Handicapper Tips & Picks

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.