Handicapper Tips & Picks

I’m not in love with 4-EVEN THE WIND but he might be the one to beat. He didn’t display his usual good late acceleration in last but the pedestrian early fractions would work against a closer like that. There isn’t a lot of speed in this race but a couple new shooters just might help to set things up for him. 5-HAY MOON was favored in last, his first start for this barn, and he made a nice middle move but he ran out of gas late. Think he’ll display better speed with the switch to Felix in the irons and that could make all the difference in a field like this. 6-NATHANIEL’S HOPE has been improving by leaps and bounds ever since moving to this barn. He just scored his second career victory and did it with authority. Looks ready to tackle these.

Landed on 2-WILDWOOD SICILIAN in this spot. This speedy runner doesn’t seem likely to face much early competition. He’s shipping in from Fanduel but he’s been in good form and he has a history of running well on this track. Has to be caught. 3-CORTESE is hard to gauge. He’s dropping in class to face the easiest field of his career. However, he hasn’t raced in two months and his drills during that time have been few and far between. Might be vulnerable. 4-TABLE MONEY could have a say in the outcome. He’s fresh off a turf allowance victory. He might be the only one capable of pressing top choice on the lead.

6-WENT WEST is just so consistent. He’s not a strong choice in this closely-matched field but he’s always right there and with his tactical speed could get a perfect trip right behind the speed. 5-DEVIL’S TOWER can come from off the pace but think he’ll be right there fighting for the lead. He won his last two downstate and eight of his last 18 races. Guessing he’ll be right there at the finish. Not sure what to do with 2-ELI’S PROMISE never got close in last, which often spells doom to a speed horse. He was favored in that race after a few good efforts here. However, he was beaten by top choice in two of his last three.

7-LALY says catch me. She showed little in her career debut but finished second the last two times she ran against Illinois breds after leading from the start. This appears to be her weakest field yet. Shouldn’t get caught. 3-IRISH SPARK looks like the main, and possibly only, competition. She wasn’t competitive in her first three starts but has made noticeable improvements in her last three. She just finished second as the favorite in a similar field. Like that she stays on where top pick tends to fade. 4-I DID THE MATH hasn’t been competitive in four local starts but she has shown some ability downstate. Maybe the switch to Cohen in her irons will make the difference.

4-PRINCESS TENKO drops back in for a tag. She’s been in too deep lately but figures to awaken with the drop. She finished second by a neck the last time she raced at this level. She’s had far more route races, and success, going long but would think she’ll be flying late at this level. 2-LUCY JANE has been plagued by frequent layoffs. However, she generally races competitively when she does get on the track. Most of her career has been staged on tougher circuits but she shipped her for last and won convincingly. Takes on better here but still looks like a ton contender.  8-ALLOTROPE might be the best of the speed. Her “figs” don’t compare with those of some of her rivals but she often sustains that zip throughout the race.

10-LIFE’S SAGA didn’t show much in her previous starts but she was probably meeting better in those Kentucky races and she did have some trouble at the start in her lone turf sprint. Her barn does well with runners going from synthetic to turf. Could be tough in her local debut. 5-CAIRO DREAM, stablemate of top choice, has been training well for her debut. With a red hot rider in the irons, she’s sure to make an impact. 2-GEORGIA ON E’SMIND split the field in her lone turf start but she’s been running better since racing with Lasix starting in her second start. She appears to be one of the quicker members of this field. Could be right there throughout.

1-DEVIL and 4-RUMBRANDT could make a potent team for trainer Michele Boyce. Devil is quick enough to lead throughout or at least keep the rest of the speed honest while a speed duel would improve the chances of late-running Rumbrandt. Both are going from open company back into state breds which certainly helps. 6-MISS MIKOS hasn’t raced in 14 weeks but she’s been training well all along. This race will be her first against winners but her speed figures suggest she’s as fast as any in here and her apparent versatility makes her a threat no matter what kind of pace develops.

Good race. I can make a strong case for five of the runners in here but even most of the other runners are capable of winning this. I keep trying to get past 4-SAILING SOLO. He doesn’t absolutely NEEED the early lead to win this but he really has only Lavender Earl to beat to the front end. 5-SILVER QUARTERS’ last couple of starts were against tough Illinois-bred stakes races. Would expect top pick to be on the lead but this gelding, among others, is going to be flying late. 6-BATTLE SCARS is another that could have dead aim late. He beat a good allowance field in his last start. He hasn’t raced since May but you know his barn will have him ready. 2-MONSTERONTHEMIDWAY hasn’t been in the best of form lately but he’s been in against some good allowance foes. He was far more competitive when he was facing claimers. The drop helps.

5-GHAALEB'S RANGER could be dependent on an almost non-existent pace but she is finally dropping in class. She hasn’t beaten many rivals this year but this is possibly the easiest field she has even met. Expecting better. 3-QUILTING PARTY drops a few levels while making her first start for this barn. When she fires, she can make up a lot of ground. We’ll see if she can do it in her easiest field ever. 7-SUMMER AT THE SPA could be rounding into form. She owns good speed and she has been carrying it farther in her recent races. Might get to the lead and never look back.