Handicapper Tips & Picks

Not sure if any in here hold an “advantage” but 2-WILDWOOD ADIOS might be the best of these. She hasn’t been overly effective yet, but she did finish second in last at Turfway, her only venture into straight claimers. She had three useful drills since that December start. Could be ready for these. 1-JOYZELLA needed last. She displayed decent early speed in that first start since October with only two short drills coming into that race. She faded late there but should be better prepared to get the distance today. 3-NADJAMEANSBUSINESS just graduated. But she could be the best of the speed and we have to figure she’s fit since she’s been steadily racing. Might lead throughout.

6-DELIGHTED tends to run out of gas but she is the best of the speed and she has never been in this easy. 3-TWO TIMER finished far back in all her races but all have been against much tougher. She’s making her second start for this barn and her second start after a four-month layoff. Her barn sports a 26% win rate with runners making their second starts off similar layoffs. Could be poised to surprise. 2-W W BEST OF TIMES could try for the lead. Her best races so far have been on turf but, like the top pair, she’s dropping a few levels to take on this group. Good works for a sharp layoff trainer will have her ready.

5-ONE PUTT RICHIE scored on opening day. He stalked the pace early and grabbed the lead in the stretch. That pretty much mirrored his previous victory last year when Mojica also rode him. Orlando is back aboard today. Might be able to repeat. 6-PADDYS HOUSE is worth a look. He has been racing all winter at Fair Grounds and he’s had three works since getting here. Did well here in the past. Chance. 3-ROTARY DIAL is in better form than most. He finished second in his last two at Mahoning Valley, most recently on March 17th.

1-MO SMOKING looks tough. She just finished third in an open allowance after racing well in Louisiana-bred allowance races all winter. She won a pair here at this level last year. Her barn and rider have been red hot so far this meet. 4-TWO HEARTED jumps in class but she’s coming off a win, she was claimed last by a barn that has a lofty 43% win average with their first-time claims. 2-TORTUGA ISLAND could lead throughout. She’s been tiring in recent races but ships in from Oaklawn and could find the company here a bit easier. 

4-PURPLE OCTOPUS was heaving favored in his first start of the meet but came up a little short. However, he was both making his first start since June and he was racing over his conditions. Drops into the right condition, a non-winners of two. Likely makes amends at a very short price. 7-SECESSION might offer the only real competition. He had a couple decent fourth-place finishes at Fair Grounds recently. He owns decent speed but probably expect him to stalk top pick early instead of going head-to-head on the front end. 5-DURANGO CHROME might be the only one in here capable of coming on late and the pace of this race might set up well for him to at least grab a share.

In a race without much early pace, 6-CLYDE’S GREEN GO just might find himself with the lead despite not being a confirmed front runner. He has only Quality Storm to beat to the lead. He’s been training well for his first start since September and he’s done well enough on this track in the past. 8-SPINNING PISTOLS races for this barn for the first time. So far he has only raced in Northern California and Washington, where he usually exhibited a strong closing move, though he did lead most of the way in a Golden Gate race a little over a year ago. He’s had at least six workouts getting ready for this. Probable favorite can get there. 2-SHARP STICK prefers turf and routes but he had a win and four other in-the-money finishes to close out 2024 and he could pick up right where he left off.

4-REGAINED POWER is likely to go off at a very low price. This well-bred runner ($220k auction purchase) just finished third in maiden specials and now drops into a maiden claimer for only his third start.  He looks like a standout on paper but the drop does seem a bit strange. 5-PAPA’S NICO BOY has had a number of competitive efforts, mostly in New York. He makes his first start of the year, his first for this barn, and his first with Lasix. He had four useful drills coming into this race, including a bullet last week. 3-DEL TORO didn’t show much in his lone start last June but might fare better here. He’ll be racing on dirt, he’s been gelded (last week), he races for a new barn, and he’ll be getting Lasix for the first time. 

Nice competitive race for the last of the day. Can make a case for every runner. 3-RACE DRIVER drops while coming off the layoff. Speedy runner might have to fight for the lead but he’s faced tougher for most of his career and could put the rest of the speed away. 2-BREAKING NEWS, like most in here, needed last. Beaten favorite started a bit slow but rushed up to contest the lead before tiring late. He’ll be tougher off that effort. 1-RISKY BOY started from the outside post in his first start of the meet but he fought for the lead instantly and outlasted the rest of the speed, only to be passed late. He could fight for the lead every step pf the way today. 7-HATCHET CREEK often displays speed but it’s his ability to run well from off the pace that makes him a danger in this speed-filled race.