Handicapper Tips & Picks

One interesting note...four of the five runners in this race are homebreds. Of course, we’ll start with the two Rivelli-trained runners. 4-CHIEF MORTER will likely get most of the action since he’ll be utilizing the barns primary rider and the fact that he popped a bullet gate drill, outworking older and runners not breaking from the gate. However, until that work, the other Rivelli runner, 5-CHI TOWN PRINCE had better, and more, drills. Don’t ignore. Trainer Chris Block is having an outstanding meet and the works on his first timer, 1-BIG D, suggest he has another ready to win. 2-BRIDGE CLASSIC, the only purchased runner, has also been training well. Perez-trained runners often need a race but this one works like he’s ready. 3-MY LITTLE SOLIN is another with decent drills but like Bridge Classic, he’s only had four works and none longer than three furlongs. Would be too surprised if he needed a race or two. 

1-WILDWOOD SICILIAN could win right back. He gamely fought for the lead in last, never more than a length back, and still managed to draw clear late. That was his second race off the layoff. He could be even tighter for this race. 2-GAVEL hasn’t raced since the end of April but he has always been successful off similar layoffs. He just missed in last after winning his previous start. Beaten favorite could make amends. Not sure there will be enough pace to set up for 3-CORTESE but he’s capable of closing with a rush. He had some traffic woes in his last at Fairmount but he dominated a group similar to this in his previous start. 

No standouts in this race but will go with 7-NAGY AND DA BEARS. He was beaten as the favorite two races back, the last time he raced at this level, but he was making his first start of the year. Came back with a strong second-place finish versus allowance company in last. Drops back in for a tag. Could be the first to cross the wire. 1-NEON DEION finished well behind top choice the last time they met but he also beat him, finishing first, three races back. He’s capable of running well on or off the lead and he’s equally adept on turf or dirt. 5-MANCHESTER is the sleeper. He’s had two turf races and ran well in both. Not sure I trust the speed figures from where he’s been racing but he just might turn out to be the best of the speed. 

4-NEW YEAR SURPRISE always faced better. He has been racing primarily on turf lately and the majority of his success came on the weeds but his recent dirt races have been far better than his recent efforts on grass. 6-SIXWILLBERICH is still eligible for a non-winners of three but he possesses some of the highest recent dirt speed figures of any in here, with the exception of a terrible effort at Fairmount last time out. He finished 3rd at the $12,500 claiming level here two races back. A return to that form would make him a top contender in this spot. Only two of 1-SHADY MCGEE’s 50 races were contested on dirt and both were run on “off” tracks. He failed to make much of an impact in those races. However, he’s dropping to the lowest level of his career for this event. Would be a mistake to count him out. 

3-REIMAGINE is a threat on turf or on dirt, if this race does come off the lawn. She finished up the track in last but finished second in her prior two races. Drops in claiming price. Could finally earn her diploma. 12-BALLYBAY BEAUTY is entered for main track only but there is a chance that this race will come off the turf. This would be her first two-turn dirt race but she narrowly missed the last time she ran on dirt and she should be able to improve from the experience. 7-D'ARGONAUT just missed in a turf sprint. That was her first race of the year. She finished up the track in her only other race but that was a maiden special on dirt in New York. She might thrive on this circuit.  

8-WINGING WAYS moves up a notch but he should still be difficult to beat. He's easily the quickest of this group. Makes his second start after a layoff and only his third start of the year. Catch me! 1-TALLAPOOSA will be tracking the pace.  He had been in competitive form but this beaten favorite of last was acting up prior to the race and was reluctant to load. Using up that kind of energy before a race often results in a poor effort. Can bounce back and be a top contender if he relaxes. 2-ANCIENT MAN closed well to finish second when they turned him back in distance for last. He went off at over 30-1 in that race. He’s likely to be a big price again today. Wouldn’t leave him out of the vertical gimmicks. 

2-EUCLID AVENUE drops back to an easier level. He was simply overmatched in last and finished like it but he won a $12,500 claimer two races back and he’ll be meeting an easier field than that today. Not exactly sure why these connections claimed 3-DANVILLE from last, they generally run more high-profile horses, but this old timer might still have some life left in him and it could come out for his newest barn. He can close a ton when he fires. 1-FLYING SAMURAI has been the model of consistency lately. You know he’s going to be heading right to the lead. He led from the start in his last four races, winning one and finishing second in the other three. Should be right there once again.