Handicapper Tips & Picks

3-ROYAL BRO just missed when making his turf debut. He rapidly made up a couple lengths in the stretch, only to come up a neck short. This race is considerably longer which would seem to work in his favor but there is no guarantee. 7-EXECUTOR finished a couple lengths behind top pick in that turf race but he was another moving well late and another that might benefit from the longer distance of this contest. 2-CUTLASS KING only split the field of 12 in his debut, also a turf race, but he was racing at the tough Kentucky Downs meets. Chances are that he’s meeting easier here. Don’t overlook.

5-MILLARD’S SMILE drops back to the right level. He was in too tough in last in his first start after getting claimed by this barn but he had won his previous two starts, for two different trainers, before last. Could get back on the winning track with the drop. 4-DEVIL VISION ships in from Minnesota. He’s probably been meeting a bit tougher in his races up there. Late runner has been in pretty good form. Could be tough in this spot. 6-CHRISTMAS PRESENT hasn’t had much luck in previous route races but he’s stretching out for this race and he should hold a considerable speed edge, at least early. Might hang on.

2-MIDNIGHT SPECIAL might be able to surprise. His last race, his first here and his first contest since November, wasn’t bad but not sure he got the best ride. Switches to a much hotter rider. Has the benefit of a recent race. Maybe. 7-YO DAWG could be tough. He never won on the lawn but he has finished in the money in eight of his nine turf races. This is possibly the easiest field he ever met on grass. Might finally get it done. 8-GRAND HIDEAWAY obviously figures. He won last beating many in this field including top choice. Might be able to do it again.

Tough little race. 1-PURR SEA is all of a sudden at the top of her game again. For the majority of her career, she was a front runner but they changed tactics in last couple, took her off the early pace, and it worked wonders. Winner of last two just beat most of these rivals. Guessing she’ll do it again. 7-KAELY’S SISTER had a four-race win streak broken in last. She was favored in the race but didn’t seem to run her race. But she has bounced back from “dull” efforts in the past. Might be able to do it again. 6-BEEHIVE, stablemate of top pick, is also at the top of her game. Although she couldn’t get past her buddy in last two, she did finish second in both. She’s had seven races this year, winning three of them and finishing second in the other four. She’s a very real contender. 2-BROKEN HEART’S BAY ships back from Iowa after narrowly losing last. She had a couple races here earlier in the meet and won one of them. Wouldn’t overlook.

2-MISS MIKOS gets the nod, albeit a slim one. She’s been in good form. She’s had four wins this year, winning once but finishing second in her other four. However, her local races have been against state breds and she’s meeting open company today. 3-TWAS LOLA just finished second in might have been her best race of the year. She was coming off a 10-week layoff and she might be better prepared for this race. 6-DEVIL, like her stablemate Purr Sea from an earlier race, was taken off the pace in last and it worked wonders. She was able to relax early and finish strong for the win. Seems likely to get the same kind of trip today.

3-MISS CONTROL FREAK isn’t a strong choice but I like the way she can sustain her run while those in here that have raced have all tended to fade late. The pace of this race figures to be pretty quick. Maybe she’ll run them all down. Paying a lot of money for a horse doesn’t necessarily mean they will run well but 2-ESCOVEDO brought $250k at auction earlier this year. She races for the top barn and they have a 29% win average with their first-time starters. Her drills haven’t impressed but they are sufficient. 5-NOTIPTONI finished in the money in three of her four starts. She owns decent early speed and returns to meeting fillies after taking on the boys in last. But she has been one of those that seems to fade late. Needs to turn that trend around.

Nine-year-old 9-SAILING SOLO drops to the lowest level of his career. This nine-time winner, from 25 starts, is likely to be sent right to the lead. He finished second in both races this year. Might last on the lead in this very tough race. 5-MONSTERONTHEMIDWAY is another dropper. His recent races haven’t been all that sharp but he can close quickly and the presence of top choice in the race will ensure a fast pace. 2-COLOSSEO just won at this level. He was on the lead for much of the race but has been as good when coming from out of it.

11-PADDY’S HOUSE isn’t a strong choice but he was claimed from last by a barn that wins with a high percentage of their first-time claims and today he’ll utilize the services of the leading rider. Can win at a square price. 4-BUMPERDOO will be meeting his easiest field ever. However, he hasn’t raced in over a year. But the few works he had on this comeback trail have been strong and his barn does well with runners coming off long layoffs. 7-RIVZONAROLL could be the best of the speed. He’s been running out of gas late in his recent races but he hasn’t been in this easy since September. At this level he might not get caught. 

This race appears to have an abundance of runners that like to race on or near the front end but none appear to hold a huge advantage in the speed department. So, the front end could be a busy place. My thinking is that 7-AIN’T NO OTHER will be racing well off the early lead but will turn on the afterburners when they turn for home. Her barn does well with turnback runners. This one could fly by them all. 11-W W BEST OF TIMES could display the best sustained speed. However, she might have to expend too much energy getting to the lead from the 11 hole. But the cut back in distance should surely help. Like the way 1-IRISH SPARK has been improving. She’s making her first start on turf but see no reason why she shouldn’t handle the surface and runners from her barn do fairly well on the lawn.