Handicapper Tips & Picks

Kicking off a nice card with a race with some upset potential. 5-HURTS SO BAD could be that upset threat as he makes his second start off the layoff. He has speed to contend early but doesn't need the top to win. The track and distance suits. 1-ALTO ROAD will take plenty of action in this spot. He comes off a good win in his last but now drops in price off that score. With this being his first Hawthorne start, there's some unknowns that make me look to try to beat him at a short price. 4-BREAKING NEWS is another that loves this Hawthorne strip and also has tactical speed. This is his best distance as he drops in class after coming out of a tough starter race in his last.

Not much for early pace in here which should help the chances of 1-LALY. She draws the rail for her first start of the year as she has worked consistently toward her return. Let's see if she can clear and never look back. 6-TWO TIMER has run much improved races in her last three. She chased the entire way in this spot last out and may get a similar trip again in here. Let's see if she can repeat that performance in her second start off the claim. 5-JOYZELLA will be hoping for some pace to chase. She gets back to six furlongs, where she has been at her best. Look for her to come running in the stretch.

This is an extremely tough race as you can really make a case for any horse in this field. With multiple runners with early speed, I'm hoping 4-LADY HELENA can run back to her start against allowance company three back, where she rated and ran on in the lane. She has been tremendous over this track and may provide some value in this spot. 5-DIAMONDS JOY has tactical speed as she turns back to the dirt after a turf try in her last. Despite the voided claim coming out of that race she remains at the same class level, which is a positive sign. 2-LITTLE SASS has been in excellent form in her last couple, posting solid speed figures in here. The fact that she strung together races that were solid makes me think she is in top form and the win two back wasn't just a fluke.

This is a really good turf allowance. The pace should be honest upfront as I'm going to look to a potential price on the outside with 9-MARTINI MAN in here. The Minnesota bred makes his first start of the year as he has been working weekly toward his return. He does have speed, but from the outside draw I will be curious to see if he sends, or looks to rate just behind some of the pace that is to his inside and pounce in the lane. 7-DARK VINTAGE was a solid turf sprinter on the West coast to open his career before heading to England for a string of starts. He can back stateside for his last and ran a better than looks on paper race at Churchill. He figures to sit mid-pack early and come running in the lane. 6-RAVIN's RANSOM tries the turf for the first time as he's another with speed. He has worked very well since his last start and should be on the gas immediately with these.

An excellent allowance field here with what looks to be a quick and contested pace upfront. Although the recent form hasn't bee good, 5-FIRST HILL could be sitting on a big race as she gets back on the surface where she's had her most success. She won't be one to show early speed but if she can get back to her races from this level last summer, she should be able to rate and run on late. 7-COMMISSIONER GULCH was a beaten favorite in her last as she battled the entire way and just missed. She's another that should benefit from the swift pace upfront as the only concern for her may be getting tucked in to save ground through the turn. 4-SALLY'S SUPRISE was the one who beat Commissioner Gulch last out as she was very game while in between horses in that spot. She's another that fits at this distance and over this surface as she was a good second at this level two back.

This is an intriguing race as you have to dig through the past performances a bit to find turf sprint form for some of these. One who could be a threat at a square price is 1-EMPIRICAL VIEW as she draws the rail for DiVito. She last sprinted on the grass over a quirky Kentucky Downs course in 2023. She may have needed her last two on dirt and figures to come flying in the lane in here. 3-RIETTA is another who has some past turf form, breaking her maiden on the grass at this distance in 2023 and running a couple of respectable sprints over the turf last summer. She is likely to settle back early but should be flying in the stretch. 7-SMOKED has speed and tries the grass for the first time in here. She has been favored in all three starts on the year and looks to beat some of the other early pace to the top.

Sometimes the time is just right and maybe this is the time for 4-FLYING SAMURAI to get the job done. He is always a big price so he may sneak away higher than his 4-1 M/L but his last two starts with Troxtell aboard were excellent as he was game in both. He gets another spot today where there's really no other pace to challenge him early as he could cruise along through the opening three quarters and have enough left to outkick the field in the lane. 6-HATCHET CREEK has tactical speed while sprinting and may be a bit more assertive on the stretch. He's only gone this distance once though as we will have to see how he handles the two turns. 1-VANISKY ran a decent race in the slop in his last and could build off that performance. His form has been much better since returning to Hawthorne and the barn has also been going well of late. 

A wide open field of turf maidens to close out the card. Thinking the class relief will help 7-BOURBON STREET BOY as he has faced tougher in his three starts in Kentucky. She showed speed around two turns two back and should be out there once again. In a field where there's not a ton of form, it may be best to try to make the top and never look back. 2-LONE RETURN has run some of the best races of this field, but being winless from 19 starts makes it hard to endorse him on top. He's the other with some early speed as he will just need to avoid a duel with Bourbon Street Boy early. 6-CASH APP MIKE posted his best figure on the turf in a start two back. He stretches out in here as he looks to rate closer early and should come running while at a price.