Handicapper Tips & Picks

CHILUKKI STAKES (G3):

A strong group of fillies and mares lined for the one turn mile distance where any with their picture taken would not be a surprise. #6 POSITANO SUNSET appears peaked for this race and pointed to this event. She holds class from her 2022 juvenile beginnings breaking her maiden over the CD course and starting off the sophomore season in graded stakes company at GP. That sophomore season closed out pairing wins befor returning from the layoff in April. She has been knocking on the door looking for the first win though competitive all season including races in graded stakes company. this start is her third start of this current form cycle and while she finished second in the two recent starts, the figures on the lower side could see her overlooked here despite those finishing position. Fitness should also have her peaked for this race as the connections stretched her out around two turns for the first time last month and pointed for this one mile, one turn cutback. 

COMMONWEALTH TURF STAKES (G3):

Many of the runners wheel back from the Bryan Station (G3) last month at Keeneland and a slight class edge exiting graded stakes company. #9 EVADE was making his first start around two turns that day and raced RANK like a horse that needed the route experience and some upside as they keep him going long here. A couple more subtle trips including #7 LAGYNOS in part to TACTIC- and notable as they return with a key rider change with F. Prat taking over. The race flow upgrade for #1 MY BOY PRINCE setting the pace before NO_FINISH late and the top two DeVaux trainees finishing together in a photo for the win and taking over late from #8 HERCHEE one that had a PERFECT trip in their show finish. 

#2 TELESCOPIC could again present as a live longshot with buried form, figures and class that fits on par. Outside of the Hawthorne Derby when racing WIDE X_BIAS he has run against older rivals and returns to face straight sophomore company. Following the WIDE trip in Stickney, he returned on very short rest for the 10/19 allowance at KEE and against parked WIDE racing against a course that favored runners inside and today moves to an inside post that should assist with trip. 

The Hawthorne Derby is worth a mention as the winner of that race #4 AK SAR BEN DERBY returns here to show that 9-1 upset win was no fluke. His effort on the day earned a new top figure and while he has been given time to recover he must show up with a similar effort and with the pair of wins sitting on top off the pp's, will find a big share of public attention today. 

#3 DASHMAN also brings in form and class from a BTL effort last out in the JC Derby Invitational (G3) at BAQ. While he has shown improvement returning as a sophomore, the progression has come with the longer distances and noted as they cut back here.