Handicapper Tips & Picks

#1 BELLA VITTORIA can be given another look as she makes her second start off the layoff and change in class. The return race was not ideal with the slight stumble, TROUBLE_S coming out of the gate making a RUSH into a DUEL/FTQ before losing ground. 

With #5 JUST A TOUCH projecting to be a heavy favorite, looking at a couple of longshots with an upset chance or at the least to spice up exotics:

#2 PARCHMENT PARTY must step up in the speed figure department though arguably has some of that to blame in terms of trips efforts with "green" from BTL to IMPROVE since returning from the layoff, suggesting they have yet to show their best as an older horse. #4 NATIVE LAND is another with upside returning as an older horse. They showed ability from the debut and improved during the sophomore season stepping up on speed figures and the class rise. The return on 1/25 on turf recorded BTL while finishing off the board and backed up with a subtle trip in the show result last month at TP. 

#4 ZOMBO BOMBO brings upside off their current form and key surface switch as one that could project to move up on TURF. That projection was backed returning from the layoff in Feb along with an IMPROVE in which they followed through with the show finish and progressive number at this level on the dirt last month. 

#4 TITANIC THOMPSON is another that should appreciate the surface switch (TURF) coming back today for a second start. The debut placement in stakes company was ambitious though an honest effort showing run making a WIDE MOVE after a SLOG - the change in footing out of the gate might assist on that front. 

P 2 Bunkerhouse Boss 7 Captain Hurley 6 Misty Cove

P 6 Merico Magic 7 Chain Gang 1 Emmetts Buddy

P 9 Miss Dutton 1 Mikki Sixx 2 Alabama Hannah

P 3 Stormalong 5 Nazare 1 Legion Seelster

P 1 Fortify 2 Blue Hunt 3 Highlandbeachlover

P 4 Hello Darkness 9 Cold Creek Pantera 8 Dontquityourdayjob

P 10 Wind Blown 8 Stone Carver 5 Batterup Hanover

P 10 Wheels On Fire 9 Livinthebeachlife 8 Wannabeabigstar

P 5 Brue Hanover 4 Jabberwocky 3 Taurasi

P 8 Overthinking 2 Southwind Infusion 3 Ayeaye Captain Deo

P 3 Grit N Grace 5 Mist Amber 8 Raptors Won

P 10 Trinidad 1 Four By Four 8 Rose Run Ajay

ELKHORN STAKES (G2): 

This full field is competitive and contenders outside of ML favorite #6 LIMITED LIABILITY that fit and present value alternatives: 

#7 ANGLOPHILE does not hold the flashy numbers of others though upgraded from the races this season on a progressive OptixGRADE pattern in those GP events, both times X_FLOW to upgrade all around. Their form might not look like much "on paper' though race to race tough to find a "bad" effort and held their own consistently in higher par events, a slight/hidden class edge. 

#1 REBEL RED should be flying under the radar and perhaps intent while coming out of a WEAK race last month at FG, they might have been given that start off the 133-day layoff to gain conditioning for a KEE return. They have shown a fondness for this KEE turf course a BTL effort coming off a long layoff with the MSW race last April also projecting to IMPROVE, which they have done with each start. That carried back to last fall holding in the N2 allowance win with a WIDE close and given a class test the B OptixGRADE in the Red Smith (G2) the following month and closing out the 2024 season. Regular rider, J. Ortiz remains aboard and might have had some options in the field. 

BEN ALI STAKES (G3):

#7 UNO MAS BOURBON appears well spotted here and intent looking for their first graded stakes win. As a racehorse, they showed ability from their first start and from there improved with racing and two turn distances. That comes back into play here in what appeared a "prep" from the 2/15 one turn mile return, a STRONG allowance. Following that start, the connections looking for a graded stakes placement, had entered in the New Orleans Classic (G2) on 3/22 though taking a different path training up to this spot instead. UNO MAS BOURBON worked on 3/21 at GP the day before that considered stakes race and shipped to KY working a week late at CD and consistent into this spot. They also had B.J. Hernandez named as intent remaining here and was aboard for the maiden win as well. 

#5 PIROLI has a graded stakes win, the Gold Cup (G1) from 2023 to support on class and and for today's course and distance. They returned to winning ways at KEE in October, a PERFECT trip in N3 allowance company, though similar par on the day. That effort was matched last December, a BTL effort with excessive ground loss (X_WIDE) and first time back to the conventional dirt since.