Handicapper Tips & Picks

This looks like a two-horse race. 1-LADY HELENA dominated in a nickel claimer at Fair Grounds about a month ago while 2-DIXIE PENNY has had lackluster recent races at Oaklawn. However, Dixie Penny is more accomplished and she has been meeting better rivals all along. It wouldn’t be a surprise if either of these ladies but it would be a major surprise if any of the other runners in this race finished first. 4-BLAZINGLY has the best-of-the rest look.

6-LAST GASP takes blinkers off. Her form seemed to decline in her two races with them. She’s been finishing up the track at Oaklawn but appears poised to improve dramatically in her local debut. 5-IZZY SIMZ is another shipping in from Oaklawn. You can ignore her last race because she was in against better and she never recovered after a poor start. Her previous races weren’t too bad. She could easily be favored in this spot and might deserve it. 3-GOUVERNATRICE drops. She finished far back in all of her races but all were against better and all were around two turns. Could easily improve in this spot.

Nice little maiden race for early in the meet. I’m going to go with one of the two Rivelli-trained runners. 4-REGAINED POWER was well played in his debut in Louisiana and did display good early speed but quickly faded to last. However, that race was on turf and he’ll be on the main track today. He’s had two long drills in the seven weeks since that race. Guessing he’ll be better prepared for this one. 1-MONDOGETSBUCKETS races for the first time since June and races for this barn for the first time but he’s had a log series of good drills and he races for a barn that does well with fresh horses and those debuting for them. 5-VIA DEL CORSO, the other Rivelli-trained runner, is making his career debut. He’s had a good series of drills coming into this race. The barn wins with 36% of their first timers. This one figures prominently. 3-BIGFOOT SIGHTING shouldn’t be overlooked. Claimed from his last start, he finished second in his last two. His new barn does well with their first-time claims.

Can’t like the form of 7-KING ANTHONY but he’s dropping a couple levels while shipping in from a tougher meet. He won two of his previous three local starts. Could add another local victory. 6-LATE BLACKSMITH might not be first from the gate but he figures to get to the lead before too long. Three recent drills should have him ready for his first start in three months. His barn started two at the meet and won both. Don’t ignore. 3-CITY OF CLOUDS moves up off the claim. He should be dead fit since he’s been racing all winter. He finished second on synthetic in last but most of his prior success was earned on dirt tracks. 

This race could prove to be too short for 6-ECHO DREAMER but she does have a win at the distance, she looks like the only real closer in a field with decent speed and she’s two for two on this track. 3-QUEEN ANNA T only split the field in her first stab at this level but she did win her prior start, her first race for this barn. 1-HONOR HIS HALF adds blinkers. She is dropping in claiming price but goes from Louisiana breds to open company. However, she has been racing regularly and good current form is always tough to beat.

Strange race. A few of these runners are dropping a bunch. Probably have to go with 3-MISCHIEF EXPOSED. He’s had 11 races without showing a lot but all of those starts have been against better rivals. He just finished third in a restricted $30k claimer. He has some speed in a field with only one real front runner. Might put that rival away quickly. Have to look at 7-TIE BREAKER LENNIE. He finished third in his most recent start at Turfway and the horse that finished second in that affair came back to dominate here last Thursday. 4-MALIBU FINALE and 1-HEARTBREAK GAME both drop from $30k maiden claimers. They faced each other in that December Turfway race. Both finished far back. Heartbreak Game gets first Lasix which might make the difference but he’ll apparently be piloted by a jockey that ridden since 2023.

It’s been nearly a year since 9-GITA’S LAD last raced but he has a speed advantage, he’s loaded with back class and his recent drill seems to suggest that he’s ready to roll.

 It seems like 1-DANVILLE has raced here forever but this is only his 68th start and only his 23rd locally. Not in love with his chances but it does seem like he might be rounding back into form and he has always had an affinity for this track and distance. Normally like runners stretching out and 8-MON AMIE FUZZIE fits that description but he’s had 54 career races and only four of them have been around two turns. And, he finished up the track in all four. However, I think his current trainer is underrated and this gelding has been in pretty good form while meeting tougher rivals.