Handicapper Tips & Picks

The presence of #5 SHE'SINTHEARMYNOW makes it tough for other E/EP types in this field to try and run with her in the early stages. Looking at the Plot she has the clear advantage in Q1 towards the top in Q1 above the ParLine. That scenario could see others take back - a scenario that further advantages SHE'SINTHEARMYNOW - and play against those other front runners, even with #1 MIDNIGHT'S GIRL looking for an ideal trip (Q1 Square) to track and look for first run. 

#4 MAMBA OUT is listed as the lone "E" in this field and positioned in Q3 has first call speed. If she tries to run early with SHE'SINTHEARMYNOW she could be in trouble, however she was not always a confirmed front runner and perhaps that tactical change has been waiting for her and could adopt it here for the new connections and J. Loveberry taking over. 

As far as Q4, #3 DIAMONDS JOY is shown as a Large Square, though not her typical Plot position and while that position works for today's race, it is a change. The Circle is less than ideal when looking at #2 RACEDAY ATTIRE though has run her race under similar conditions and Plot position and shape. #6 ECHO DREAMER comes into this race with current form and off a recent win - the front running win a tactical change taking advantage of the race shape and course profile while under W. Rodriguez that day, a hot rider with a four win day back on 6/5.

Trainer H. Rodriguez could look to go back-to-back and in a similar manner as #1 UNION DOLLY could present the "speed of the speed" a Q1 Sqaure looking to take this field gate-to-wire under J. Felix. In addition to pace, she brings in upside off their form this season and returning under similar conditins to the 6/1 event when making an early MOVE with the Very Fast opening 1/2 dynamic noted. The barn also sending out #2 PRANCIPANTS as she makes a belated return to the turf and route distance. She has yet to race under those conditions since the 2023 season though going back to those events, her form and figures fit on par, though requires numbers specifically to compete as the current figs sit below par. 

With the majority of the field returning from that 6/1 common race and those with the better finishing positions to find public attention, #7 LOTTA ROSES should be flying under the radar in contrast and in current form to compete. She put in a strong close back on 5/18 despite the running line and 5th place finish. As far as 6/1 her trip was not ideal, she had TROUBLE impacting the outcome and noted as they finished alongside others in a blanket for the deeper minors. 

Tough to knock the winner, #5 TRAIL RIDGE ROAD one that moved up as expected with the drop in class and could easily repeat well-placed based on her abilities to her needs. #6 MIDNIGHT BELLA was flying under the radar at 11-1 with buried form and ran to it making a WIDE MOVE into place while coming off thelayoff and has that conditoning second off back today. 

It has been almost two years to the date of the most recent win for #8 MALIGATOR and looking to return to winning ways could find the right scenario here. They find a subtle change with a shift toward Q2 for a horse that has spent the majority of the time since that win confirmed Q4 runner. The early pace should present contentious (Sun) though still moderate fraction projected with the lower SpeedRate - factors that assist in changing the Plot position for MALIGATOR here. 

That lower SpeedRate can assist runners with tactical speed and when looking at the Plot both #3 CAN MAN DO and #5 LATE BLACKSMITH (Q1 Circles) look to take up the lead and "duel" where #4 TALLAPOOSA (Q1 Square) looks to track and sneak out first run; a trip similar to #1 CHAMPAGNE MIKE. 

Looking "on paper" it would appear MALIGATOR would be "behind" #2 ICE AXE and #6 ANCIENT MAN though that is not necessarily the case looking at the Plot, while both runnners require the trip their current form and slight change in par moves them up in today's field. 

The shorter sprint distance creates some unknowns as many shorten up in distance while even in the case where a return to the turf is a positive. With that said, #6 NO AH A was scheduled to debut over the turf and 5.5f distance just last week at CD with those races moved to the main track they decided to wait and without hesitation pick this spot on this circuit. Their stablemate #2 URBAN RULER has the benefit of a turf start landing here first time for C. Block and cutting back. Perhaps that is a positive along with the conditioning and flow-upgrade with WIDE trip tracking the Very Fast (both early and late) pace on 5/26 at IND with the NO_PUSH after losing ground/NO_KEEP. 

