Handicapper Tips & Picks

Think I have to go with 4-REGIMENTAL. He’s not a big closer but he often displays a good late move and there should be plenty of tiring speed ahead of him to help to set things up. 3-GRAND ILLUSION was in a little tough coming off a layoff in his local debut but he was dropped in class for his next start and responded with a wire to wire victory. He’s meeting tougher today but he has now won two of his last three. 2-SLAVA UKRAINI will be trying for the early lead and could succeed. However, he’s been trying to get through this non winners of three condition for a long time and keeps coming up short. Today he’ll utilize the services of an apprentice rider with her eight pound weight allowance. Maybe that will make the difference.

This race will be moved to the main track and contested at a mile and 70 yards.

 Just guessing who, if any, will scratch. The field is full of runners with various levels of early speed. Three of the entrants wired their respective fields in their last races. Not sure how many will be coming from off the pace but do expect 2-CATHOLIC SUE to be one of them. Her recent form hasn’t been bad. Maybe she’ll run by all of them today. Even with all the other speed in the race I expect 8-END OF INNOCENCE to break on the lead. She’s been in good form in Arkansas. Was claimed from one of the top trainers in the country from her last start. Moves up in claiming price but fits well with these. 6-ANNIE’S HOPE jumps in class but she displayed marked improvement on dirt in last, her first race after the claim.

6-IZZY’S MONSTER was a “monster” here last year when racing against rivals similar to these and she was a 10-length winner here to start her 2025 racing season back in April prior to shipping to Churchill to take on better, with no success, in last. But she’s back to Hawthorne and back to the right level. Will be tough. 3-PASTA SALAD RHONDA was narrowly defeated, as the favorite, in last when making her first start after getting claimed. Adds blinkers for this trip. Doesn’t seem like a match for top choice but she can easily be the best of the rest. 5-TWO HEARTED finished third in her two starts this meet; the first against rivals like this and while taking on allowance company in last. She generally exhibits a pretty good late move. Her chances improve if a contested early pace develops.

1-T LAW drops. He finished fourth in a “key” race in his first start of the year and was simply in too tough in his last. Could put it all together in what appears to be his easiest contest ever. 5-MOONRISE DRIVE finished second in his local debut. The winner of that race came right back to score his second straight victory. Races at a higher claiming price than he did in last but this field does look softer. 7-CUCUY has been in good form in Florida but he showed little when racing here last year. Shares the barn with Moonrise Drive. Can make full use of his “bug” rider’s 10-pound weight allowance.

This race stays on the grass but would have expected this one to be moved to the main track since so few of the runners are really turf horses.

I think 3-WANDA STRONG will be better prepared for this race than she was for her last. She’s one of the more accomplished turf runners in here. She finished fifth in her lone previous start at this distance but the first three finishers in that event all came back to win their next starts. Although she owns good speed, others in here are quicker at this distance and she’ll have to rely on her good closing move to have the best chance. 4-CAIRO DREAM went off as the lukewarm favorite in last but broke in the air and never fully recovered. But the pace sets up well for her late run. Could mow them all down late. 7-RAMBERT has been the most successful at the distance with three wins and two seconds from six tries. She’s moving up in class but it’s hard to argue with her turf sprint success. 11-FOXY CLEOPATRA has had only one turf race, well over a year ago, but she wired the field in that turf sprint. Could have a tough time getting to the lead from out here with all the other speed to her inside but can’t be ignored.

8-HATCHET CREEK can get the right trip. He finished second in his last two against similar company but the possibly quicker pace of this race could suit his late run a little better. 2-HURTS SO BAD wired the field in last, his second start of the meet, holding off the late move of top choice in the process. He could face more early challengers today but he is making his third start of the year and should be at the top of his game. 4-CHRISTMAS PRESENT was favored in last, his first race for this barn and his first start of the year. Unfortunately, he didn’t get close to the winner but he did finish well clear of the rest of the field. He always had an affinity for this track. Could be even tougher with a recent race under him.

5-EVEN THE WIND is probably the one to beat. This late runner has consistently done well on the grass. Races for one of the top turf barns around. He’s making his first start of the year but you know they’ll have him ready off a long series of drills. 4-TIME MUSE is one of those likely to challenge for the lead. He never won on the lawn but did finish second in three of his last four turf starts, including his lone local trip last year. 8-BAKENEKO has been good on the turf though usually against much easier rivals. In his last seven starts, five on turf, he managed to win three, finish second twice and third twice. 

This race has been moved to the main track and will stay at a mile and a sixteenth.

10-BOOGIE BODE was entered for main track only so I expect him to stay in the race. He’s been running against tougher starter company at Oaklawn all winter. The drop in class and facing easier fields today should “bode” well for his chances.  6-MCMONEY was favored in last, his first start for this barn, but he never fired. He had won his previous start from which he was claimed. Drops in class for this. Has been very good on Hawthorne’s dirt track. Should finish with a rush. 9-WICKED SUPRISE looks like the only real speed in the race. It’s been a while since he had much success on the main track but with an easy enough lead, he might hold it together to the end.