Handicapper Tips & Picks

A competitive field kicks off the Thursday card as the ML favorite could be vulnerable in his first start back this year. Giving the nod to another off the layoff at a better price with 4-MARK MY MEMORY. He makes his third career start and first with Lasix. He took action in his debut in a race won by highly regarded Baby Boat as he showed speed in that spot. Expect to see that speed again as he looks to wire this field. 5-OLIVERIO shortens up in his second start of the meet after running well around two turns in his last. He figures to stalk and run on late for a barn that is off to a good start this meet. 2-CRAZY HEART returns off the layoff with a consistent pattern of drills leading toward his return. This is another barn that has sent out a string of live horses this meet as this one should be able to rate close and contend throughout.

Route runners in a field where the inside three all look fit coming into this spot. Jareth Loveberry won three on Sunday and has ridden well all meet long as he takes the call on 1-LITTLE STEVEN in here. With the lack of pace in this race, Little Steven looks to be able to cruise along on the front end and have enough left in the lane. Let's see if he can control things in here. 3-GRAND ILLUSION looks fit and sharp coming into here off a win in his final start of 2024. There was a claim for $20k voided on him last October but he appears sharp coming into today's race. 2-MOONRISE DRIVE is the second Winebaugh entrant in this spot as he will likely rate and run on late. The main question for him will be how he handles the dirt as all of his recent starts have come on the Tapeta.

Curious to see if 5-CREME DE CASSIS is going to be fast enough to clear and wire this field. She has been away for nearly a year but has worked consistently toward her return. If she is able to show the speed we saw from her last year, she could make the top and never look back. 1-LA CLASICA is the other with some early speed as she steps up off a pair of starts in New Orleans. She comes in with a solid recent drill for a barn that is off to a fine start. 3-LIONS LAW ran a good race last out against a well meant winner. She chased in that spot and was able to battle back for third late. She figures to stalk in here but should close be a factor once again.

Let's see if we can beat the favorite in here as Christmas Present will take action but could need a race off only one work toward his return. I'll give the nod to 2-CARL G as he makes his second start out this meet. He got off a step slowly in his last but did run on late and galloped out well. He goes and eighth of a mile further today as a better break should put him in contention earlier. 5-DEVILS RED shortens up off his last as he looks to get back into form. He has a good 2024 campaign and makes his second start off the claim in here. 3-CHAMPAGNE MIKE ran a decent race in his last and likely needed that start. He should be able to rate a bit closer early in here as the price should be right.

Allowance runners go two turns in an interesting field. The inside three horses all step up and could all contend, but with each stretching out there are concerns about stamina. I do think those three will provide enough early pace for others to close into as I'll look to 4-LITTLE DIXIE in here. She gets back to a conventional dirt surface, which was a good fit for her in her Keeneland start last April. She likely needed her last and has since worked well. 7-MEMPHIS CASH QUEEN looks to be at her best around two turns but she did hold her own while sprinting in her last. She has enough tactical speed to rate close early as she should be running on in the lane. 5-EL KOWN comes in from Kentucky as she figures to rate and run on last as well. She broke her maiden around two turns in Indiana last summer and ran decent races on the poly in her last two.

Trainer Coty Rosin has two in here with a shot as I'll look to 3-LINE TO GAIN to get the job done. He ran a good race in his last after overcoming a little early traffic. He will need to get into this race early on with the lack of pace but a repeat of his last will put him in contention late. 4-REGIMENTAL has run some decent Hawthorne races as he starts of Rodriguez. He ran well in starts over a wet track two and three back. If the track does come up off it will move him up. 6-SLAVA UKRAINI is at his best when showing speed as I hope he is sent away early today. He ran a good race in his last and may have tired a bit late. Let's see if he gets sent to the top in here.