Handicapper Tips & Picks

Every runner in here is exiting a turf race but almost all were in good form on dirt prior to last. 2-KELLY'S GIRL only split her turf field in last but she dominated maidens on dirt in her previous start. Coupled with the fact that her barn wins with about 43% of runners going from turf to dirt. Guessing she’ll be tough. 4-DISGUISED DEVIL ran well in every start. She just finished third on turf but she hasn’t finished worse that second in her four races on dirt. 3-WEDNESDAY ADAMS races on dirt for the first time but her drills would seem to imply that it won’t be an issue.  She just wired a maiden field on the lawn. Might try to do the same in her first start against winners. 1-CLOEY ATTACK has been racing mostly on turf recently but two of her three victories came on dirt. She owns decent speed but her last win, her lone turf victory, was scored from off the pace. 5-LALY's speed figures suggest she isn’t as fast as some in here but, other than last on turf, she has been right in the thick of things throughout in her dirt races and she won the two races prior to her turf attempt.  

3-EVEN THE WIND has been in very good form the last couple years. He’s fresh off an allowance victory going seven and a half furlongs but his other two victories have been at this distance. Although he’s leaving allowance company this race is just as tough, or maybe even tougher, than his recent contests. He’ll be coming on late but he might not even be the best closer in this field. Slim pick. 6-SILVER QUARTERS hasn’t had many bad races over the last couple years. Winner of last comes from far back. The runner he beat in last came right back to win his next start. Would be no surprise if he finished first. 5-BETWITHBOTHHANDS is an interesting runner. He finished up the track in last but that was his first start since 2022 and it was a race that was too short. It’s been over two months since that race and his workout pattern is a bit suspect but this former turf stakes winner stretches out to a var better distance. He looks like the best speed. Worth a look.  

4-JET FLIGHT finished first in his last two races, though he was DQ’d from his last win and placed second. He came flying late to get up in time but bothered the runner he nearly beat. He faces many of the same field today. Would expect a similar pace scenario and possibly the same result...minus the DQ. 6-FLYING SAMURI led for most of last in the same race as top choice but just ran out of gas after about six furlongs. Still, he managed to hold on for third. He’s likely to face far less early pressure in this race. Has a chance to hang on if his rider can get him to relax early. 5-ROCKET HOTSHOT never really fired in last but he was coming off a couple month layoff. Late runner might be even more dependent of a brisk early pace than top choice but still expect him to unleash a better effort with a recent race under him.  

This race could be a toss-up between a pair of sharply-dropping runners. 6-FREEDOM LASS and 5-MISS RIVER RAT are both meeting much easier than they have been facing lately. Freedom Lass spent most of her career in southern California.  She had two local starts, one last year and one recently. She finished second here last year but showed little in her 2025 debut. But she probably needed the race. With the class drop and a recent race under her, she should be more competitive. Miss River Rat hasn’t shown anything in three races this year but she’s also dropping and is likely to awaken. 2-GET N TIPSY also drops. She’ll be flying under the radar but she’s always tough when she races at the right level. She won the last time she raced for this claiming price. Can surprise today. 

I’ll go for 3-TIME MUSE for the slight upset. He’s been fairly consistent on the turf and he could be the best closer in a race that likely features a lot of early pace. 2-CANYON STREAK seems a bit more versatile than most of his rivals. Although he owns decent speed, he is capable of finishing with a rush if the pace dictates. He finished third in his barn and local debut. The extra sixteenth mile of this race could enhance his chances.7-BRIT BLITZ is another likely to come on late. He’s had two local turf races. He finished third in his final start of 2024 and won his 2025 debut here. He might be in a little tough but wouldn’t count him out. 

5-STRANGE ARRANGE was claimed from last. Returns at the same level. He’s probably going to be fighting for the lead but looks to be up to the challenge. 3-FINDAWAY makes his first start for this barn. He’s facing stiffer competition that he needs to, he’s still eligible for a straight non-winners of three, but his speed figures might indicate that he’s faster than most. He’s been working well lately. 1-ANCIENT MAN could come along late. Ignore his last start. He had trouble getting out of the gate. But he did finish second in his prior start at this level. 

5-GRAY LIGHTNING should be tough in this spot. Her last six races were against stakes company and she had mixed success in those races. She’s going to have plenty of company on the front end in this spot but the last two times she raced against rivals under conditions similar to this, she crushed the fields. 3-SALLY'S SUPISE can’t be ignored. She’s been in very good form while racing against rivals similar to these. Dating back to December, she’s had three wins and three seconds in her last seven races. The speed figures of 2-VEGAS CONDO suggest that she might be slower than some in here but she dd win both local starts, in April and May, and she’s had some outstanding drills in preparation for her return to racing. 

There doesn’t appear to be any real standouts in this race but 10-STAR BLESSING has faced better runners in both her starts. This $250,000 purchase is bred to love the lawn. Maybe leaving Kentucky will be the trip she needs. 2-POVERTY WITH A VIEW has had three turf races and she ran well in two of them. Makes her local debut. With her good speed she should be in or close to the front end throughout. 5-ACOUSTICAT hasn’t been in the best of form recently but some of her earlier races would make her a top contender in this one. 1-TRIPLE MOON makes her career debut. Her drills have been sufficient for a barn that excels with their turf runners.