Handicapper Tips & Picks

3-IDIOSYNCRASIES seems too logical. He ran well in all his starts. He’s shown the ability to run on the lead or to come from off the pace. The only knock might be that he never ran on dirt. His debut was on turf and he’s been on synthetic since. But he still looks like the one to beat. 5-DYNO WAR turns back in distance while adding blinkers. The track wasn’t too kind to closers on Thursday but expecting a fairer condition today. The pace will set up for a runner coming from off the pace. He has raced exclusively on synthetics so not sure how he’ll react to this surface but giving him the benefit of the doubt. 1-RUMBLING finished far back in all his races but all were against much tougher. Drops into maiden claimers for the first time. Gets first Lasix. Improvement is expected.

One of the more interesting things about this race is that all the horses have been racing so all should be dead fit. 6-HEVEL didn’t show much apparent speed in her lone start but she could find herself on the lead in this spot. Stretches out for her second start and also gets first Lasix, both useful categories for her trainer. 4-CHEVAL B has only raced on turf so you don’t know how she’ll handle dirt but she has a lot of route experience and has shown that she can handle the distance. 7-ROSE’S WISH could be the main competition for the front end. She’s had more success than her rivals with three second-place finishes in her last five starts. She’s never been around two turns but she has shown pretty good finish in some of her races.

6-RAGNOW stretches out. He ran out of gas in his local debut while sprinting but he made a good middle move to reach contention. Think he’s better going long and his trainer does well with runners stretching out. Both the barn and his rider are off to a hot start at the meet. Slim pick in a wide-open race. 4-MY LAST ESCAPADE might be the best of these. He’s coming off a good second sprinting but he also had a pair of seconds at this distance here last year. It could be graduation day. 1-STORM BACK could be sent right to the lead. He’s adding blinkers, getting first Lasix, and stretching out. Like his works coming into this race. May never look back. 

7-ANNIE’S HOPE finished second when dropped to this level for last. That race was at Turfway and it was around two turns but she has always had a good turn of early foot. Think they’ll have to catch her. 1-CRYSTAL SNOW might not be as quick as some in here but she does have decent speed and she has been racing at Turfway so she should be totally fit for this contest. 5-MISS SAIPAN drops to her lowest level ever. She didn’t show much versus allowance company in her first start after getting claimed by this barn. Not crazy about her limited slow workouts coming into this race but, at this level, she deserves another look. 

3-GITA’S LAD was favored in his first start of the meet and he did display good early speed but he had been off since May and obviously needed the race. Meets a bit easier and does it with a race under his belt. Can make amends. 2-WHERE’D THE DAY GO beat only one in his first start of the meet. However, his barn wins with about a 40% rate with runners making their second starts off layoffs. Could be poises to surprise. 5-PLAIN OR PEANUT finished a couple lengths ahead of top choice in last. Like that rival, he needed the start. He’s unlikely to be close early but he might finish with plenty of run and get by them all.

There appears to be a lot of speed in this race. If the field stays intact, it could set things up for a closer. 6-A REAL HERO might prove to be the one. She tuned up with a good third-place finish at Turfway a month ago after finishing second at Mahoning in her final start of 2024. I’m a little concerned that this race could be a bit short for her but am confident she’ll be coming on late. Could get up in time. 4-MY LADY SLEW, 5-DIXIE PENNY, and 7-SMILE AT THE STORM all like the front end. The track condition on Thursday, especially in the early races, seemed to favor speed runners. If that condition remains, this trio could duke it out from start to finish.

1-BATTLE OF LEXINGTON could hold the edge. He is in from New Orleans where he finished second in his last two races. He races for world-class connections and he usually finishes his races with authority. Slim pick. 4-RUNAWAY CHARLIE mostly raced on turf or synthetic but he finished a distant third at the Fair Grounds in last while making his dirt debut and his first start for this barn. He probably owns better early speed than top choice but don’t think he’s as quick as some others in this race. Guessing he’ll be tracking the early pace. Trainer Joel Berndt started two on Thursday and they both won. His two entrants in this race, 6-CAUGHT OFF GUARD and 7-COMMISSIONAIRE OSCAR are both Minnesota breds that prefer turf but it would be a mistake to ignore anything that this barn starts.

Think 4-HOT DAME has a chance to wire the field. Definitely worried about lack of conditioning with only two short workouts but she looks like the only speed in the field and she might just coast along on an unchallenged lead. Not in love with 5-PASTA SALAD RHONDA, she’s been primarily a turf horse, but she does have a win on the dirt, she races for very sharp connections, and she’s dropping to her lowest level ever. 1-NO NANETTE NO could fit with these. It’s been a long time since she showed much but her barn and rider are off to red-hot starts. This mare could awaken in this very easy field.