Handicapper Tips & Picks

Kicking off the day with the likely favorite as 3-ANNIE'S HOPE looks to be the controlling pace. She was claimed from her last and stretches back out to two nears, where she was a near miss two back. 5-TWO TIMER was a fine winner while at a good price last out. She will also try two turns as she makes a logical step up. Let's see if she rates and chases the entire way. 4-CATHOLIC SUE has had numerous opportunities to get win number two, and almost did three starts back. She needs pace to chase and that is my only concern for her today.

Off his last start, it looks like the ML favorite, 1-BREAKING NEWS, will be tough once again. He has tactical speed with really only Alyanaabi as the other potential pace horse. He should take advantage of the rail draw and be very tough to beat. 6-FIRST MASAMUNE was a good winner in his final start of 2024 as he has worked forwardly toward his return. If the two potential speed horses are sent away early, he could pick up the pieces late. 5-FAMILY TRADITION has been in tough in Arkansas in his recent starts. He has had past success here and gets his best distance. He's another though that will need some pace to close into.

2-DAPPER DUDE comes in off a good effort last out as he runs for a barn that has been sharp all meet long. With pace to either side of him, he should be able to settle early and look to grind things out in the lane. 3-PURPLE OCTOPUS will be one to show speed as he stretches out. He has the potential to steal this as he runs for the tag today. Let's see how he handles the two turns. 1-GRAND ILLUSION ran a decent race in his last but did tire in the stretch. All of his starts make him a player here but I tend to wonder if he's a bit better on synthetic.

Thinking the lack of early pace in here can only benefit 1-GOLDEN NOTE as she makes her second start of the meet. She chased in her last and finished a clear second. She comes in fresh and should welcome the added sixteenth. 4-PURE HICKORY drops to the bottom as she makes her second start of the year. She closed some ground after a poor start in New Orleans in January and has since posted multiple gate drills.2-ENTICING OPTION chased in her two starts before tiring in the lane. She may be in a similar spot early today but could sneak in for a share.

There looks to be some pace in here which should benefit the chances of 1-SWEET MUSIC to save ground and rally in the lane. She was a good winner in her maiden score in Kentucky last November as has worked well toward her return. The barn always has them ready as she could sneak away at a price. 2-VEGAS CONDO is one of two DiVito runners in with a shot. She stalked and pounced in her maiden win last out and has posted a pair of sharp drills since that start. The added eighth shouldn't be an issue in here. 4-CALL'EM ALL comes off a layoff as she has worked well toward her return. She has tactical speed as she figures to tuck in just behind the early pace and get the jump on the late closers.

Off his last effort, I find it tough for these to beat 5-RAGNOW as he's another well spotted Rodriguez runner. He stretched back out for his most recent start, tracking the early leaders and nearly getting up. He should get a similar trip once again as he may find and even slower pace to chase in here. 3-RAMESSES steps up off his last but he held his own in that spot and figures in here. He makes his third start since adding blinkers and could be one to show a bit more early speed. 1-BEARS' D takes the class drop as he figures from the rail. Slow starts were costly in his last could but a recent strong drill shows he could be sitting on an improved performance today.

A good allowance field closes the Thursday card. There's a few that can show speed but none are committed to the front. Giving the nod to 7-RUNAWAY CHARLIE as he comes back off a near miss in his last. He chased the pace in that spot and battled to the wire. He will likely look to tuck just behind the early pace once again and run on in the lane. 3-INDY CHARGES ON ships in for this spot off a nice effort in his last. He could potentially be the pace of the race and has shown to be game when challenged. 2-ETERNALLY GRATEFUL ran well throughout the Oaklawn meet as he steps up a bit off his last couple. He was hung wide in the short stretch event last out, which likely compromised his chances. The full Hawthorne stretch should only benefit him in here.