Handicapper Tips & Picks

3-ANNIE’S HOPE could be the best of the speed. Recent claim moved her into a barn off to a torrid start at the meet. They’ll have to catch her. 5-TWO TIMER hadn’t shown anything until they dropped her to a low level maiden claimer for her first start here. She ran away from the field. Meets winners for the first time but she does have enough speed to make things interesting. 4-CATHOLIC SUE could be the best closer in the field. She had only two drills in the two months since her last race but she had been running all winter so her conditioning could still be there. Her best chance would come if the top pair vied for the lead.

1-BREAKING NEWS needed last. He was making his first start since October. He’s been a consistent performer throughout his career, running well on or off the pace. Beaten favorite of last will be much tougher with a recent race under him. 5-FAMILY TRADITION drops. He ran competitively here last year and had some pretty good races at Oaklawn early in their meet before tailing off recently. The drop into easier company should wake him back up. 3-ALYANAABI is another likely to improve off his most recent race. Speedy runner might get an unchallenged early lead which could make him tougher to catch late.

There is little doubt that 3-PURPLE OCTOPUS will get to the lead. The only question is how long he will stay there. He’ll be making his first start around two turns, probably the weakest category for this normally strong barn, but he could be so far in front of his rivals that he might forget to stop. 1-GRAND ILLUSION makes his second start of the meet. This will be the first time that he races without coming off a layoff. He ran well enough in last but figures to improve off that race and the slight drop into easier. 2-DAPPER DUDE had enough races on dirt to let you know he really doesn’t like racing on this surface but his last start wasn’t terrible and he’s dropping into an even easier field.

Not in love with any in here. 4-PURE HICKORY has been training well since her last start in January. She finished second here, on turf, in her career debut last October but showed little in subsequent races. However, she’s dropping to her lowest level ever. Could be the best of these. 1-GOLDEN NOTE finished second in last. That was her first start on dirt as well as her first race after getting claimed by this outfit. She appears to hold a minor speed edge. Might be able to lead throughout. 6-WAHIDA OF MARDAN finished in the money only one time in her 10 races but she’s taking a dramatic drop in class. It won’t take much to beat this crew. The drop alone could do it. 

Can make a case for every runner in this race but will go with 7-EMPIRICAL VIEW. She didn’t show a thing in previous dirt starts but she looks like the only runner likely to come from off the pace in a race where the front end could be contested by virtually all of her rivals. 2-VEGAS CONDO, teammate of top choice, might not make the front end early but she does have decent speed and will be tracking the early leaders. She narrowly got up to win her local debut. Might get the same kind of trip today. 3-SECRET OPERATION was an impressive 10-length winner in her first start of the meet. She had dropped into claimers for that race. Moves back into allowance company but her speed figures suggest that she fits well with these.

4-CUTLASS KING drops back into maiden claimers. He displayed good speed and held on to finish second in last while racing against maiden specials. A similar effort today would put him squarely in the hunt. 5-RAGNOW was favored in last and was narrowly beaten. His barn and rider are off to hot starts at the meet. He’s never going to be far off the pace. Can take over late. 2-MY LAST ESCAPADE finished second in his two starts this meet, at this level, and also finished second in his two local starts last meet when racing at this level. Speed figures indicate that he’s one of the faster members of this field. Might finally break through.

Great race to end the card. A case can be made for most members of this field but 2-ETERNALLY GRATEFUL might be the one they have to beat. He’s been consistently competitive in his career. He’s moving up in class but he’s been razor sharp at the tough Oaklawn meet. His speed figures suggest that he’s the fastest of these but he really hasn’t shown the desire to finish first over the last couple years despite meeting what should be “softer” company. Love the tenacity 3-INDY CHARGES ON displayed at Keeneland in last, his first start against winners. He fought for the lead from the very start and still finished second, only a head back. He might wind up getting the same kind of trip in his local debut but at least we know he’s up to the challenge. 7-RUNAWAY CHARLIE has been sharp since moving to the Tracy barn, He finished third in New Orleans in his first start for them and finished second by a neck in his local debut. Like top pick, he’s adept at running on the lead or coming from off the pace. Could be tough either way.