Handicapper Tips & Picks

The day kicks off with maiden two-year-olds with six boys and one filly in a competitive event. A horse that scratched last week, possibly for this spot, is 6-BABY BOAT as he debuts for trainer Jimmy DiVito. He has worked forwardly toward this debut, posting an easy gate drill on August 17 followed by a pair of sharp half mile works from the pole on August 24 and 31. He appears primed for a big effort at first asking. 2-TAUNTING debuts for Block as he has worked forwardly toward this race as well. Block won with a firster on the grass on Thursday and looks to send out another winner on debut. 4-MARK MY MEMORY has a consistent work pattern coming into here as he figures to sneak off at a bit of a price. He looked good in his paddock schooling on Thursday and handled everything very professionally.

A very tough race as pace could dictate the outcome in this competitive field. With none committed to the front end, 3-STRONGER TOGETHER could be the one to inherit the lead and look to steal this race. He chased the pace on Aheadofthegame in his last couple and ran on late in both. If he makes the top, and the pace is slow, look for him to try to slow things down early and run on late. 7-COOL QUARTET makes his second start over the track as he looks to make amends for a tough trip in his last. If he can get back to the race where he was claimed at Churchill three back, that could be good enough to win in here. 4-CODE RUNNER was a good winner at this level when claimed two back. He had some time away for returning at Presque Isle on September 3 but comes back today as the likely favorite against these.

Another race with upset potential as again there is little along the lines of early pace in this race. Between the class drop and stretch in distance, 1-MY LAST ESCAPADE could be in with an upset shot. He ran into a couple of tough winners in Willie Bird and Findaway in his first two races and showed solid improvement in his second start out. With little along the lines of speed to challenge early, I hope he is sent away from the gate and never looks back. 6-CAPTAIN'S FLAG was a beaten favorite in his last couple and does step up slightly but has figures that are competitive at this level. He's another that should be forwardly placed in this race as he adds blinkers today as well. 3-TIGGER ATTACK is overdue for the maiden score as he also takes the class drop in here. His last was an improved performance but he has some time in between races and only one posted drill.

Another two turn event where the field is likely to be bunched due to a lack of early pace. With the potential to show some speed and find a good early spot, 2-TWO COOKIE RULE could be poised for his first win of the year. He raced well in 2023 and has been knocking on the door recently. Reyes has been a good fit in the saddle and should have this one sitting on a big performance. 1-KHOZAN'S SUCCESS is the other that potentially could rate close, but possibly provides much less value than any others in this field. After a win four back, he's been defeated as a heavy favorite in his last three. He's sure to take action again but is no gimme for the top spot. 7-CANTSTEALMYTHUNDER has had troubled trips in his last couple. Those races have also come against better company and his last was also in a spot where the pace was extremely slow. On the drop, expect him to sit a bit closer early in here and look to move forwardly in the lane.

The final leg of this series got much more intriguing after the upset of Izzy's Monster last out. At the further 1 3/16 miles distance, the weight and pace scenario could be factors once again. 6-MEMPHIS CASH QUEEN comes back off a near miss last out where she stalked the pace and battled to the wire. She picks up bug girl Rachel Slevinsky in the saddle once again and gets 8-9 lbs. from the top two choices in the morning line. With her second start back off the layoff, expect her to rate close early and contend the entire way. 2-MO SMOKING was the one who made the top and never looked back in that August 18 race as she was very game the entire way. She figures to be sent away once again as we will look to see if she can repeat her performance. 1-IZZY'S MONSTER has been very solid all meet, finding the board in all six Hawthorne starts. She has tactical speed and was grinding things out late, only to come up just a head short in the tight three horse photo. Expect her to stalk early again and battle late.

This could quite possibly be the toughest race of the meet to handicap as not only are all 10 horses in with a shot, but any of 5-6 could end up being sent away as the favorite. It's a tough race in that again there is little along the lines of early speed in here and those that may show speed are the longer shots in the field. With no horse in the field having won a race on the year it is tough to find consistency either. In the end it comes to trip and value. After looking over the race for an extended period of time I ended up going to 1-OVER CALENDARED from the rail. This runner closed the 2023 campaign and opened 2024 in fine form in New Orleans. He put together solid efforts in starts three and four back and ran a better than looks on paper race back on April 20 when Blanche was in the saddle. He'll save ground and could potentially be right there late in what may be a blanket finish. 3-IMPERIAL MOMENT is a major factor if you can get past his most recent race. The start two back was solid as he rated and ran on late at a big price. He makes the second start off the layoff in here and could be charging in the lane. 4-MALIGATOR is another with the right to improve in here. After facing tougher throughout the course of his career he dropped to this level for his last start. That was a disappointing effort but the start is what did him in as he spotted the field numerous lengths early. With better position in here, look for him to be flying in the stretch.

Another excellent race with numerous horses in with a chance. If he can get back to his starts from two or three back, 9-C F V BULLETT could be sitting on a solid performance in here. He has the ability to stalk the early pace, which could be quick and contested and should get the jump on the late closers. He has a solid work since his last start as Emigh takes the call today. 4-READTHECLIFFNOTES is admittedly one of may favorite horses on the grounds as he always tries so hard and is a 10 time winner over the track. He just missed in a game effort last out and gets Cohen back aboard today. I expect he's right there once again. 5-CADET CORPS is another that will be racing from the second flight as he looks to close late in the lane as well. He's had a solid season and has actually benefitted from running in four races that were taken off the grass, resulting in two wins and two runner-up efforts.

Closing out the day on the turf as a few horses take the class drop into here. One of those is 1-COLOSSEO as he comes in from Kentucky in a start where he battled the entire way. He makes his second start back off the layoff and Could be tucked in just behind what may be a contested pace. 6-WICKED SUPRISE is one of those who could be contesting the pace as he has been a different racehorse since him move to the grass. He slowed things down on the lead and never looked back in his most recent start and could be looking for a similar trip once again. 3-RIVER REDEMPTION was a good winner on the turf two back as he tracked the leaders in there and drew clear late. He stayed in in a race that came off the grass last time out but his 9/10 in the money rate on turf shows that's where he is at his best.