Handicapper Tips & Picks

Although a shorter bunch, this race is competitive to open things up on Thursday. A couple with speed sets things up for 2-QUIERE DINERO to rate and run on late. She's been at this level for her last couple and the switch to Centeno will be a boost in the saddle. 6-MISS SAIPAN has speed and may try to clear but will have to contend with Peggy's Way possibly early. If she clears, she could steal this one. A plus is Gutierrez comes in to ride. 4-HOLY IMAGE is another that will be picking off horses late. She has finished second in four straight as she stepped up for a big effort in her last. Let's see if she can get her second win today.

Initially it looks like there could be a decent amount of pace in this race but I believe that 5-WINGING WAYS has much better gate speed than any other in here. He wired the field at Fairmount in his last and has found the board in all four starts on the year. I expect he clears and never looks back at the 5 1/2 furlong distance. 7-MON AMI FUZZIE was one I liked last out but he disappointed a bit in that spot. He was better in the three races prior as he could get into the mix late underneath. 4-FUTURE VISION is another that will be looking to close late as he makes his second start off the layoff. He was a good winner two back and is worth a look at a price.

On turf, 2-DOCS SEVEN is just a different racehorse as she gets back to a winning spot. She beat better on the grass in June before running on too late while facing better last out. With the early pace to the outside, look for her to save ground and run on late along the fence. 6-BALI BABY ran well at this distance two back, chasing the lone speed of Graytana. She is another that will need some pace to chase as she could be overlooked at the windows. 3-RARE ACTION ATTACK will also be looking to rally in the lane as she returns off the rest. Her race two back was strong as Walter Rodriguez is in town to ride.

Worth taking a stab in here as there's quite a bit of early speed to push things along upfront. The addition of Cohen in the saddle makes you take notice of 1-ANCIENT MAN as he will be a big price. His race two back as strong as he chased the lone speed and this barn has been solid in the last couple of weeks as well. 2-NOT VERY GENTLE closed to run third in his last couple and should be picking off horses late once again. He loves this Hawthorne strip and will also benefit from the speed ahead of him. 7-PARKER was a good second in his last couple and has also taken well to this Hawthorne strip. He figures to rate in the second flight early as he comes back off the short layoff.

State-bred allowance runners in here with a very competitive bunch. Going to look to the speed and give 5-CANYON SHADOWS the nod as he gets back to the dirt, state-breds and three quarters. This is his second off the layoff as he should be on the gas from the start and can dig in if challenged. 6-RHODIUMS PRIDE looks to stalk the pace as he figures to show more on the turn back in distance. He ran a couple of solid races at this level early in the meet and may be a square price. 2-DASH TO THE CASH just needs to get away in good order as he will be running on late. He has just the one win but has found the board on nine other occasions as the right trip will put him in the mix.

Solid turf bunch with all in with a chance. Despite the layoff I'll look to 6-GREAT COOLNESS as he is bred to run all day and has worked well toward his return. He has tactical speed but the key will be if both DiVito runners run as those are the two who could contest things on the front end. 7-IRIS'S DREAM has been highly regarded as he raced in the Florida Derby just two starts ago. He held his own in a tough turf allowance at Keeneland back in April before some time away from the races. Let's see if he's ready off the rest. 1-TOUGH LITTLE NUT rallied late in his last as he was a solid second in that spot. He will need some pace to chase though as he will have some work to do in the stretch.

Again a race with some pace as the stalker could get the right trip in here. 6-THINK BLUE has run well against better in her last few as Orm comes in to ride. I expect she tucks in just behind the early pace in this race as she looks to get the jump on the closers. 5-GO STORMIN GIRL has been very good this year and the layoff may have been welcome as she has run hard in every start. She loves this track and the distance as she could be right alongside Think Blue much of the way. 3-MYSTIC STORM ran evenly in her last at this level as she picks up Mojica. I'll be curious to see if she takes back a bit further as she could look to run on late.