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Thu June 5th, 2025 |
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Ron's Picks
Hawthorne Race 1
Post Time 2:40 PM CST
5-RACING THE LIGHT adds blinkers. She raced competitively
in all her races, including a turf try in last while making her turf debut. But
she’s back on dirt for this race. Should never be far off the pace. Might
prevail. 6-LA CLASICA has a similar running style to that of top choice. She
just missed as the favorite when she raced here three weeks ago but then didn’t
far quite as well in a race downstate. Still, we know she’s in decent form.
Could be the first to cross the wire. I have to give 3-SAVVY SMILA another
chance. She’s an Illinois bred meeting open company and she was thoroughly
beaten in her debut but this is a far easier field. Might have improved from
the experience.
Hawthorne Race 2
Post Time 3:06 PM CST
7-REGAINED POWER had a couple turf races that were
horrible but this race has been moved to the main track and he has been far
better on this surface. Drops in class and turns back in distance. He looks
like the only real speed. Has to be caught. 1-PROFESSOR HIGGINS has been far
more productive on the lawn but his speed figures suggest that even on dirt he’s
among the fastest of these. 4-VIA DEL CORSO showed little in the two races
since breaking his maiden but he was in against better both times. Would expect
him to be far more competitive against this type.
Hawthorne Race 3
Post Time 3:30 PM CST
3-STAGFLATION made freaky improvement since getting
claimed by this barn. She broke her maiden by 13 lengths in her first start for
them, defeating six rivals and dusted her next field by six, defeating nine. This
will be her toughest test yet since moving to this barn but if she runs the way
she did in last two, she could leave them in her dust again. 6-ACCELERATING
BABE, new stablemate of top choice, is certainly worth another look. She showed
little in last, after getting claimed by a barn and making only one start for them
but now moves to a barn that sports a 30% win average for runners debuting for
them. She had been in good form prior to that last start, while racing here and
at Oaklawn. She could prove tough to beat. 4-LADY HELENA flailed as the
favorite in last but she had been red hot prior to that start, winning three in
a row and narrowly missing in the other of her prior four starts. She’ll be
meeting somewhat easier in this spot. Has a good chance to bounce back.
Hawthorne Race 4
Post Time 3:55 PM CST
This race became more interesting since getting switched
to dirt. Probably have to give the nod to multiple stakes winner 10-UNCASHED. He
was terrific as a 3yo but must have had some issues in his last start of that
campaign since he was given over a year off after that campaign and had only
one race as a four year old. He’s not quite the runner he was at three but he
has managed to win two of his six races this year and he was favored in five of
the six 2025 races. He might not be the quickest of these but he’s going to be
right there throughout. Love the versatility of 8-TWIRLING ROSES. He runs well
both on and off the pace and his nine local wins, from 25 tries, lets you know
that he loves this track. Can they catch 5-CONGRATS ON FIFTY? He was entered
for turf but he’s been better on the main track and the short five-furlong
distance works in his favor. 3-BIG VINCE, stablemate on top choice, never ran
on dirt but he is stakes-placed in his last two. He has loved the front end in
his races but doesn’t seem to be quite as quick as a couple others in this
field. 6-UNPREDICTABLE BAY fits well from a pace standpoint but it could come
down to a matter of timing. At this short distance he might have to get moving
sooner than would be optimal.
Hawthorne Race 5
Post Time 4:21 PM CST
3-READTHECLIFFNOTES might be 10 but he’s still as game as
they get. He finished second in last at this level while making his first start
since October. Had two strong works since that race. Should be at the top of
his game. 8-EMPIRE BUILDER races for the first time in three months and most of
his works have been on the slow side but he has been very quick and has had
some success off layoffs. However, he’s a six-year-old and he’s managed only
six races over the last two years. He generally races competitively but those
layoffs are a concern. 4-MEGAN’S HONOR will finish fast. There should be plenty
of speed ahead of her and her pilot should have dead aim at the lead by the
time they hit midstretch.
Hawthorne Race 6
Post Time 4:47 PM CST
It looks like most members of this field will be trying
for the lead. Two who won’t be, 6-STEAMPUNK and 4-LEMON BOMB, will do their
best running late. Steampunk has always faced better on a tougher circuit. She
tired in a tough route race at Churchill in her first start in seven months but
that race should have set her up perfectly for this sprint. Lemon Bomb owns
good route speed but she’s not as quick as most of these sprinters. She did
lead most of the way in her last two routes but think she’ll be a bit farther
back early in this contest but could finish full of run. 8-LITTLE POISON has
dangerous speed and she could be meeting her easiest field ever. She’s making
her first start of the year but she had a win and a narrow loss in the two
races where she ran fresh.
Hawthorne Race 7
Post Time 5:13 PM CST
Wide open race but going to go with 1-GABE’S CHOICE. He showed
little in his debut but he was in against open company and he had considerable
trouble at the start. Guessing that with a race behind him and the move to
Illinois breds, he’ll be far tougher. 8-GUNNY SACK raced in second throughout
in his career debut. That race was on turf. Many think that turf races make the
perfect prep for dirt. He does have speed. Should be close throughout.
7-FRONTIER MARSHALL meets Illinois breds for the first time. He was much
improved with first Lasix in his last start. He could be the quickest of these.
Might not get caught.