Handicapper Tips & Picks

Experience can go a long way in this races though does appear there are live FTS that appear live on debut and to the benefit of the horseplaying public will be able to get a look at the horses and the early money with this race starting off the card: Rivelli strong with sprinters on the turf sends out homebred #5 GOOD TO BE PRINCE off steady local works, the half mile bullet on 8/25 and with main rider D. Cohen aboard; C. Block with their main rider in O. Mojica has the  #8 EXECUTOR one that has as strong of consistency in works to come out race ready.

As far as the DiVito pair: #2 ROYAL BRO will find the change in circuit and fitness in this third start though shortening up could be a hurdle as he has lacked early speed and a guess how that will translate here on the turf sprinting 5f; #4 BABY BOAT worked 10 flat at the April sale and still growing at the time is no surprise for this one to take a little longer to make a debut. Physically he presented as one that can handle the turf off that move at OBS and while there were some published works starting back in May the current cycle picked up in late July and steady into this race.

J. Felix picks up the call on #7 ROYAL AND READY one that makes a return to Hawthorne for this late season debut; IL-bred homebred #9 HOLDEN MICHAEL has some gaps in the published work tab for this race. 

The class DROP (and slight STRETCH in distance) is key for #3 SHE STOPPED SHORT one that has been able to move forward race-to-race though a touch short on class for the MSW level. The barn will also send out #4 RACING THE LIGHT for her first start and going off the visuals working 10.2 back in May at the sale, she has some try though placed accordingly here with the steady work tab.

Rivelli will also be represented by a pair in this race giving the edge to #6 RICHIESGOLDENGIRL with D. Cohen aboard, steady works and as an IL-bred will race for the higher $37.5k tag here today. Her stablemate #2 CATALOG QUEEN had the option to run for the higher tag and remains in for $25k which does appear a bit of a tell. #1 KELLY’S GIRL will also race for the higher allowance claiming tag as she makes her debut here. The works should have her fit with the pairing of gate drills coming into this race something required from the rail though in strong hands with A. Santos aboard.

#5 KUKU wheels right back for this race after the connections took a stab last week at KYD against winners. Her most competitive races to date were the distant show finishes in MCL company at CNL and with today as a lateral move she is tougher to endorse for anything higher than another minor share. 

Keeping with the theme early on in the card another full field of juveniles this time the fillies taking to the turf. #4 BELLA VITTORIA can be upgraded from her debut last month racing GREEN and showing run making a WIDE MOVE X_FLOW after the SLOG. #9 J Z’S LAST SCHANCE made a positive PRERACE+ appearance though also raced GREEN and missing the break (VSLOG) in her debut, a productive race back in June could take a step forward and returns with steady works since.

#3 REIMAGINE shifts to the turf and has had some gate issues forced to RUSH on debut and near excuse TROUBLES+ stumbling out of the gate on 8/22. Off her visuals she should take to the turf (barn has had success on the surface this season) and the slight addition of ground as well.

As far as the first time starters #1 BILLE CEE does not have the “jump off the page” works that can often be present on Rivelli runners and must come out running from the rail. C. Block has the pair with #2 STABLE CURRENCY and #5 CURLS NITE OUT both coming in with steady works and with capable live riders for this barn. 

Looking at today’s Plot with the Sun Contention, 29 SpeedRate and four of the seven runners declared as an E or EP Runstyle, the race sets up #5 IZEONDEC from off the pace. He had form for today’s conditions fitness wheeling back from the WIDE trip chasing with NO_PUSH just one week ago. In addition, he holds a N3 win from back on 5/26 and notable with today’s N3 conditions for runners that have not won three races since March 8^th keeps them eligible here and cleverly placed by trainer E. Rodriguez.

IZEONDEC should hold value in this race with others in this field coming back off wins or in the money finishes in their recent starts. That will include #3 UNIFIED WEEKEND one that fits with a top effort, however questionable he is ready to deliver that type of race coming back in 24-days when extremely game on the front end to stay on as the BOS X_FLOW. The consistency keeps UNIFIED WEEKEND in the mix, though willing to take on for the top spot at a shorter number and similar carried to #6 TWO COOKIE RULE as has had a tough, hard campaign as of late and returns here on shorter rest.

Intent comes back into play here for #2 MIDNIGHT BLUE NOTE with key rider C. Emigh aboard, though with today’s race shape trip will be the prime hurdle. Similar could follow #1 LOOKIN FOR REVENGE with the rail draw here, though some intent as the class change comes into play though with today’s competitive group today’s par is similar to the event for him back on 7/28 an effort in the mix for a minor share. 

#2 T LAW will get another look back on the TURF. Going back to 8/11 he was trying the TURF for just the second time in his career, the second start with a compromised WIDE trip from an outside post in a full field being the first and showed the physicality to handle the grass. That was supported by the effort last month where he had TROUBLE_S made a RUSH into a Very Fast early pace and a WIDE MOVE from off the pace on a day where the course favored runners forwardly placed. He fits right back in this spot with today’s race shape and a slightly lower par.

That 8/11 race is notable with #3 REGIMENTAL also returning from that event and BTL effort in his own right with a compromised TROUBLES and WIDE CLOSE against the course profile. He is a runner that has shown more early speed including his front running maiden win back on 7/7 and as well as prior front running efforts over this turf course going back to last summer in MSW company. A. Santos sticks with REGIMENTAL today and had been aboard #5 LITTLE STEVEN in his recent races and on that should get attention in this spot given the connections and return to claiming company where he makes for a better fit.

