Handicapper Tips & Picks

Not getting too creative to open the day as I look to favorite 3-DESSERT FIRST on top. She dropped to this level for her last and ran a solid second. The winner of that race came right back to win. She will need some pace to chase but should find it in here. 4-HONOR HIS HALF has speed. She didn't clear in her last which may have compromised her a bit. In here, I expect her to send as Murrill gets back aboard. 5-BALI BABY runs for the hot Quinonez barn as she makes her second start of the year. She drops slightly for this spot but has tactical speed to rate close and contend the entire way.

Experience gets the nod in here as the break will be the key for the inside two runners. 2-SPINNING GLORY has run well in all three of her starts, showing speed in each. If she can get away in good order, she could clear and never look back. 1-TRUTHORCONSEQUENCE ran an improved race in her last and was claimed, but that claim was voided. She comes back off the layoff in here but has worked well toward her return. 7-SADIE'S SWEET RIDE debuts for Block with Lasix. She's bred to run a bit further but this barn tends to have theirs ready early. I expect she settles and rallies in the lane.

A shorter field but a tough race as many have similar running styles. Went to 3-IDIOSYNCRASIES as he draws better today and gets Bendezu back aboard, who won on him two back. The wide trip was costly in his last, but if he can clear off the inside two in here and get to the fence, he should be tough. 5-TALLAPOOSA is the one closer in here as he will benefit if those to his inside all push the pace. He ran on late in his starts two and three back and the price should be right. 4-SHAMAN SEZ pushed things in his last and almost pulled off a massive upset. He should rate close once again, but the concern is that he bounces off that performance.

A good turf allowance as there may be a chance to catch a price. 8-TIDAL TACTICS has not been good recently but take into account that the last three starts were on the main track and the race prior to that was in a tough Churchill allowance. She fits nicely in here as she's likely to settle early and run on in the lane. 3-ATMIDNIGHT has been good in her last two, just missing in both. She is another that figures to rate early but she has shown the ability to uncork a big late rally. 5-DEAL'EM AND WEEP ran an easy maiden winner in her final start of 2024. She steps up in here but has worked well toward her first start of the year.

Going to look to a bit of a price in here and give the nod to 9-ABSOLUTE MIRACLE as she drops in her second start of the meet. She ran two good races over this surface last summer and has tactical speed to keep her in the mix. Let's see if she can turn her recent form around. 2-THERDGOESONFOREVER drops as well as she has tried allowance-company in a pair of starts. She has speed and with the inside draw should be able to maintain her position early. 10-RUMBRANDT makes her first start of the year as she's likely to sit back early and rally in the lane. She runs a bit more protected as she's in for the state-bred $20k tag. She has three works toward her return and appears ready to go.

I really like the effort from 4-EXCELERINA in her last as she battled against better and hung in to the wire. The added sixteenth should help her chances in here as Loveberry rides once again. 7-TRAIL RIDGE ROAD runs for the Illinois-bred $20k tag as this is the lowest level she's been at in some time. She faced tough company to open the racing season and could use this one as a confidence boost. 3-UNION DOLLY also drops after facing tougher in her last. She did rate close in that spot but was empty at the top of the lane. Let's see if she sits back early in here.