Handicapper Tips & Picks

A competitive bunch opens a solid Sunday card as any of my top three I feel can win. With the class drop and turn back in distance I'll look to 6-DESSERT FIRST as she runs for trainer Elias Lopez. The barn is having a good meet and the distance suits. Let's see if the class relief makes the difference today. 5-HONOR HIS HALF is the one with speed who has the potential to steal a race. She got a little breather after racing through the summer and starting here on opening weekend. If she can back things down on the lead she may be able to steal this one. 2-FAST N HAPPY chased in her last, running a good second in that spot. With the inside draw today, there's potential she shows speed once again and hangs around the entire way.

This race in intriguing as the morning line favorite could be tough to figure out. 2-KIND KISMET seems deserving of the favoritism as she was good in her last three starts of 2024, breaking her maiden in a state restricted race at Canterbury last September. The drop seems steep based on price, but with the move to open company, and an impending purse reduction in Minnesota this summer, I think she is well spotted to win, and not be claimed. 4-JOYZELLA ran a good third in her last, showing speed and hanging around late. There's wasn't a ton of pace in that spot though and this is a quick turnaround. She fits and does race for the Illinois bonus. 3-MARY'S BOON broke her maiden on the grass but remains on dirt here as she returns off the layoff. She has worked consistently toward her return, with recent snappy drills over this Hawthorne dirt surface.

A quality grass bunch here as we will see if there's enough pace to close into. Looking on top to 3-ANOTHER MYSTERY as the nine-year-old graded stakes winner is still going strong. He loves this Hawthorne course and has been a great fit with Mojica in the saddle. Expect a solid effort once again. 5-LAMPLIGHTER JACK has speed and could potentially sneak away on the front end and never look back. The key to his race could be the presence of Street Warrior on the rail as he's the other potential speed threat. If loose, Lamplighter Jack may never look back. 4-BAL A KAZOO makes his first start of 2025 as he has had turf success over this course. He was a close second to Another Mystery here last summer and should be in a prime stalking spot today.

The distance is the key in here as we go two turns with a couple who could potentially show speed. Taking a price shot with 4-T LAW as he makes his second start of the meet and held his own while sprinting in his return last out. If the pace is contested early he should be able to wait until the lane and look to make his move. 5-VALIANT WEST will take action as he has been knocking on the door in recent starts. He's likely going to sit back a bit as well around two turns but should be running on in the lane. 1-BIGFOOT SIGHTING was a fine winner around two turn two back and ran well in the same race as Valiant West and T Law in his last. With the presence of rabbit-like Byword in here, I'm just not sure what the trip will be like for Bigfoot Sighting today.

A really good field of turf sprinters for the fifth. There's some pace in here to keep things honest as I'll look to the proven old man. 11-year-old 3-CHANNEL WON still seems to be going strong as he's a 15 time winner on turf. He will likely sit back early but should come charging in the lane. 8-GRAND HIDEAWAY has won seven times on turf, including a win at this level over this course here last fall. He has tactical speed and may sit a bit closer than Channel Won early. 4-MAHONEY ROAD is winless on turf, but has found the board in four of six grass starts. He's another with tactical speed as he may have to look to weave his way through traffic in the lane.

Can't knock either effort this meet from 1-TWO COOKIE RULE as he ran second to a solid racehorse in Danville in both starts. He figures to rate a bit closer early here as there's not much pace and the rail draw should benefit him as well. 5-FAMILY TRADITION will need pace to chase as he's likely to settle back early and rally in the stretch. He's found the board in half of his Hawthorne starts but is still looking for his first win over the track. 6-CODE RUNNER figures off his two starts but there's a little concern as he was a recent scratch from a race where he figured against better. He will take action in here as his barn has been hot this meet.

This is a very challenging race as there are really no horses that can be tossed. Debuting for a barn that has been good in 2025 is 8-SEMPER PRIMUS as he gets Lasix for trainer Jimmy DiVito. He had a little gap in his works as he came over from Oaklawn to Hawthorne but his last two drills are solid and the price should be right. 6-BRODY was a good second in his last, stalking and running on late. He should get some pace to chase in here as he could benefit from the added sixteenth. 1-TAUNTING draws the rail as he had a tough break in his last but did show some run in the stretch. If he can get away better early, he figures to save ground and close in the lane.