 

#8 SCATIFY is the most obvious/not obvious runner in field. He has consistently recorded some of the higher figures, has shown class and surface versatility. His lone turf start back in May earned him the lone B GRADE since taking on winners putting in a strong CLOSE and GALLOP+ behind his PERFECT (and PLODDY) trip stablemate winner, #5 ISLAND CRUISER. 

SAN CLEMENTE (G2):

There are no real issues with #10 MEDORO as the favorite in this race however this will be her biggest test to date (higher par than the G3 Providencia) and must continue to improve. She does not hold that much (if at all) of an edge in this field something that opens the door for value. 

D'Amato has a pair in here with the second ML choice in #6 ISCREAMUSCREAM though actually prefer #1 LOTERIE especially with the extreme odds discrepancy. LOTERIE showed she could step up to stakes company going back to the Juvenile Fillies Turf (9/9) turning in a BTL B OptixGRADE effort showing TWO_MOVES through all types of adversity (TRAFFIC, ROOM, TROUBLE+) closing out 2023. She recorded her best figure, the 89, one of the higher in the field and on par coming off the layoff in April and dominated (B+) the group of older MSW runners in the most recent start with a par similar to today. 

#7 ANTIFONA also brings in buried class going back to the EX - EXCUSE in the Blue Norther last year followed up with the strong B+ in the Sweet Life. She backed up that effort with the BTL show finish in the China Doll before moving back to the sprints prior to the freshening she returns from here. 

In addition to FLATTERY, P. Eurton also sending out #11 FLATTERY one they had high hopes for last year with the ambitious placement in the BC Juv. Fillies Turf (G1) closing out 2023. She returned in the Senorita (G3) a race that should set up for a move forward with the STRETCH out in distance and conditioning putting in a GALLOP+ past the wire.

Also returning from the BC, #8 OMAHA GIRL one that like FLATTERY must build off her juvenile season to compete at this stakes level though a lightly raced type in her own right with potential upside.