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Hawthorne Race Course

Handicapping Analysis
Thu April 3rd, 2025

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Jim's Picks

Hawthorne Race 1

Post Time 2:40 PM CST
Analysis by Jim Miller
4 Lemon Bomb - 7/2 3 Raceday Attire - 6/1 5 Pioneer Parade - 5/2

After a day of rain on Wednesday, things look to be good on Thursday as the track surface at Hawthorne drains very well. The opener is competitive as I'll give the nod to 4-LEMON BOMB in here. Equibase speed figures are notoriously inflated in synthetic surface races so you need to look back to the dirt, where Lemon Bomb was sharp and consistent in dirt sprints in 2024. She has speed, runs for a high percentage barn, and picks up Felix in the saddle. 3-RACEDAY ATTIRE could be a bit of a sleeper in here as she has had past Hawthorne success. She makes her first start of the year off a couple of drills, but could benefit if Pioneer Parade goes with Lemon Bomb early. 5-PIONEER PARADE ships in with speed as she merits a look as well. Loveberry picks up the mount as he is primed for a good meet. She's another with past conventional dirt form who will take her share of action.

Hawthorne Race 2

Post Time 3:05 PM CST
Analysis by Jim Miller
3 Good to Be Prince - 3/1 1 Carambaso - 9/5 2 Better Than Good - 4/1

A good bunch to kick off the Early Pick 4. 3GOOD TO BE PRINCE runs for the hot Rodriguez barn as everything has been live to open the meet. Mitch Murrill is riding very well as this one should get a perfect stalking trip. 1-CARAAMBASO is the one to beat as he has speed and has been competitive against tough company this meet. It looks like he is at his best on a fast track, which he should catch after the rainy Wednesday. 2-BETTER THAN GOOD makes his 2025 debut off a good string of drills, including a bullet work on March 19. He won in his first career start last summer and likely bled in his second race. He gets Lasix in here and may be sitting on a big race.

Hawthorne Race 3

Post Time 3:30 PM CST
Analysis by Jim Miller
5 Coalminer's Kitten - 7/2 2 Red Label - 8/1 1 Supremely - 3/1

A good starter group with numerous runners in with a shot. Trainer Max Quinonez has a nice win last Sunday here and has 5-COALMINER'S KITTEN in here for his first start on the year. He closed out 2024 on a high note and has run well over this track in this past. He will need pace to chase and should find it in this spot. 2-RED LABEL grabbed a couple of Hawthorne victories last summer before taking some time off after his July start. He has just one work on the year so he may need a start, but the price makes him one that is worth a look. 1-SUPREMELY was a sharp winner in his first off the claim last out. He showed improved speed in that start and drew clear late. Let's see if he wings it from the rail once again.

Hawthorne Race 4

Post Time 3:55 PM CST
Analysis by Jim Miller
5 Purple Octopus - 8/5 6 Cupid's War - 3/1 3 Ancient Man - 12/1

While likely the best in the field, 5-PURPLE OCTOPUS is skipping a condition for this race but runs for top connections. He has been away since last June but was brought to New Orleans this winter and has trained consistently toward his return. There's not much pace in this race as I expect he is sent away early and looks to wire this field. 6-CUPID'S WAR was a good winner here last week as he rated close and drew clear in the lane. There wasn't much pace in that race as he figures to be in a stalking position in here. 3-ANCIENT MAN may be the price play as he ran a decent race around two turns here last week. Fitness doesn't look to be an issue as he should be closing late in this sprint spot.

Hawthorne Race 5

Post Time 4:21 PM CST
Analysis by Jim Miller
3 Star of Kodiak - 4/1 1 Lord Grantham - 9/2 2 Justice Once - 6/1

Right back to a Quinonez runner in the fifth as there could be some value in this spot. Looking to 3-STAR OF KODIAK as he makes his first tart of the year off a couple of drills. He has won five times over this Hawthorne strip and has been solid at this distance. He figures to rate and run on late, so we will see if there's enough pace to chase. 1-LORD GRANTHAM could rate close from the inside. He has just the one work but Martinez typically has his ready to roll. I expect he is forwardly placed and could hang around if there isn't much early pace pressure. 2-JUSTICE ONCE shortens up as he has worked well toward his return. He may need to hustle a bit for early position in here but figures to run on in the lane.

Hawthorne Race 6

Post Time 4:47 PM CST
Analysis by Jim Miller
3 Summer of Mischief - 3/1 7 Kiki Krazy - 4/1 5 Aldora - 5/2

A good allowance bunch with a couple with early speed. One of those with pace is 3-SUMMER OF MISCHIEF as she comes in off a sharp effort in her first race off the claim. If you dig deeper into her past performances, you will see good dirt races at Churchill, which should put her right there in the mix with these. 7-KIKI KRAZY is one that figures to run on late as she sprints for her second straight start. She got a work over the track since her last start as everything from the Tracy barn looks ready to roll. 5-ALDORA has tactical speed as she should get a good stalking trip in here. She's been sharp in a pair of Hawthorne starts and just needs another to go after Summer of Mischief early to help her chances.

Hawthorne Race 7

Post Time 5:13 PM CST
Analysis by Jim Miller
2 Arrivedercci - 2/1 8 Smoked - 9/5 1 Lions Law - 5/1

Looks like Rivelli could go 1-2 in here as it is just a matter of which way they run. Because she has the start under her belt, let's look to 2-ARRIVEDERCCI as she adds Lasix for her second career start. She debuted here last summer and ran well. She trained through the winter in New Orleans and should be a different racehorse now. 8-SMOKED debuts from the outside as she has a nice pattern of drills coming into today's start. She gets Lasix first out and picks up Loveberry in the saddle. 1-LIONS LAW has run close and figures to break her maiden soon. She has tactical speed and will take advantage of the rail that is drying out.