Handicapper Tips & Picks

1-HATCHET CREEK completes the sprint-route-sprint cycle. He’s always been far better sprinting. Can run them down. I personally wouldn’t bet 3-STRANGE ARRANGE, other than in a horizontal wager, but he is dropping many levels to run in this race and is likely to go off as the big favorite. 4-ALIBI IKE drops and moves back to the main track. He hasn’t been in the best of form but he fits well with these and his chances would seem to increase greatly if it happens to rain.

5-SAN ANTON raced only once last year and only once this year but he’s dropping sharply while making his first start for this barn. His previous races were in Europe and Southern Cal. He’s obviously meeting easier. Could come alive. 1-MONEY AGENT tired when stretched out for last but he narrowly missed two races back when he ran at this distance. 3-ALDANTE drops back to the right level. He ran out of gas in last when taking on maiden specials in a longer race but he finished a close third in his previous start after fighting for the lead.

1-HONOR HIS HALF seems most likely but she could be vulnerable again. She ran well in all her local starts. However, she just seems to run out of gas in the final yards of her races and she’s likely to face plenty early competition. There’s a good chance she’ll hang on but an equally good chance that she’ll be passed late. If 2-WILDWOOD QUEEN runs the way she did two races back, she could pass them all.  However, she doesn’t always fire. Maybe the switch in riders will do the trick. 4-GOLDEN NOTE improved enough to score in a non-winners of two last time out. Probably meets a bit tougher in this non-winners of three but not so much tougher than she can’t make it two in a row.

1-DELIZIOSA will try to wire her second field in a row. She finished third here two races back but was in against a tougher group. Shipped to Iowa to win her last at this level. She isn’t the only speed in the race but she could be the best. 5-ORNERY ANGEL switched barns for last and responded with a narrow victory. Although she didn’t win that race by much, she was moving well late and that could hint that she’ll finish even stronger at today’s longer distance. 4-DIXIE PENNY finished nine lengths behind top choice the last time they met but she is quite capable of bouncing back with a better effort. She’s been successful both on and off the pace. Could be a threat here either way. 3-MISS SAIPAN has been ridder by Gonzalez two times this meet and she won both those efforts. 2-WRITTEN CONSENT raced competitively versus better in last couple and could be very tough with the drop to the right level. 

5-CANYON SHADOWS needed last. He ran well to finish third behind a couple of these. If that race would have been at today’s distance, he could have finished second or maybe even won. Might be poised to surprise. It would be no surprise if 3-VIA DEL CORSO came right back to win again. He beat top pick by a couple lengths, giving him three victories in his four local starts. He’ll likely to be racing right off the early lead and his good position could allow him to move first. 4-VERRAZANOINTHESKY just finished second to Via Del Corso and a couple lengths ahead of Canyon Shadows. However, he hadn’t had a race like that in a year. Not sure he’ll be able to do it two times in a row.

2-JOE THE TAILOR hasn’t had as much turf experience as some in here but he did run well in both grass attempts, including a sharp win last time out. This field might be slightly tougher than his last but think he’s up to the challenge. 1-WHATDOYOUTHINKMARK tired late in last but that race was a furlong farther. He has the speed to lead throughout but probably doesn’t need the early lead to be formidable late. 8-MIDNIGHT SPECIAL’s ability to come on late should come in handy in this speed-filled race. However, it’s been nearly two months since his last start, he had only one published drill during that time (and it came a month after his race, and it’s been nearly a month since that drill. Don’t know if he’s fully prepared for this contest. 

Wide-open event but I will go with 5-MILLARD’S SMILE. He’s always been good here and is coming off two straight dominating victories and wins in four of his last five races. The pace should set well for his late run. Can stretch his win streak to three. 6-LITTLE STEVEN’s speed figures lag behind those of many of his rivals but he won his last three races. He was claimed from last by a barn that scores with over 36% of their first-time claims. Loveberry stays aboard for his new connections. 7-CONI’S COUP lost his 2025 debut by 36 lengths but he’s dropping to his lowest level ever. He’s fast from the gate. Runners from his barn often improve in their second starts after layoffs, winning 38% of the time.

Not in love with 5-SADIE’S SWEET RIDE but she races for the top turf barn and she goes from open maiden specials into a race restricted to Illinois breds. 8-CHELA was favored in last against this type after an unexpected good showing against open company in her career debut but she displayed only brief speed before giving up. If she runs the way she did in her debut she would probably win this but, in any case, she has to show more than she did in last. 6-HARPER BRIANA finished second in her last two races, including a second against runners similar to these in last, her turf debut.