Handicapper Tips & Picks

2-ROGUE DIAMOND has been training well for her debut. With Loveberry aboard for the barn that wins with 37% of their first timers, you know she’s a realistic threat. 3-NOTIPTONY has had two races already and she finished second in both of them. We obviously know she can run but not sure she can beat all the other runners in this race. Can’t ignore 6-REIMAGINE. She split the field in her debut but is another that has been training well since and she races for a barn whose runners usually improve with experience.

8-ISABELLA’S BEAUTY was favored in her debut and ran well but had to settle for a distant second behind long-time maiden Joyzella. She’ll be meeting others with speed, including Sanitarium who dueled with her in last but today she’ll be racing with Lasix for the first time. She put that rival away in last and should be able to do it again. 6-I DID THE MATH is the logical favorite after narrow losses in her last two start. However, those races were at Fanduel. She had never shown that kind of ability in her previous local races. But maybe it was Victor Santiago in her irons. Santiago will be aboard here locally for the first time. The pace will set up. Can run by them all. 1-SANITARIUM is an interesting runner. He’s making only his second start and he’s a six-year-old. But he did run well in his debut and he could be even better this time around.

5-EVEN THE WIND has the perfect running style to take advantage of what should be a contested early pace. Winner of two of last three will be sitting near the back of the pack, waiting for his rivals to tire on the front end. Figures to swoop on by late. 7-ALL CHOKED UP has had more turf success than any of his rivals. He likes the front end. However, he could face plenty of early company up there. That could compromise his chances. 3-HAY MOON was a daylight winner in his turf debut but his chances were compromised in last by a terrible start. He was never able to display his good speed. Got claimed from that race by a barn that traditionally does well with those they claim. Loveberry in the irons could be the icing on the cake. Wakes up big time. 

 7-LAKE MILLS is r dropping to meet easier. He won only one of his sixteen local races but most were against better and he still finished third seven times. He certainly figures with these. 1-MON AMIE FUZZIE will be coming late. Stablemate of top choice finished third in last three. Could be poised for better. 4-Z U SOON needed last. He was facing better while making his first start of the year. Should perform better with the class drop and a recent race under his belt.

4-MAQUMAT goes for his third in a row. He won three of last four. He’s capable of wiring the field or coming from off the pace. Could be tough either way. 1-RISKY BOY has been in too tough since getting claimed by this barn but he’s dropping back to the right level for this race. He finished in the money in 17 of his 25 races over the last two years. Could get back to competitive efforts with the class drop.  6-CHARLIE LIGHTNING is another in great form. He won three of his seven races this year and finished second another three times. We can be sure that he’ll be on or right off the lead throughout. 

It’s not like 2-COWBOY JUSTICE is a lock. You have to wonder if he is ready off the layoff. His drills have been ok but came at a training center so you don’t really know who else is training there. He does boast the highest speed figures of any in here but he hasn’t raced since November and his barn hasn’t won with their last 11 runners coming off similar layoffs. Would think that he wins this if he’s ready but there is no guarantee that he is. Slim pick. Like the form of 1-MAN ON ATTACK. He has speed, the rail, a good speed rider and success at the distance. Will have to be caught. 7-PROFESSOR HIGGINS flies late. He’s been in great form and finished out of the money only one time on turf. He was claimed from last but figures to have continued success for his new barn.

4-MYSTIC STORM faces her easiest test ever.  She owns sufficient speed to sit right off the pace and she’s been showing enough staying power to put away the rest. 3-SHEZA HOOT will be coming late. She appears in better form than her foes. However, she likes to come from far behind and there might not be enough pace to support that kind of late move. 5-RUNNERS HEAT is in poor form but finally takes a much-needed drop in class. The company she’s been facing are tougher than they look on paper. This mare might awaken in this spot. 

The front end of this race could be a very busy place. I have to figure that a runner capable of closing could have the best chance. 5-FACCIA BELLA could seem to fit that description the best. She has improved greatly since moving to the Block barn. Her sixth-place finish in the $100,000 Lady Canterbury last out was better than it looked. It was part of a multiple-runner photo and she only lost by a couple lengths. This company seems considerable easier. Can run by late. 8-CAT ATTACK will run as fast as she can for as long as she can and just might be able to put away the rest of the speed and wire the field. The other Block-trained runner, 6-MISS RIVER RAT must also be considered. She has been a different runner since adding blinkers. In her last two starts at similar distances, she had a win and a neck loss. Unlike her stablemate, she’ll never be far off the pace. 4-MOON RAY could be an interesting runner. It’s been a long time since she showed much but this is possibly the easiest field she has ever met. She won a Group 3 at Chantilly in 2022 so you know she has/had the ability. Worth watching. 

1-POLICY OPTION was claimed from last by the top barn. In that race he finished second but he was making only his second start of the year. Late runner should get enough pace ahead of him. Runs by in the stretch. 4-SHADY MCGEE took the lead midstretch and was able to hold off the late run of top choice. That race was longer which might have favored top choice more but both of them are likely to be racing near the back of the pack early and they could wind up dueling the length of the stretch in this one. 7-WICKED SUPRISE looks like the best speed. He tends to tire late and last nine-furlong contest was probably too long for him but he could be far more difficult to catch with the cut back in distance.