Handicapper Tips & Picks

3-THREEFIFTYSEVEN seems most likely. He showed little on turf in last but won his previous start by daylight while meeting better rivals. Drops because it’s the end of the meet. He should be tough. 5-MY CRAZY NEIGHBOR hasn’t been in the best of form lately but he’s another dropping to the lowest level of his career. He’s been racing in the Great White North (Minnesota haha) but he did run here in the spring and he had a win versus better claimers. Guessing he’ll wake up. 6-BAREFOOTBOOTLEGGER can close well when there’s a fast pace up front and this race should have pace aplenty.

7-DEAL’EM AND WEEP looks like a “single” in your horizontal wagers. She’s had three good turf races against open company and today she’ll be meeting Illinois breds for the first time. Her speed figures tower over those of her rivals. Seems like a done deal. 1-WAHIDA OF MARDEN has had three turf races and she wasn’t really competitive in any of them but her last was probably her best yet and 3-I DID THE MATH didn’t show much in her lone turf start but she is in relatively good form and she tends to finish well in her races. Plus, all her previous turf races were against open company and she will be meeting Illinois breds today.

9-SKYLANE drops. He’s had seven races here and finished in the money in six of them and all those races were against better. This could finally be the spot for this versatile runner. 6-CRUZIN AND CURSIN could be the best of the rest. He’s one of the few in here that has been able to display a closing move. He finished second in his first start around two turns. He beat only one in last but made a big middle move before flattening out. Better timing could get him close late. 8-MY LAST ESCAPADE improved with every race. Loved the tenacity he showed in his most recent race. He fought for the lead throughout and was still able to hold on for second, beaten only a neck. Might outlast all today.

2-W W HOTSHOT looks awfully tough. This classy runner has been just consistently good throughout his career. He finished second in his most recent race but did have a troubled trip. He won his first three starts of the year, including the local Work All Week Handicap. Lifetime, he has scored in 13 of 29 races while finishing in the money another times. Might not be a standout in this tough field but anyone that beats him will have to run the best race of their life. 6-RICHIESONAROLL finished second to top pick in the Work All Week. While “Hotshot” will have to fend off the other front runners, this gelding will set sail late. Has a chance to pass everybody. 4-TAHOE RUN is more versatile than most. Doubt if he’ll try for the lead, despite good speed, but he is probably more effective when coming from off the pace.

Things could set up pretty well for the closing move of 11-GRACELEADSUSHOME. On the other hand, she’s had two races at the distance and faced very fact early paces but still couldn’t get the job done. The outside post doesn’t help. But still think she’ll finish fastest of all. 6-BEST KISS YET turns back in distance. She finished far back in her lone turf sprint, in fact all of her sprints except for her maiden win, but she was racing on a tougher circuit. Guessing she’ll be a major player in this race. Don’t really see dominating speed in this race but expect many to try for the early lead. 4-GRAYTANA might be the quickest and she is consistently in the hunt.

8-BABY BOAT was a visibly impressive debut winner. He was able to stalk the pace early, take the lead as he pleased, and drew off to a six-length victory. Loses his rider to the horse that appears to be his main competition but gets the top jock as a replacement. Has a good chance to repeat. 7-INDYVILLE, every bit as impressive as top choice, won just as easily. He fought for the early lead in his lone race but drew off quickly. Making the win even more impressive is that at least two of the other runners coming out of that race won their next starts. He looks like he could be the quickest from the gate. Might wire them again. 3-TAKEITAWAY doesn’t appear to be quite as quick as stablemate Indyville but he’s another with a good turn of early foot and another that showed tenacity in his maiden win. Three works since his win, the last very fast, will have kept him at the top of his game.

 Some runners take their time figuring it all out; some are good ad first asking. 9-OSCAR SEASON appears to be one of the latter. He’s had only one race but he beat a good group of maidens at Kentucky Downs, still drawing off at the end on that one mile race. The nine furlongs of this event seems to be within his reach. Might surprise. 11-CRYSTAL QUEST has had some very good races against very tough company. He’s already a stakes winner and he has been stakes placed twice. Expect him to come running late. 6-T’CHALLA invades from Great Britain. He liked showing speed in his races across the pond but British speed and American speed are two different things. We’ll see how well he adjusts. 

This is always a tough condition and most of the runners are eligible to win this. But think 1-GASOLINE could hold a slight edge. I could toss out his last, he was making his turf debut. He did beat a group similar to this in his previous start in Indiana. He finished third in a Grade 3 event earlier this year. Had a sharp drill since last turf start. Could be ready for these. 7-ARDENWOOD should never be too far off the pace. He won two of his last four at this level. He was beaten as the favorite in last but has a good shot to make amends today. 4-READTHECLIFFNOTES won only once in the last two years, and it wasn’t this year, but he is as game as the get and he gets a paycheck almost every time out. He owns decent speed but, at this point in his career, he has been more effective coming from out of it.

4-CAROOM looks like the best of these. Late runner’s speed figures tower over those of his rivals. The drop into claimers for the first time should do the trick. 9-TIME MUSE was a little overmatched in his most recent race but he did finish second the two times he ran at this level at Canterbury. At his best he might be able to give top pick a run for the money.1-GLUCKSTADT could be the sleeper. He’s been meeting better since getting claimed by this barn. But he’s dropping back to the level from which he was claimed. Can awaken. 

11-MO SMOKING might be the best of the speed. Few in here have distinguished themselves on the lawn. And she’s no exception. She’s had two turf starts without any success. But she’s bred for the surface, she’s in great form, and she gets a rider who will coax the best from her. 10-APRIL’S GEM, with eight turf wins to her credit, figures prominently. She dominated a similar field two starts back. Might do the same here. 1-KINGSBURY DREAM won only one of her 22 turf races but she finished in the money another 11 times. Would normally expect her to come running late but she’ll have a rider today who loves the front end. We’ll see.