Handicapper Tips & Picks

Interesting race as there are a few stretching out in here and not a ton of early pace. 6-CUCUY comes in from Florida for today's race as he has faced tougher and tries conventional dirt for the first time. The connections have been solid of late and he could rate a bit closer early in here. 1-CUPID'S WAR chased around two turns on the turf in his debut. He hung around into the lane in that spot before tiring late as he was claimed from that start. Let's see if he can rate close from the inside once again. One that could improve with the class relief and stretch in distance is 7-CRUZIN N CURSIN. He showed speed in his debut before tiring into the lane and faced a tough bunch in his last. With the ability to relax around two turns, he may be able to save something into the lane.

There's certain horses you just love to watch race and 4-READTHECLIFFNOTES is one of those for me. He's just such a cool, game old racehorse who is still putting forth solid efforts on the racetrack while at a high level. He has versatility and with the likelihood of a contested early pace, he should be able to rate and rally late. 2-ARDANWOOD has speed but may have company as well. What was interesting was that James Graham came in to ride him last out and gave him a great trip. No Graham today but he gets Mojica back aboard, who was on him in victory three starts back. 6-EMPIRE BUILDER is the other with speed who steps up in his second back off the layoff. He may be the fastest to the front in this spot and if he can clear, he could get brave on the lead.

A really solid field in this spot as there's a bit of pace in the race. The class relief and the ability to possibly rate could help the chances of 1-GOOD APPLE as he draws the rail today. He comes out of a tough bunch in his last but battled on through the lane. Look for him to settle and wear down the leaders late.  4-MOHAAFETH was rallying late in his last as he was a solid second in that spot. If the pace is contested early it will benefit his chances to close. 3-STRANGE ARRANGE is one with speed who also gets some class relief. He likes the distance and the racetrack as he merits a look for sure.

So hard to determine what we will get in here off the layoff for Uncle Headley so I will try to beat him in this spot, despite the figures. Went on top to 6-ONE PUTT RICHIE as he comes in off a good second where he was claimed in his last. He has some tactical speed and picks up Mojica in the saddle. Let's see if he can track the leaders early today and take over late. 8-MALIGATOR scratched out of a race on Thursday for this spot as the old timer gets some class relief. He does have the ability to close late and just needs that pace to chase. 5-UNCLE HEADLEY has been away for nearly a year as he was running well to close out 2023 and now plunges. If ready he will be tough, but there's a lot of questions to answer.

This field came together nicely as there's multiple horses in with a chance. Giving the nod to 2-CROSSANNA as she just missed when on the grass in her last and will be flying late in here. She gets the mile distance once again and looks to be sitting ona winning effort. 6-MACHIVA has improved in her last couple as she is another that will be closing quickly late. She gets Murgia in the saddle as he rides a pair for Dorochenko on Sunday and the price should be right. 3-MY VERSION is in from Kentucky after a turf debut in Indiana last out. She chased into the lane in there and ran evenly late as she should be a square price today.

A very evenly matched field in here as many have a chance and nobody should be a heavy favorite. The winner last time was 4-FIRST KITTEN as she rated early and rallied in the lane. She's been at her best with Centeno in the saddle as he returns today.  She loves the track and the distance as all could line up for a big effort. 7-TRIPLE SCOUT has tactical speed as well as she battled on the lead in her last and didn't give way until late. She figures to show speed once again as we will see if she has company upfront. 1-SAMARITA should be close but I don't expect to find her on the front end. If she is able to rate in this spot, she's another that should be picking off horses late.

The class relief may be all that is needed for 7-COTTON CANDY ANNIE as she has faced much tougher in recent starts. Her turf starts have been decent and she could get a good amount of pace to close into. 9-LOTTA ROSES has improved in her last three as she closed late to run a good second in her last. The price should be right as you should get every bit of the 5-1. 4-KINGSBURY DREAM is another that will benefit from the pace ahead of her. She will be closing from even further back in this spot but the back class could help her chances as well.