There is a unique race dynamic with the Snowflake Contention paired with the higher SpeedRate. That scenario does assist to trip and looking at the Plot could land the right time and place for #7 CALIBRATE. They Plot as a Q2 Square, Green coded figures (on Par) and sit ABOVE+ on class to check the further boxes as a contender. 

The race shape upgrades #9 READTHECLIFFNOTES, a subtle change in Plot position and dynamic where they have been perhaps taken out of their runstyle forced to contest the pace and in here (Q2/4 Square) can relax and wait to make their move. 

#8 HOODLUM is interesting as they "should" have an advantage with the circuit switch though when looking at the Plot and OptixTriMetric sits as AVERAGE+. That is not to say they cannot compete, though something that requires some price compensation as a return to their peak effort is necessary to win. 

#2 WILDWOOD SICILIAN appears live second off and under conditions where they fit back at Hawthorne. This marks the second start off the layoff and visually could be taken as a "prep" with the rider TACTIC- not asked for their best, passively ridden on 5/26 at PRM.  They overall fit at today's level, picked up a win under similar $25k claiming conditions last July as well as the 9/12 place finish recording a B OptixGRADE. Their local record is solid with most of their races at a higher condition to support under today's par and early speed to work out a trip in today's race shape. 

The layoff is an unknown for #1 PROTONIC POWER returning from 389-days away while also making their first start back from an extended layoff since they started their career. That said, the fit on speed figure (ABOVE) and class (AVERAGE+) and with today's Plot (ABOVE) with the Sun/63 SpeedRate, a scenario they have been competitive under in the past. 

The connections will also be represented with #6 HAWKS CREEK returning from their layoff win in N1 allowance company back on 5/29. They held upside following a TROUBLE+ trip in the Hawthorne Derby closing out 2024 and while capable here, a top effort, perhaps even a new top could be required to win. 

Both #2 ANOTHER MYSTERY and #4 LAMPLIGHTER JACK remain on this circuit noting they were both entered and scratched from an open $50k claiming race on 6/27 at CD to run here instead. The two have alternative runstyles and worth a follow to how the turf plays earlier on the card as last Sunday the course tend to favor runners with tactical speed - that would be the pace advantage edge for LAMPLIGHTER JACK with ANOTHER MYSTERY one that tends to move from further off the pace. 

C. Block will also show up live with #7 TOWERING STORM coming back from a solid effort in their local return on 5/11. They had some interesting adversity in that allowance trip jumping over something into the first turn and flipped leads over the tracks late in hand as stablemate ANOTHER MYSTERY took over late. 

#7 LOVEOULIKE CRAZY should be sitting on a peak effort returning to Hawthorne and key class DROP in this third start back off the layoff. She has followed a similar improving type pattern in the past and over this course. F. Reyes takes over and while looking for their first win paired, the two have never finished worse than 4th in four starts.

#8 ORNERY ANGEL also following a third off pattern and first off the claim could suggest intent here. While her form must turnaround and revert back to prior season to compete as the 2025 number sit below par. This could be the time and place, given the claim, the 37-days since and slight step up and ship for this race. Her form at 5.5f is also solid and the shorter sprint distance is a handicapping factor that must be respected.

Looking at the Plot in the finale, there is a "BOS" best-of-the-speed scenario with the two projected pacesetters #4 LOST SUNSET and #6 HONOR HIS HALF looking to duel and present some separation on the others. If this race were at 6f that could keep come others closer though the shorter 5.5f distance must be respected. 

The first run should come from the inside with #1 PALACE MAGIC one that took a LONE lead on 5/25 though perhaps not their ideal trip and does not have to be forced into that role today. #2 HEAVENLY HASH buts back to a sprint and similar conditions from that 5/25 race, recording the higher B- OptixGRADE in the show result. 

3-DIAMONDS JOY could get the right trip. Dominant claiming winner of last couldn’t get by the speedy She’s Inthearmynow the last time they met but there could be a more contested pace in this race, possibly setting up for this mare’s sneaky late move. 5-SHE'S INTHEARMYNOW finds an easier spot. She’s hasn’t been quite good enough to tackle allowance company but she was a convincing winner the last time she took on rivals like these, including beating the top choice. 6-ECHO DREAMER wired the field in last under constant pressure but she’s been just as successful when coming from off the pace.  

