Handicapper Tips & Picks

7-HIGH PROBABILITY races for the top barn. This $150k purchase has been training forwardly for his debut. The barn wins with 28% first time starters and their 2-year-olds generally do well. 3-STRANGER’S CHURCH has had two starts and finished second in both. His second race, however, was better than his first. Should be at the top of his game in this spot. Could run by them all. 6-REAL BLUES is another first timer that runs for a barn that does well with their debut runners and their babies. He’s also had a strong workout pattern. Figures to be a major player. 4-NEOTERIC raced competitively in his lone start. That race took place at Canterbury on the lawn. Runners from his barn usually improve with experience and runners for them going from turf to dirt with 31% of the time. Wouldn’t ignore his chances.

6-CINCO DE MO only finished fourth in his first start after getting claimed by this barn but he was moving well late. Stretches out in his local debut, often a profitable move for this barn. The average speed figures of 4-STRONGER TOGETHER are higher than those of his rivals. He owns decent speed. Should be in the hunt throughout. 5-SPANISH KISS is in better form than most.

8-SILVER QUARTERS might be poised to surprise. He doesn’t have the best record in the field but like the switch in riders and like the way he gave Another Mystery a run for the money in two stakes earlier this year. Another Mystery went on to win the $150,000 Carey Memorial Handicap over a graded stakes quality field. 9-TEMPER TANTRUM, with six turf wins and over $229,000 in turf earnings, is probably the one to beat. However, he hasn’t raced since January and even though he has had four recent drills, none really impressed. 6-BOURBON LIFE certainly can’t be ignored. He was well bet in last at this level and won the race. Wouldn’t be surprised if he did it again.

5-SPICY ITALIAN takes a much-needed drop in class. She hasn’t shown a lot in three previous turf races but her speed figures suggest she’s as fast as any at this level. Catalano in her corner is always a plus. Can’t figure any excuses for 8-GETOUTOFMYKITCHEN’s last race but she didn’t run a step. However, she closed very well in her prior two turf races. There isn’t a lot of pace in here to set up for a late runner but think she was a speedy sort in the past. Maybe her new rider will coax some of that old speed out of her. 6-CATHOLIC SUE finished in the money in both turf races since moving to this barn. She’s another, however, who comes from far out of it and don’t think the pace of this race will support a big closing move.

6-CHAMPAGNE MIKE finished second in both races at this level. He gets a different rider for this attempt and I think this rider will suit him better. Should be racing right off the early pace. Can finish with something left. 2-WILD TIME drops a notch. It’s obviously a long time since he broke his maiden but he has finished in the money in six of his nine races this year. Might not get the best pace ahead of him so he’ll have to do it all on his own. Thought 1-ALIBI IKE would have been tougher when dropped to this level for last but instead had his worst race of the year. Work since last suggests there is nothing amiss. Deserves another chance.

8-PONCHO ATTACK closes very well when he gets a fast pace ahead of him and there should be plenty of pace in this speed-filled race. He finished second to the lone speed in last and he’ll be meeting that same rival today but it’s unlikely that that runner will be able to secure an easy lead in this one. That could make all the difference. 1-DINO’S DIXIE and 11-NAGY AND THE BEARS are likely to be vying for the lead in this race and they could even be joined by a few others. If either does get clear, he could wire the field. Don’t think that will happen.

It’s the end of the meet so it’s no surprise that you’ll see droppers like 10-DANVILLE. This 7-year-old has had a decent year, running on turf and dirt, and always meeting better rivals. Drops from allowance company. Wonder how many claims there will be on him. 6-DEVIL VISION improved over the last couple months. The biggest difference I can see is that he woke up once they started using front wraps. He just finished second in his local 2024 debut. A race like that would put him in prime contention. 2-WOKE UP IN LOVE ships in from Iowa. He’s been racing competitively against state breds and meets open company in his local debut but his speed figures strongly suggest that he fits well with these.

Great race. Highly competitive. Let’s see if 2-WANDA STRONG can surprise them again. Just throw out her last on dirt. She wired her prior two fields on the lawn. Her rider gets them out of the gate as fast as anybody. Might not get caught. 6-FACCIA BELLA will be the one most likely to benefit if a contested early pace develops. This late runner won two of her last three starts and popped two bullet drills since her last start. Could fly by them all. 9-R KATIEBUG is another likely to be gunning for the lead. Chased top pick in second throughout the last time they met. She’s had five turf races, winning once and finishing second in the other four. Figures big time. This will be the easiest field 10-TRAIL RIDGE ROAD has met in a long time. She’s going to be stalking the early pace. Might be the first to make a move in the stretch.

Not sure if 2-SHABAM is a standout but she won the last two times she raced on dirt and she has been in great form on dirt and turn, finishing in the money in her last eight, including the two wins. 8-SHE BE SHEEHAN takes a much-needed drop in class. She took on better, on a muddy track, in her first start after getting claimed by this barn but she wired the field at this level in her previous start. 10-MORNING LINE NEWS will be stalking the pace. She’s been in relatively good form lately. Seems to fit in well with these.

Wide open race to finish the card. Heard 8-NITSCHKE could be a bit of a runner. Full brother to Anger Rising, who just broke his maiden here last month, has been working well for a barn having an outstanding meet, especially with turf runners. Could follow in his sibling’s footsteps. 9-LICENSE TO STEAL improved considerably in his second start, finishing second to the aforementioned Anger Rising. He could display good speed at this longer distance and might be difficult to catch. 2-INTERLUDE makes his third start off a long layoff. His last was much better than his first of the year and this effort could be even stronger. 12-MACHIVA is a 3-year-old filly meeting older boys but she finished strongly in her last two and wound up in second place in each. Wouldn’t be surprised if she grabbed a share. 6-MAX’S MAP is an interesting runner. He’s bred to love the lawn but he never ran at a track with a grass course. He was a $200,000 purchase a couple years ago and was just claimed for $10,000 but might be worth a couple dollar saver on the get out race for a barn that does well with first-time claims.