Handicapper Tips & Picks

2-TRINITY’S PRIZE makes her debut. She is one of two four-year-olds in the field. She has been training well for a barn whose runners often win at first asking. 4-DISGUISED DEVIL was no match for the winner in her career debut but she finished 11 lengths ahead of the third-place finisher and that filly came back to win her next start. This one could be much tougher with experience. 5-KELLY GIRL could surprise. She raced competitively last year in her lone start. She was meeting open company in that race. She’ll be facing state breds today and doing it with first Lasix.

Nice, competitive race. Four of the six seem almost evenly matched and the other two are not without a chance. Have to go with 6-SUPREMELY, however. Not sure what happened after getting claimed by this barn but he’s his best in years. Won both races since that claim. He’ll have a tough time in this but his best could be good enough. 4-COALMINER’S KITTEN just missed to top pick and he was moving even better at the finish. Plus, he probably has more room to improve since that last race was his first of the year. 5-PHILIPSBURG makes his first start of the year off three good drills. He had an incredible 2024, winning six of 11 races, including four of his last six. Could pick up where he left off. 2-CHI TOWN HUSTLER finished well behind top pick when they met in New Orleans in last but he got claimed from that race but the trainer that did wonders with Supremely after the claim. Maybe lightning strikes twice. 3-WHATDOYOUTHINKMARK tired in an early speed duel in his first start of the meet but he did win his previous two starts. 1-MYSTIC POWER seems a bit overmatched but he can come from back and could benefit if an early speed duel develops.

1-FINDAWAY seems most likely. This barn lost him via claim two races back in Louisiana but claimed him again from last. Speed figures suggest he’s the fastest of these. 3-THE RIDGE racing for the same trainer as top choice, looks like the main competition. He makes his first start of the year but he has been training well. Won his last two races. Could pick up where he left off. 4-ANCIENT MAN is capable of coming on late which could be a valuable trait in this speed-filled race.

5-BIGFOOT SIGHTING is fresh off graduation. He wired the field in that race, much of the way under pressure. Turns back to a long sprint for this. We know he’s capable of getting this distance. Could put the rest away and finish with something left. 2-VALIANT WEST has been running well in Nebraska. He just missed as the favorite in last. Takes blinkers off for this try. Not sure how that will affect him but off his recent performances, he does look like the one to beat. 4-PAPA’S NICO BOY just got up to score his maiden win in his local debut. That was also his first start for this barn and his first race outside New York. He is probably the best of the early speed and he finished last like he would be able to handle the extra distance of this race.

Not sure 4-BEEHIVE owns much of an advantage but she has been in the hunt in all of her races, finishing in the money in 11 of 12 while winning three times. She’s adaptable and apparently handles any kind of pace. She’s been training well for her first start of the year and you know her barn brings them ready. 6-DEVIL. Like her stablemate Beehive, has been a major factor in virtually all of her races. Also, like her stablemate, she is adept on or off the front end. Beehive seems a little faster, at least in the past, but this filly finished her 2024 season with two straight wins. 1-MANAGING RELIEF and 2-FRANKEL BABY seem likely to vie for the lead. Depending on how the track is playing, they might clear the field early and fight to the finish. 3-SALLY’S SURPRISE and 5-YAMILE’S will both be coming late and shouldn’t be ignored.

5-CHEVAL B had a couple good races at Fair Grounds but her best finish came here in her last start. She chased the speed all the way around and held on to finish second. That was her first dirt attempt. Could improve with experience. 7-ROMANAYA ships in for a sharp barn. She’s making her second start off the layoff. Had a decent drill since her first start of the year. Would expect her to display better speed with the stretch in distance and there really isn’t much other speed in the race. Might lead throughout. 2-DRAMA SPEAKER is an interesting runner. She’s jumping in class to make her first start since December and she’s had limited drills but she closed a ton after a terrible start. Adds blinkers and gets first Lasix. Could be worth a look.

Competitive race. Almost looks like an “all” race in horizontal wagers. Most of these veterans are versatile so it’s hard to figure a pace scenario. But someone has to win. I’ll take a flyer with 1-ROCKET HOTSHOT. He has been highly effective here when racing at the right level. So far this year, he has either been in over his head or racing at a tougher venue. This could be his wake-up spot. Obviously anything racing for Larry Rivelli has to be considered. It’s been a long time since 6-TEMPER TANTRUM raced on dirt and he wasn’t very effective in limited tries. But he did win two of three at Turfway this year and his last dull start might only be an aberration. 7-STINGY is another sleeper. He won his first start for this barn but followed it with a dismal effort, beating only one in a 12-horse field. But, he’s adding blinkers for this and stretching out. Runners from this barn going from sprints to two turns with about 26% of the time. 2-DANVILLE won his last start versus similar and has a proven love for this track and this distance. Both 3-TWO COOKIE RULE and 4-WILDWOOD’S WARRIOR are coming off second-place finishes and both can improve in their second start of the year.

3-KIKI’S CRAZY drops from allowance company. She just finished second (dead heat) to a very tough Adora. Think she is probably better going long but there should be sufficient pace in this race to set up for her late run. 2-DIAMONDS JOY won three of her last four races while climbing the claiming ladder and her last was her most impressive win yet. She does look like the quickest of these. If not pressured early she can lead all the way. 4-SAMARITA figures prominently. She was in too deep in her first start of the year in New Orleans but she thrived last year in company similar to this in the past, racing well here as well as in Kentucky. Barn is off to a red-hot start. Don’t ignore