Handicapper Tips & Picks

Have qualms about selecting 4-POLTERER. He pulled up in his last start and he’s being dropped to a level less than the level from which he was claimed. He also had only a couple drills since that February race. But this savvy trainer is having a great meet, he’s utilizing his most often used rider, even though the other horse he entered in this race is the morning-line favorite, and he sports a 38%-win rate with his first-time claims. 7-BETWITHBOTHHANDS, the stablemate of top choice, would be a huge favorite if this race was on turf but he’s had limited experience on dirt and that experience hasn’t been too successful. Still, he has some class and this could be the easiest field he ever faced. 6-ROTARY DIAL improved greatly since getting claimed by this barn, if you toss out his two turf attempts. He displayed good speed and stamina in his two dirt starts for this barn and he was in against starter allowance company in both those races. There are obvious questions about my top two selections but pretty sure this gelding will be right there at the finish.  

4-LOST SUNSET seems most likely. She led most of the way in last and held on for second, while meeting many of these same rivals. Might take it all the way today. 1-GO STORMIN GIRL could wind up vying for the front end though she doesn’t necessarily need the early lead. She went off as the odds-on favorite in her last race but ran out of gas late and finished about four lengths behind top choice. But she’s certainly capable of turning the tables in this one. 3-HEAVENLY HASH might be the only one capable of coming on late in this speed-filled race.  

With the probable scratches, this race looks like a contest between main-track only speedsters 9-EMPIRE BUILDER, 8-PATS PROPERTY and closer 6-PROTONIC POWER, though not sure what other runners will stay in to race on the main track. Going to give a slight edge to Empire Builder since he just crushed a bit easier field. Pats Property hasn’t raced in three months and his drills during that time have been sparse. Protonic Power was entered for turf but he’s been far better on the main track. He raced in fifth throughout in his last start but that was his first race in over a year and it was contested on turf. There’s a good chance that Empire Builder (his uncoupled stablemate) and Pats Property will lock up in a speed duel and enhancing his chances, 

Very nice race with an equal assortment of speed runners and closers and a couple versatile enough to handle any pace. I’m leaning toward 3-ELI'S PROMISE. He’s one of the versatile runners. He’s quick enough to race right on a torrid pace but still able to finish with authority. 4-INDYVILLE ran well in all his starts but seemed to kick it into another gear in last when making his first local start of the year. Usual speed runner was taken off the pace for last but made a big late move to capture victory, beating top pick in the process. Might be able to do it again. 6-CLYDE'S GREEN GO is another with the versatility to handle any pace. He’s been racing at Fairmount lately, but he’s had plenty of local success, including a win in his first start of 2025.  

No idea who will scratch from this race but certainly expect 13-BALLYBAY BEAUTY to stay in since she was entered for the main track. She crushed $20k maiden claimers on dirt in her last start. Few of her rivals in this race have ever shown anything on dirt. 11-SHARP ATTACK was enter for turf but she had never raced on that surface so expect her to stay in the race. She’s stretching out today and could be the quickest from the gate. She tired badly in her only previous two-turn race but she’s older now and in a different barn. Might not get caught. 9-SAFECRACKER SUE was entered for turf but her lone win came here on dirt two races back. Many of her previous races have been around two turns so would expect her to be able to stay competitive throughout. 

Wide open race. 7-LUCKY SHOT might have the edge. He’s been in good competitive form all year while racing here, at Keeneland and in Tampa. He has competitive speed but still finishes well. Slim pick. 6-SUPREMELY has been in great form since getting claimed by this barn. He won three of his six races for them, including an allowance victory at Fairmount in his last start. 4-WE MISS ARLINGTON is hard to gauge. He is coming off a dull effort downstate but he won four of his prior five races. However, in his good races he was ridden by Mitch Murrill and that rider is no longer available here. 

3-CHAOS REIGNS could bounce back. He tired badly in his last start but he wound up fighting for the lead through blistering early fractions. Doubt if he’ll be pushed so hard early in this one. 7-CALIBRATE took advantage of the aforementioned blistering fractions and flew late to capture last. That was also the easiest field this graded-stakes-placed runner ever met. He isn’t likely to get that kind of pace again today but he could do it on class alone. 1-EYE DEE KAY, coming out of the same race as the top pair, just missed. He moved right behind Calibrate and fought hard with that rival down the stretch but just could get past. Maybe today. 

7-CONI'S COUP S is in terrible form but he’s dropping many levels for this race. He’s never going to be far off the pace and might be capable of leading throughout at this level. 4-SHADY MCGEE certainly figures. In his 51 races he had only three on dirt and his last, a second-place finish, was his first ever on a fast dirt track. Can improve from the experience. 2-MIDNIGHT BLUE NOTE, like top pick, was primarily a turf runner for most of his career but he has also had some success on dirt. Good tactical speed should keep him in the hunt throughout.  

1-SAWYER FOX’s last three races were on turf but he was a nine-length maiden winner the last time he ran on dirt. No guarantee he’ll stay in the race and he is likely to face plenty of early company if he does but do think he’s capable of putting the rest of them away. 9-VINEGAR HILL is the main speed threat. He displayed very good speed in his two races at Fairmount this year, winning last, after he wired the field to break his maiden at Churchill last year. It could be an interesting contest on the front end if both runners stay in. 5-BALADINE also has some speed but think he is more likely to be tracking the pace, hoping to pick off tiring front runners.