Handicapper Tips & Picks

2-PROBLEMATICA is one of many in here dropping in class but think she might have the advantage over the rest. I believe she’s quicker than the rest. She has been fading late in her races since her maiden win but she’s likely to have a far easier time getting to the lead at this level. Plus, she’s moving from turf to dirt, a 24% winning move for her barn. 1-HIGHWOOD ships back from Iowa and is another dropping in class. She is in better form than the rest of the field. She doesn’t appear to be as quick as top choice but might be able to sustain her speed for longer. 5-QUIERO DINERO figures prominently. She showed little in her local debut but was in against better while making her turf debut. Guessing she’ll show far more with the class drop and the return to her preferred surface.

4-ANOINTED OF GOD looks tough. This Indiana shipper isn’t the only speed but she ran very well in her two dirt races and lost her last by less than a length. 1-STERLING LUCK flies late. She’s another coming off a narrow loss. Her’s took place at Churchill where she came in second, a neck back, in a race that was slightly shorter. 3-ELODINE is another that likes the front end. However, she doesn’t appear to be as quick as top choice and she really hasn’t shown a lot of staying power.

4-PRINCE IS MY BOY could surprise. There is a lot of apparent speed in this race and this gelding races evenly while closing at times. He’s bred for the lawn and finished third in his lone grass trip. 7-LONE RETURN might outlast the rest of the front running types. He didn’t show much in his first three turf races, all sprints, but he led most of the way in last, his first grass race around two turns. That was also his first two-turn race of any type. Could be better prepared to get the distance today. 2-I O FEDRO makes his debut. His works have been sufficient for one of the top turf barns around.

2-SUPORB has been sharp since getting here. She wired the field in her local debut and then narrowly missed in her last against a similar field. She’ll have to deal with plenty of other speed but she has shown good tenacity in her local starts so far. I want to love 4-A REAL HERO. He was claimed from last and moves to a far hotter barn. Plus, the pace of this race sets up perfectly for his running style. However, his barn, winning at a 24% rate for the year between multiple tracks, is winless in their last 22 starts off first-time claims. 7-LADY ATLANTIC has been in decent form for the last month or so. She seldom gains much respect but she won two starts back, beating top choice, and paid over $150. The pace will set up for her again.

Tough race to figure. From a pace standpoint, you have to think that 1-DOROTHY CROWFOOT should get the trip. Although she owns good speed, others in here are quicker and she did show in last that she’s capable of coming on late. 5-BEAUTY OF THE NILE improved dramatically when they moved her to the weeds. She gamely won her grass debut and then had an easier time of it in last. But she is going to have plenty of company upfront. Can she withstand the pressure again? 6-CLASSIC PERFORMER tired when they stretched her out on the main track for last but she’s turning back in distance for her return to the lawn. She generally races on or right off the lead but that route race might have tempered her speed a bit. Can finish with something in reserve.

5-LADY HELENA drops and turns back in distance to make her dirt debut. She’s been in decent form against better rivals but she might be able to dominate at this level if she handles the dirt. 6-I’M BOX OFFINE finished 16 lengths behind top choice in last but she does have an excuse. She got squeezed at the start and was never able to make up any ground. Like top pick, she’s dropping in class to race on dirt for the first time. She was favored in that last start. Might make amends in this spot. 7-LUCY JANE completes the trio of those dropping sharply. She’s had only one start in each of the last two years and finished up the track both times. Might fare better at this level.

4-ANOTHER MYSTERY could be tough in a very tough race. Fresh off a victory in the $75,000 Illinois bred Buck’s Boy Handicap, this talented 8-year-old has already surpassed $700,000 in earnings. Lacking any early speed, we can figure that he’ll be closing fastest of all. 8-HERN is entered for the main track only. Although it seems unlikely to rain, this is Chicago and the weather can change here in a hurry. He’s been in against some pretty tough fields this year. If this race does get moved to the main track, he will wind up facing a much easier group. 1-VOTE NO could be a factor on either surface. He’s been racing on synthetic this year but he was good on the lawn when he was two, winning the Juvenile Sprint at Kentucky Downs and then finishing third in the Grade 2 Bourbon in the last time he ran on turf. He’ll be racing with blinkers for the first time which could help his focus. 7-CODE NAME could be the best of the speed. He wired the field in last; his first two-turn race since moving to this barn. If not pressured early, he might be able to do it again.

5-TIZ A COUNTRY GIRL ran well in all her races since moving to this barn and all of her races have been in better company. So, it’s a bit surprising to see her dropping in class. But the trainer, who recently scored his 3,000th career victory, wins a lot of races because he places runners in the right spot. It looks like this is the right spot for her. Can win at a short price. 7-EMITYAAZ came up just a head short in last at this level after leading from the start. She seems to have only one to beat to the lead in this race. Might not get caught. 6-SIGNATURE STREET appears to be facing her easiest field ever. She’s been finishing up the track all year but this could be the perfect spot for her to turn it around.

2-EXTRA HALO maybe drops to score. He’s plenty fast but he hasn’t been able to sustain that speed while meeting better company. At this level he might never look back. 8-EASY FAST makes his first start since September. He’s also dropping many levels. Finished far back in both his races against winners but he’ll have a far better chance against runners at this level. 1-ALIBI IKE, like many in here, is dropping in class but he seems to be in better form than most. He’s had nine races at the distance and never finished better than third but it’s been a long time since he was in this easy. Could edge by late.