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Sun June 8th, 2025 |
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Ron's Picks
Hawthorne Race 1
Post Time 2:40 PM CST
This appears to be a fairly evenly-matched field. But I think I’m going to go with 2-GO STORMIN GIRL. She hasn’t been her typically good self so far this year, but she was claimed from last by a far hotter barn and they win with a hefty 41% of their first time claims. This mare has been so good here in the past. Expect her to wake up. 5-RAINY MOUNTAIN drops and gets first Lasix. She won her first race of the meet but did little in the two races since. The first Lasix could make a world of difference. 8-BIG SALLY has reeled off three straight victories, displaying sharp speed in all of them and in most of her prior races. She is probably the quickest member of this field but not sure she’ll get the lead and be able to hold in while meeting somewhat tougher rivals.
Hawthorne Race 2
Post Time 3:05 PM CST
3-FAYETTE SPIRIT has had 18 maiden races including 12 on turf and remains a maiden. However, he has had some pretty good races on the lawn and all of them were against possibly better rivals. He had a good drill since finishing third in a turf race in Indiana last month. Puts blinkers back on for this race. It could finally be his graduation day. You can never toss out Chris Block runners, especially on the lawn. He has two entered in this race. Neither showed much in limited turf races but both are certainly capable of improving. 4-TAUNTING might be the better of the two. He’s still only three. He split the field last year when making his lone turf start but think he could wind up being the quickest of these if the race stays on grass. He’s stretching out for the first time this year. Might be setting the fractions. The other Block runner, 2-NITSCHEKE beat only one runner in his lone race, a maiden start here last year. However, he’s regally bred and he has a strong workout pattern coming into this race. Deserves another chance.
Hawthorne Race 3
Post Time 3:30 PM CST
This race is full of contenders but think 1-ONE PUTT RICHIE could hold a slight edge. He’s been in good form and he’s dropping back to the right level. Could outfinish them all. My main concern with 2-RACARINO is the six-furlong distance. He has managed to win only one in 13 tries and he does have the tendency to kind of fade late. Like top choice, he’s in good form and he did beat that rival the last time they met but that race was at five and a half. It could be a different story at this distance. 3-HURTS SO BAD and 7-UNCAPTURED PULSE could be fighting it out on the front end and STINGY might add to the early pace. Uncaptured Pulse wired the field in last while Hurts So Bad wired fields in two of his last five
Hawthorne Race 4
Post Time 3:55 PM CST
Race 4
This is a tough race to figure out. I’m leery about doing it but probably have to go with 7-LAST MINUTE. This $475,000 purchase had one race in 2003 where he never reached contention and one race in 2024 when he dominated maidens. Now he’s making his 2025 debut. You have to wonder about the issues that caused those long periods between races but he’s been working like you would expect a good horse to work. Will give him the benefit of the doubt. Stakes winner and beaten favorite in the Grade 3 Sanford at Saratoga in 2023, 6-GOLD SWEEP, was claimed from his first two races in 2025. He made his local debut here and went off as the short-priced favorite but didn’t get the best trip. His speed figures are comparable to any in here and he should be racing right off the early pace. Might be able to edge by late. 8-DICK BEST was narrowly beaten in his first start of the meet. He came from off the pace in that race, but he had been a speedy runner most of his career. If sent, he could give top choice a run for the money on the front end.
Hawthorne Race 5
Post Time 4:21 PM CST
4-TEMPER TANTRUM should be the one to beat. He reeled off two straight victories, utilizing a good late move to do it. Seems to be meeting somewhat easier in this field. Can make it three in a row. 1-GENERAL ISSUE’s turf debut wasn’t terrible considering he was in against superior rivals. Drops into an easier spot. Looking for marked improvement. Have to give 3-MR UNIVERSE one more chance. He finished up the track in both local starts but he had been away nearly three years. He’s back on the lawn, his preferred surface, for this contest. Maybe
Hawthorne Race 6
Post Time 4:47 PM CST
9-JET FLIGHT stretches out. His last two sprints were good but he has always seemed better going long. He could finish with authority. 2-STRONGER TOGETHER drops off the claim which could be a good thing or a bad thing. Is he dropping just to get an easy win and maybe get claimed again or was his poor showing in his last start a sign that he’s off form. Guess we’ll see. 3-VANISKY, like top choice, stretches out. He finished second in his last two races, both sprints, but he had been a route runner for most of his career.
Hawthorne Race 7
Post Time 5:13 PM CST
6-LICENSE TO STEAL raced competitively in all his turf starts and he was facing better in all of them. Drops into maiden claimers for his first start since October. Has a log series of drills coming into this race. Looks ready. 9-RAGNOW has been in good form since stretching out with three straight second-place finishes including last, his turf debut. He should never be far off the lead. Could outlast the rest. 5-BOURBON STREET BOY could be an interesting runner. He’s making his first start for this barn and his first race outside of Kentucky. He appears to be the quickest of these and he sports a great turf pedigree. He’ll be on the early lead. The question is for how long?
Hawthorne Race 8
Post Time 5:39 PM CST
Interesting mix of runners jumping in claiming price while others are dropping in class. So many of them have various degrees of early speed. I’m not in love with 8-SHARP STICK but he is dropping in class, he ran well in most of his turf starts, and he has shown the ability to launch a late move when warranted. 9-MAN ON ATTACK could be meeting his easiest field ever. He’s among the best of the speed and he has a history on running well on this course, including a narrow loss in a state-bred stakes race here a year ago. 4-SIXWILLBERICH moves up in class. However, he looked sharp winning his last grass race. That race took place last August, but he does look like one of the few in this field capable of making a late run.