5-TRAIL RIDGE ROAD could make it two in a row. She’s not likely to get the blistering pace ahead of her today but this stakes-winning mare will still have dead aim on the early speed by the time they reach midstretch. It might be worth taking another look at 1-UNION DOLLY. She really hasn’t shown a lot of it lately but she might be the quickest runner in this field. She made a nice middle move to get the lead in last but couldn’t sustain it. She might be able to steal this if they send her from the gate. 2-PRANCIPANTS is another who could be worth another look. She’s been racing against cheaper with mixed success over the last couple years but she was very good here on the last in 2023 and was meeting runners similar to these. Could awaken. 

5-LATE BLACKSMITH drops to the lowest level of his career. Can’t like the way he folded in his last two starts but have to figure that he’ll stay more competitive in this easier field. 4-TALLAPOOSA just finished second at this level. He wasn’t a match for the winner but he did finish well clear of the rest of the field. He’s finished third of better in four of his five races this year. Should be a major player once again. 3-CAN MAN DO needed last. He displayed good early speed but simply ran out of gas in his first start of the year. Figures to challenge for the early lead once again and might stay close throughout. 

4-OY GEVALD “should” be the one to beat. I say should because he never ran on turf and he’s coming off a dull effort. But this well-bred runner had some very good races at Oaklawn, his speed figures tower over those of his rivals, and he’s training well toward his local debut. Trainer Chris Block sends out a pair in 2-URBAN RULER and 6-NO AH A. Urban Ruler tired badly in his debut in Indiana but he was racing for a different barn then. Turns back in distance while making his debut for the Block barn. Would expect him to stay engaged far longer in this spot. No Ah A makes his debut off a series of good drills. Think he’ll be sent early. 1-MIDTERM might be the quickest of the group. 

8-HOODLUM makes his local debut. He’s been pretty successful (won seven of 30) races while racing on tougher circuits. He’s capable of running well on or off the lead though with all the speed in this race would expect his rider to be tracking the pace and to come on late. 5-DICK BEST and 3-CHAOS REIGNS could be fighting for the lead from start to finish. Dick Best just blew away a similar field by nine lengths while Chaos Reigns was equally impressive taking his last two over rivals at this level. 9-READTHECLIFFNOTES and 7-CALIBRATE will be racing at their lowest levels ever. 

Another tough race to try to figure out. 2-WILDWOOD SICILIAN is far from a strong choice but he’s always done well on this track when racing at the right level. He showed little at Prairie Meadows in last but he was in against tougher and making his first start of the year. 1-I GOT NO MONEY isn’t the quickest member of this field but he’s not likely to be far off the pace. He’s another shipping in from Prairie and another dropping to an easier level. 6-GAVEL has decent speed but he’s probably better when coming from out of it. He’s had four local starts, winning two and finishing second in the other pair. 7-TWIRLING ROSES is a nine-time winner at Hawthorne. He had excuses in his last two but he did win here three races back, the last time he was in the right spot.  

2-ANOTHER MYSTERY is always tough, especially on this course. He’s had eight local turf starts. He won six of those and finished second in the other two. He’s approaching $1,000,000 in earnings. The pace will set up perfectly for his late run. He’ll have dead aim at the lead by the time they get to mid-stretch. 4-LAMPLIGHTER JACK might display the best sustained speed. There are a couple other runners in here that might be quicker but they are making their first start of the year and could run out of gas sooner. 7-TOWERING STORM, stablemate of top choice, is lightly races compared to the rest of the field but he did come in second to his teammate the last time he raced and he might be able to do it again.  

4-LOST SUNSET was in too tough in last and getting off to a bad start surely didn’t help. But she’s been good when racing at levels like this. Wakes up with the drop. 6-HONOR HIS HALF is likely to go right for the lead. She does tend to tire late and she’ll probably be fighting top choice for the front end but wouldn’t be surprised if she broke on top and took it all the way. 5-WILDWOOD QUEEN unleashed an impressive late move to win her last start. Meets a tougher group today but a similar late move today would place her squarely in the hunt.