Handicapper Tips & Picks

Kicking off a tremendous card with a competitive field to open the day. Not a ton of pace in this race which should help the chances of 4-MAGNET AND STEEL as he makes his first Hawthorne start. Trainer Coty Rosin has had a tremendous meet as this one drops slightly in class in its second start off the claim for the new connections. If he is able to make the top in here, he is likely to never look back. 5-MY CRAZY NEIGHBOR is another returning from Minnesota as he has run well against better over this Hawthorne strip in the past. He will need a little pace to chase but has the most consistent figures of the field. 3-THREEFIFTYSEVEN takes the drop off facing a tough Starter field on the grass in his last. He ran a really nice race in victory on the dirt two back as a similar stalking trip to that performance should put him right there once again.

Chris Block runners on the Hawthorne turf is about all you need to know as everything seems to run huge. In here he sends out 7-DEAL'EM AND WEEP as she has been knocking on the door while facing better in her four career starts. With the move back to state-bred company today, she figures to rate close early and take over in the lane. 1-WAHIDA OF MARDAN showed speed around two turns on the grass in her debut and that may be the way to go once again. With the inside draw and a firm course, if she can clear and catch a breather on the backside she could hang around late. 3-I DID THE MATH makes her second career start on turf as she has run well in her last four starts. Poor breaks have been the issue for her lately but if she can get away in good order, Cohen should have her running in the lane.

This should be an interesting race as I'm expecting a decent amount of early pace for horses to close into. If that's the case, 9-SKYLANE will be very tough as he drops for this spot but has run well all year, hitting the board in 9 of 12 starts. The outside draw shouldn't be a concern as he should be able to tuck in early. With the long stretch and pace coming back, I expect he waits until the lane to make his move. 3-KIRILL THE THRILL should be in a good stalking spot early as he makes his first Hawthorne start. I like the race he ran on September 19 as he showed some late kick at seven furlongs. He draws well and picks up Cohen today. 6-CRUZIN N CURSIN could be picking up the pieces late as he has run improved races since stretching out. If allowed to settle early like he did in his start two back, he should be plucking off tiring runners in the lane.

Named for one of my favorite all-time Illinois-bred sprinters in River Bear, the 6 1/2 furlong distance of this race could be a big factor. With multiple horses likely to show speed, the potential for 6-RICHIESONAROLL to rate and rally in the lane could be crucial with the added 16th for this race. He's had a solid season and picks up Esquivel in the saddle and gets 8 lbs. from the favorite. 2-W W HOTSHOT is the one to beat as he carries the highweight of 125lbs. for this race. He has good tactical speed, winning three of four starts on the year. I will be curious to see what the pace scenario is in here as two of the others likely to supply some early speed are also trained by Becker. 4-TAHOE RUN has been at his best at Hawthorne, posting all three career victories over this track as well as four runner-up efforts. He's another that could likely benefit from some early pace to chase as he gets Mojica back aboard, who rode him to victory in his start last out.

Pace makes the race and I feel there's a good amount of early pace in this spot. With the long run down the backside, 11-GRACELEADSUSHOME should be able to tuck in before the turn and look to rally in the lane. She has been sharp since her switch to turf as Mojica has ridden in the last couple. Let's see if she can work out a trip today. 10-GO LEE ANN GO comes in from Canterbury for this start as she shortens up to the sprint today. She picks up Loveberry in the saddle for a barn that has had a lot of success in their Hawthorne starts. 6-BEST KISS YET also shortens back up in distance off a pair of good turf tries at Ellis. She did sprint on the turf at Keeneland in the spring, chasing a tough allowance field into the lane as Cohen takes the call in here.

A really solid field of Juvenile allowance runners to go 5 1/2 furlongs with a mix of males and females. 8-BABY BOAT was impressive on debut as he stalked the early pace before taking over in the lane and drawing away. He looked to have much more left in the tank and appears to find more than enough pace to close into in here. 2-LIT MISS HAT TRICK has run a pair of fine races to open her career, finishing a good second to talented Shezafunkydrummer in her first out before grabbing a win on July 11. She's been away since that start but has worked well toward her return and gets a favorable inside draw in here. 7-INDYVILLE was impressive in his debut as he grabbed the lead immediately and never looked back. The 2nd and 3rd place finishers from that race both came back to win their next start out as he comes in off a sharp half mile work for today's race.

We have a pair of great races sandwiching the stakes event as this is another extremely competitive field. I have the soft spot for 4-READTHECLIFFNOTES but her is as honest as they come. A poor start really compromised him in his last but he still rallied to get into the mix late. If he gets away in good order here, he should be in a perfect position early as the majority of the pace is on the outside. 5-C F V BULLET made a strong middle move in his last but it may have come too early as he flattened out late in that spot. In here, if he can relax through the opening half, he should be able to get the jump on the late closers. 7-ARDANWOOD has a couple of victories over the track on the meet and has been an every other race type of horse in his last four. That pattern would have him sitting on a big performance today as he comes in fresh.

We close out the Sunday card with back to back turf events as there appears to be a standout in here. That horse is 4-CAROOM as he comes in off a string of allowance tests in Kentucky. Loveberry has been aboard in the past and has had success as Caroom figures to settle early and charge in the stretch. 7-I O FEDRO should be able to rate close to the pace as he gets back on the grass today. He was a fine winner on the dirt in his last as the race progression has been solid. 5-BIG ELM comes in from Mountaineer for this start as he has been right there in his last couple. The mile distance seems to suit as we will see if he gets into the race a bit earlier today.

Turf experience is the key for me in this spot as many of those likely to take action have spent the majority of their careers on the dirt. 9-PASTA SALAD THONDA has been on the grass, finding the board in 5 of 9 turf starts. She's going to need some pace to chase but that should be provided from a duo shifting from dirt to turf. That duo is 3-IZZY'S MONSTER and 11-MO SMOKING as both duked it out in the Starter series, trading punches throughout. They should both be forwardly placed and could potentially run 1-2 throughout if no others go.