Handicapper Tips & Picks

4-IZZY’S MONSTER looks strong in many categories. She has speed if she needs it but she’s just as adept when coming off the pace and that makes her the choice with all the speed in this race. She loves this track, she thrives at the distance, she’s been training well for months, and her speed figures suggest she’s the fastest of these, on dirt, despite meeting easier most of her career. 3-CAT ATTACK might hold the advantage in the speed department. Ignore her dismal race at Turfway, we know she’s better than that. Although she is a turf specialist, she has shown some turf ability. Might lead throughout. 2-ARDIS will contest the lead. She was claimed from her final start of 2024. Her recent drills have been sufficient. Should never be far back.

Despite making only one start, have to give 6-MISSISSIPPI MAN the nod. He was a ridden-out maiden winner in New Orleans, while generating a speed figure higher than any attained by any of his rivals. He showed, in that lone start, that he wouldn’t wilt under pressure. Might be able to hold off the rest of the speed in this one. 3-VIA DEL CORSO, the other recent maiden winner, won by only a nose in his lone start but unlike top choice, he came on late to snatch victory. That race was at five furlongs but the six-furlong distance of this race could suit him far better. 4-TAKEITAWAY, one of the two S D Brille Ltd homebreds, finished second in the Futurity at Fairmount in his last start, beating Journey, his stablemate, by five lengths. Both are first Lasix today, which can make considerable difference.

3-ALL ABOUT TONITE wired the field at this level in last after putting away a brief early challenge. He got claimed from that race but moved from one sharp barn to another. Doesn’t seem likely to face much early competition. Can win right back. 6-WE MISS ARLINGTON drops. He was a non-threatening fourth in his first start of the meet but could be more of a factor at this level. 1-ASYMMETRIC might show some late run. He scored in his last at Will Rogers Downs and will be meeting tougher here but he has had some past success with runners better than these.

Not sure if he has anything left but 10-year-old 4-READTHECLIFFNOTES might be racing at his lowest level ever. He won 13 of 40 races in his career, 10 of 23 on this racetrack. This multiple stakes winner has been equally adept on and off the pace. Was limited in starts last year and has limited drills coming into his first race of the year but fully expect him to give a good account of himself. 6-CONI’S COUP likes the front end and he’s another that has been good on this track and at this distance. He’s been off since September but his recent drills should be sufficient. Trust this barn to have him ready. 5-CATEGORY TEN was sharp early last year but seemed to tail off late. Didn’t like his first couple races this year but those starts were on synthetics and he never had much luck on that surface. Could awaken with the move back to dirt. 7-GLOBAL EMPIRE can’t be ignored. He won his final two races last year, beating starter company, and he’s been training very well for his return to racing.

2-MONDOGETSBUCKETS seems most likely. He was favored in last, his first start since June and his first on this track, but came up just a neck short. However, his barn wins with over 30% of runners making their second starts after long layoffs. Guessing he’ll graduate at a short price. 8-STEELY EYE is worth a look. He might be only prepping for races at Prairie Meadows since he’s an Iowa bred but he has been training well. Heard rumors that he’s a runner. 9-HIGH PROBABILITY might be another worth watching. He showed good speed but tired for the Rivelli barn last year in his lone start. Switched barn since and has posted some sharp drills here, Fairmount and in Nebraska since then. Gets first Lasix. Maybe

Tough little race. This looks like a pretty well-matched field. 4-CHAOS REIGNS might hold a slight edge. He’s shipping back from Oaklawn. His three races there this year were all against better and all were contested on off tracks. He fared far better in his three previous races here, with a win and two thirds. Think they’ll have to catch him. 3-MCMONEY makes his first start in three months but good recent works for a sharp layoff barn will have him ready. He’s going to be coming from off the pace and the track hasn’t been too favorable to late runners so far this meet but he really doesn’t lay far back. He could swoop to take it. 1-STRONGER TOGETHER doesn’t seem quite as quick as top choice but he does own pretty good speed and he does fade that badly. It’s possible that he’ll track top pick all the way around but it’s also possible that he’ll take over in the stretch if Chaos Reigns pulls another fade job.

7-FAST N HAPPY could be the best with the drop in class. She was in too deep in her first start of the meet but had been in pretty good form prior. Even runner could be a major factor in any pace scenario. 1-HONOR HIS HALF doesn’t hold a big speed advantage but you have to respect that she also doesn’t back down from a challenge. She could come out on top of a speed duel and still hold off any late runners. 5-QUEEN ANNA T won her first start of the year but has shown little since. However, she races for Rivelli with Loveberry in the irons. It would be foolhardy to not at least give her another look.