#4 MERLOTTI also finds an upgrade returning to Hawthorne and first time on this circuit in for the claiming tag. He showed run in spots with the WIDE trip over the Ellis TURF course last month where the class (a much, much higher par) than today played a bigger role than the surface itself. The rider change today is notable and could even suggest intent as J. Felix has been aboard MERLOTTI in the past including his maiden win here last season. 

#3 KAELY’S SISTER has been well managed returning this season and under the care of Rivelli after a long 552-day layoff coming back in March. After the initial PREP (fractious in the gate) on that day she has been a picture of consistency and dominant with the string of B+ OptixGRADES and speed figures, and O. Mojica something that is tough to ignore in this spot and freshened off the two month break.

#1 FIT AND FAMOUS looks fit and race ready returning off the 246-day layoff with the strong worktab coming into this race including a “bullet” local move back on 8/8. She has shown an affinity for this course breaking her maiden here last season first out and showing what has become her customary early speed that is likely going to be on display right from the rip with the rail draw and other speed in this field positioned on her outside.

#4 WHITE LIES had a look with the race dynamic from off the pace on 8/18 and unable to make that run on the day with a poor start (SLOG, TROUBLE_S) and then was held up (NO_PUSH) from off the pace. WHITE LIES could look to improve and show that late run with a similar dynamic given a projected honest early pace. In addition to the first two fillies mentioned, #5 KANT BELIEVE IT has early speed as well as the two Boyce runners in #2 BEEHIVE and #6 PURR SEA bring more heat to the Fire Contention for WHITE LIES to make that late run from off the pace. 

#2 POLICY OPTION returns looking her for validation as the beaten favorite back on 8/22 and capable of turning things around in this spot. The public might not have been “wrong” in the backing on the day, as POLICY OPTION was X_FLOW and played a role in the outcome where they were unable to run their race to compete.

Perhaps A. Meraz saw this race in the book and jumped in for #9 LAND MARK DEAL last week for $5k and rather than run for the $7.5k here they take advantage of the IL-bred allowance to run for $11.5k. They wheel right back off the claim and a “winning” effort with the place finish and his overall form this season both on the dirt and turf stack up on par. Centeno showing up as a live rider for this barn and on this horse in particular as they have never finished out of the money together in four starts including a win.

The rider change with C. Emigh picking up the mount on #7 BANDIT SWANSON catches the eye. This gelding will require another step forward though has shown mild progression, his back class more than makes him a player and something to look for in the paddock if the front wraps are removed. Progressive and consistent form carries to #10 SON OF GRACE picking up a rider change after a couple of less than ideal rides (TACTIC-) in the two recent starts playing a role in the outcome. 

#3 MAYSTART is one of the more logical types in here with consistent figures though does require from a slight 49-day break and slight drop after the PERFECT win on 7/21. #1 HEAVENLY HASH also returning from a slight freshening also fits at this level and picked up the win here twice this season with the rail draw. Those two should rate off what expects to be an honest pace with both #4 TOP LOOK and #5 SMILE AT THE STORM in this field.

#9 TIMELESS GLORY returns to the claiming level and sprint distance conditions where she was competitive with a WIDE trip to finish in a BLANKET settling for the show finish. Since, she has been protected and running linger losing ground late in those races and makes the changes here looking for a second win this season.  

Centeno taking over on #10 KITTEN ROCKS is an interesting change tough to ignore in here. She is looking for a belated win since the summer of 2022 though has turned in competitive races since. One of those the place finish back on 8/1 behind the 1-2 chalk winner, Smooth Justice. Centeno had previous been aboard #11 A REAL HERO for her prior connections showing up first off the claim here and perhaps a bigger change shifting to the outer post. The trip could be tricky for #12 EMITYAAZ from the outside as one that does prefer to race forward and will also remain sprinting for just the second time this meet.

#2 CAIRO SUMMER also given a look as she can IMPROVE off the trip on 8/4 though does have the distance change here as a bit of a question mark. She will also find a rider change with  10-lb bug  Ortega picking up the mount, their lone mount on the card. 

#5 ROBIN SAGE was cross entered in an allowance at KY Downs (AE) and looking to pick this spot to regain some confidence. She presents upside off the 7/20 race compromised by the race shape after a TROUBLE_S and held up from off the pace showed run despite the running line and finishing position to suggest she can IMPROVE.

#8 BAG LADY also can move forward in this second start back off the layoff and has the races from the spring that fit on par here. She makes a second start of the cycle wheeling back from a WIDE trip with the outside post in a full field last out at Ellis Park. On the day she projected to race closer to the pace (Q2) though caught WIDE and out of position before losing ground. The form of the 7/27 race has held up with the few running back including both the win and place finishers winning in allowance company next out and taking nothing away from the show finisher picking up a place finish in higher allowance company on Thursday at KYD.

Cohen picks up the mount on BAD LADY opening up the mount on #6 SPICY ITALIAN for L. Colon her stablemate. SPICY ITALIAN must step up off her races this season, though does appear she will get to the TURF, the intended surface and back at Hawthorne where she was effective late last season before closing out the year in tough spots out in KY.