Handicapper Tips & Picks

5-DOUBLE BURN could be dropping to score. He’s shown only brief speed so far but he’s never been in this easy. Moving from turf to dirt could be seen as an advantage. 4-MY LAST ESCAPADE is the main competition and could easily win this. He’s had far more starts than top choice but he has also had quite a bit more success. He’s also dropping to his lowest level ever. Would be no surprise. 3-ULTIMATE FIGHTER and 2-HUMOR'S IMAGE will likely be fighting for the early lead. Have to give Ultimate Fighter the edge there since he’s had some recent races under his belt but either are capable of hanging on to finish third. 

We’re off turf and that could dramatically change the outcome of this race. 5-STRONGER TOGETHER might have been entered for turf but his connections were probably elated when this race got moved to dirt. He might be racing at a higher level today but he crushed the last field he faced, his first race after getting claimed by this barn. If he runs like that again, he could easily earn a return trip to the winner’s circle. It was hard to imagine anyone here capable of beating 2-TEMPER TANTRUM on turf but that might not be the case on dirt. This 11-time winner, eight on the turf, scored victories in his last two starts, both here, but both on the lawn. He’s had four dirt races and hasn’t hit the board. It’s still possible that he’ll win this but he doesn’t look like the lock he appeared to be on grass. 6-FIRST MASUMUNE is worth another look if you are seeking a price shot. He looked sharp wining his last at a big price. That race was against easier in a shorter race on the main track but we know he’s been good on dirt.  

Hard to get a handle on 5-DICK BEST. When he’s good he can be very good but when he’s not...then he finishes up the track. But, he’s dropping to meet his easiest field so far this year. He looks like the one they have to beat but it’s going to depend on what runner shows up. 1-COALMINER'S KITTEN went off as the odds-on favorite in last but raced in midpack all the way around and never made up any ground. He had been red hot prior to that race however, with two wins and two seconds in his previous four races, dating back to last year. Could easily bounce back with a superb effort. 2-PAYNT BY NUMBERS could lead the second tier of runners all the way around. 

1-LUNDBERG could be tough. He was a bit outmatched in a stakes race here a month ago but he won his prior two starts; one here and his previous start at Oaklawn. With the ability to run well on or off the lead, he should fare well against any kind of pace. 5-FAST JACK likely goes right for the lead. He just finished second in his turf debut but he is probably far more effective on the main track where all nine of his wins have been scored. 4-ELI'S PROMISE hasn’t been overly competitive so far this year but has raced exclusively at Oaklawn. He’s been much more of a factor in his previous local starts. Can never ignore anything racing for this barn. 

There will probably be a lot of defections with this race moving to the main track. We’ll have to guess who stays in. 4-COMISKEY PARK was the class of this race on turf and probably even more so on dirt. He’s dropping to the lowest level of his career. He owns good tactical speed; just not sure how effective he’ll be at this short sprint distance. Didn’t like 7-XPRESSIR on turf but it could be a different story on dirt. It’s possible that he’ll grab an unchallenged lead and take it all the way. 8-ALIBI IKE seems outgunned but he has had some success at short sprint distances. 

This field could be decimated by scratches. 12-EUCLID AVENUE will surely benefit. He was a main-track only entrant and so drew the 12 hole but with probably half the field likely to scratch, his task just got easier. Now sure that he’ll make the early lead but he should be positioned perfectly if the likely front runner runs out of gas. 2-ST LOUIS LOUIE likely leaves with the lead. He’s stretching out and he has tended to tire late, even in his sprints, but he might be able to take a breather on the front end and have something left for the finish. 3-LAVENDER EARL could join the early pace. Like St Louis Louie, he does tend to tire late but this will be one of the easiest fields he ever had to face.