Handicapper Tips & Picks

3-SAMARITA trounced most of this field in last, leading every step of the way as the even money favorite. Could face a bit more pressure on the front end of this race but it might not amount to much. Guessing she wires them again. 2-FIRST KITTEN, like top choice, won a leg of this series. Unlike top pick, however, she does her best running late. She might be able to catch Samarita if some of the other runners in this field try to tackle the early lead. 5-TRIPLE SCOUT has a chance to get close if they take her off the pace and not try to fight for the lead.

2-ULTIMATE FIGHTER just finished second when dropped to this level for the first time. That was his first race of the year. Once again, he appears to be the one to catch and this time he’ll be running with the benefit of a recent race under his belt. 3-MALIBU BRAD has been in good form since dropping to this level. He finished a little less than a length behind top choice when they met in last. Will need to show a bit more to beat that rival today. 4-CAPTAIN’S FLAG drops and turns back in distance. He has had some success versus rivals similar to these in the past.

I know it’s supposed to rain quite a bit over the weekend but this turf course is so incredibly dry and all the watering in the world isn’t going to help as long as the temps remain much hotter than normal. So, I’m thinking that 6-ALL ABOUT TONITE might be able to steal this on the front end. He showed speed but stopped in his previous turf races but he is in good form on dirt and he might be able to coast on a fairly easy lead. 4-SHARP STRIKE just missed when dropped to this level for his last start. He was able to stalk the early pace and move to contest the lead late. He came within a neck of winning it all. Maybe he’ll get by all of them today. 5-WOLF HUNTER closed well when dropped to this level for last. He finished third as the favorite. However, his efforts were hampered by the pedestrian pace of the race. Unfortunately, he might have to overcome that same obstacle today. But do like the switch to the veteran rider.

Not sure a dirt sprint is the right place for 4-DIAMONDS JOY but she is dropping a few levels to take on these rivals. Her turf sprint speed figures seem to indicate that she’s the fastest member of this field. She ran well in her only two dirt races, both routes. Can win this at a short price or could prove to be a vulnerable favorite. 2-ACCELERATING BABE has been in mostly good form this year. She finished second in last, her local debut, for her third straight second-place finish. Got claimed from that spot. We’ll see if this speedy mare can continue her streak of good form. 1-HIGHWOOD has speed and the rail and she drops one more time. At this level they could have a tough time catching her.

Maybe time for an upset. This race is filled with speed…some of it classy, some of it not so much. But, at least early, the front end could be a very busy place. That could set things up for a closer. 4-TABLE MONEY fits that description. He has had only one turf race, a sprint, which he won and paid nearly $50. He won’t be that kind of price today but his connections couldn’t ask for a better pace scenario. 6-YO DAWG has been the model of consistency in his turf races. He has yet to win but he did finish in the money in eight of his nine grass events. His speed figures suggest that he’s slower than some in here but you have to like his consistency. 3-WHATDOYOUTHINKMARK races for the top barn. He’s dropping in class and addling blinkers. He does tend to run out of gas late in his races but his rider, welcome back E.T., is one of the best ever at holding speed horses together late.

6-THINK BLUE has had two races here at this level; one back in April and the other a couple weeks ago. She lost the April race by a swiftly vanishing head and the most recent race by a rapidly vanishing nose. She’s far from a standout but after those two local starts, she should be considered the one to beat. 1-GO STORMIN GIRL is often tough here. She showed little in her last start, finishing a few behind top pick, but she has bounced back from dull efforts before. Gets Emigh back in her irons and he has finished in the money the last three times he rode her, including a win. 4-LUCY JANE drops. She was game in her first start of the meet and won going away but she stopped badly late in last. So, the drop makes perfect sense. Should never be far off the lead.

Forget 3-WANDA STRONG’S last race. She had no shot when the race was moved from turf to dirt. But she wired the fields in her previous two races. But she has also run well when coming from off the pace. Think she’ll go off at a far higher price than she should. Could be the value play. 6-MISS RIVER RAT could be hard to hold off no matter who is on the lead. She narrowly missed in her last two starts but finished with a full head of steam. Gets an extra sixteenth mile to utilize in this race. That can make all the difference. 7-FACCIA BELLA comes from far back. Probable favorite, however, might not get the quick pace needed to unleash his big late move. Could be vulnerable.

It’s getting to be the end of the meet so it not too surprising to see runners dropping in class to try to score. 5-BREAKING NEWS is a perfect example. He’s been running well enough at higher levels but he was very tough when running at this $5k level. His last race was the first time he finished out of the money since his first start of the year. He’s going to be a major player in this one. 3-CHRISTMAS PRESENT also drops. He won two of his last three and three of last five. Looks as tough as any. 7-CHARLIE LIGHTNING is loaded with speed and he’s been in good form. Wouldn’t be too surprised if he led from start to finish.

2-TIZ A COUNTRY GIRL looks like she should be tough on turf but with her pedigree she might be even better if this race did get moved to a wet dirt track. She has been good on all surfaces but has yet to run in the slop. Maybe today. 9-APRIL’S GEM just crushed the field at this level in her last start. She had been somewhat competitive in recent races but that last was her best effort in at least a year. Let’s see if she can repeat. I’m going to give 1-ALL ABOUT ME another chance. She ran well in her first start for this barn, was overmatched in her second, and didn’t handle the dirt in last after the race was moved from the lawn. If this race does stay on grass, she has a legitimate chance to surprise.