Handicapper Tips & Picks

Day two of the racing season as we have carryovers in the P6, Late P5 and Hi 5. The Late Pick 5, starting in race 3, is a must play with the carryover of $7,305. In the opener I'll give the nod to 2-DIXIE PENNY as she scratched out of the Thursday finale for this spot. That race Thursday was won by Be My Bestie, who came out of the same race as this one at Oaklawn in her last. Dixie Penny has enough speed to contend early and should be right there the entire way. 1-LADY HELENA gets the rail draw as she makes her Hawthorne return. She has found the board in 3/4 over the track and was a winner in New Orleans with Murrill in the saddle last out. 5-WRITTEN CONSENT ran a better race than looks on paper in her last. She got away a step slowly before running into early contention. She was shuffled back in the turn before coming on again late. With clear sailing in here she should be a factor in the lane.

The Late Pick 5 kicks off here with a carryover of $7,305. It is worth the play for sure as only a couple of upsets need to occur for a big payout. 4-REGAINED POWER runs for Rivelli as he makes his second career start. The fact that he stays at the MSW level is key as I expect he shows speed early and runs on late. 1-MONDOGETSBUCKETS runs for Block, who had a nice winner with Cohen aboard on opening day. The two Churchill starts were against tough company and he held his own in each. He has worked well, and consistently toward his return as he will take a lot of action. 6-RED RIZZLER is still searching for his first career win but he has had success at Hawthorne throughout his career. He figures to rate in the second flight early and should be running on in the lane.

There won't be much value here, but 7-KING ANTHONY is going to be the one to beat. The Hernandez barn got a victory on opening day with Be My Bestie, who was coming in from Oaklawn, and this is another returning from Hot Springs. He has back class and has run his best races at Hawthorne. 1-ALL ABOUT TONITE has speed and may be able to clear the lead. If loose, he could steal this one as an off track would move him up as well. 5-SOMNUS is the other with some early speed. The main concern with him is only one work toward the return, but he held his own against some solid runners last summer and merits a look at a price.

A new face to Hawthorne, 1-HONOR HIS HALF figures to be tough on the drop. She ran a huge number two races back with the blinkers on, before taking them off for some reason last out. Blinks back on in here as she could control things from the inside. 6-ECHO DREAMER has to be worth a look as she is 2/2 at Hawthorne. She broke her maiden at 93-1 last spring but that wasn't a fluke as she found the board in four of her next six starts, including another win. She will need some pace to chase but may find it in here. 3-QUEEN ANNA T is another that will likely get a good stalking trip as she returns to where she broke her maiden. If she can tuck in behind the leaders and wait until the lane to move, she should be in contention every step.

I'm thinking the move back to the dirt is a plus for 7-TIE BREAK LENNIE, as his figures on the main track were much stronger than that of the poly. He finds a field that has three possible pace horses as he should be able to bide his time before looking to move in the lane. 2-UPTOWN TOM is one of those with speed as it appears he will be on the gas from the start. He's going to need to shake free from Mischief Exposed and Ultimate Fighter early to have a shot but with the inside draw, and the bug in the saddle, his only option is to send. 6-ULTIMATE FIGHTER also has speed, and has run improved races in his last four. He has worked consistently in the off season and should be fit for the return.

Best race of the card is the finale as we have a High-5 carryover of $1,587. Although winless at Hawthorne, the majority of the Hawthorne starts were against better on the grass as 10-NILES CHANNEL should be very tough in here. He ran a strong race against similar at Fair Grounds last out, battling the entire way from the outside draw. He draws outside again, but with the main speed just to his inside in Gita's Lad, he should be able to tuck in early and look to run on late. 1-DANVILLE has had success at Hawthorne, finding the board in 16 of 23 starts over the track. The distance suits and he's another that moves up on an off track. If there is pace to chase, 7-PLAIN OR PEANUT should be picking off horses late. He's been able to post three works toward his return and likes this Hawthorne strip. At a price he will be worth a look in the gimmicks.