Handicapper Tips & Picks

Four, possibly five of these six runners want the early lead. I’m thinking that sets things up for a closer. The question is how Giles will ride 5-MON AMIE FUZZIE. They won their last race, taking the lead soon after the first quarter. But they would have to fight for the lead in this race. However, he might be even better when coming from off the pace. If they take back early and save their best run for late, they could win their second in a row. 3-LAND MARK DEAL is in poor recent form but he’s turning back in distance which could get him turned around. He might be the best late runner in the field and the pace will set up. Could surprise. We know 1-WINGING WAYS wants the lead. He wired the field in last when meeting similar after narrowly losing his previous start with a similar pace scenario. If he scares the other front runners off early, he just might be able to wire his second field in a row.  

I’m thinking 4-DEL Rayo might be the best of the speed. He hasn’t had many chances, or a lot of luck, on dirt but he’s making his first start for this barn and they win about 38% of the time when runners debut for them. He does tend to run out of gas late but maybe that will change for his new barn. 1-HOODLUM ran well to finish third in his local debut. That race was probably considerable tougher than this one. He’s a versatile runner with the ability to run well on or off the pace. Might be good enough. 5-EVERDOIT seems likely to come on late. He finished in the money versus similar in last two in Ohio. Might be able to run them all down.  

Certainly not in love with 4-PONCHO ATTACK with 23 races and only the one win but we at least know he handles turf sprints and we can be pretty sure that he’s going to come running late. 8-IDIOSYNCRASIES might not be the best of the speed but he’s quick enough to challenge for the lead and he has shown more staying power than many of the rest. He finished third in his lone turf race, a maiden claimer in Indiana late last year. Could better that today. 6-SHTARKER isn’t in the best of form but he might not have to be at his best to win against this field. Welcome back Diego Sanchez.   

5-OY GEVALD appears to be in the right spot. He didn’t seem all that comfortable on turf in last and he wasn’t a fan of the nine-furlong distance in his previous start at Oaklawn. Heard good things about him early in the meet. Guessing it will be his graduation day. There are three first timers in the race with outstanding drills and all race for high-percentage barns but think I’ll go with 6-O' PATRICK for second. The other two first timers might have faster drills but this barn doesn’t often work their horses this quickly. The two Donato owned Hernandez trained runners, 2-ANTHONY THE GREAT and 4-TONYS KINGDOM have been working mostly in company and popping bullets. Both look fully prepared to compete for top prize.  

Illinois-bred turf maidens are often pretty tough to handicap, though this race is likely to feature a pretty heavy favorite. However, I’m going in a different direction. 3-DAISY MAE ATTACK has never been close in any contest and there are no huge reasons to think she’ll improve enough to win this. However, she’s coming off her best race by far. She finished fifth in that race after making a big late move. But she was blocked late and was unable to sustain that bid. She’s bred to be a turf sprinter. She races Lasix for the second time. Might be poised to surprise. 8-SADIE'S SWEET RIDE will be favored and might deserve it. She just finished second versus similar. However, she only beat top pick by a couple lengths and she had a clean trip. 2-TIZMEONEMORETIME has had a few recent turf races against Illinois breds and she ran well in all, including a third-place finish against the boys in last.   

Wide open race but leaning to 7-AMERICAN CAUSE. He is stretching back out and could prove to be the best of the speed. 4-NEW YEAR SUPRISE Just dominated lower-level claimers. HE might be taking on tougher but his speed figures suggest he could be the fastest of these. 5-QUALITY STORM can’t be ignored. He won a sprint decisively in last but he also finished second against better non-winners of two in his lone route in Indiana last year. Definite speed threat. 

3-LADY HELENA is the best of the speed. She’s been in too deep since getting claimed by this barn but she’s dropping back to the right level for this. Guessing she’ll grab the immediate lead and never look back. 4-GHAALEB'S RANGER just crushed similar rivals. She tracked the pace early but hit the afterburners coming out of the turn and just ran away from the field. If top pick doesn’t make the lead easily, she could repeat. 8-NO NANNETTE NO is back to the right level. She was in much too tough in last and her previous race was on the lawn. She dominated the field, including many of these rivals, the last time she raced at a level similar to this.  

10-COMISKEY PARK never won on turf in seven starts but all of his turf races have been versus better. He’s coming off a sharp victory against similar rivals on dirt but think he’ll do fine in the transition back to turf. 4-ZOOMBIE was favored in last at this level but considerable traffic issues cost him dearly. The pace will set up for him. Can run them down. 1-SHAKE UP has had three turf races and he ran well in all of them. He’s versatile and can handle any pace. Figures prominently. 

Not crazy about 1-SAN ANTON but at least he has a history of running well on the law. Takes blinkers off for his second local try and his second race for this barn. Stretches out. Has a good chance to lead throughout. 9-RAGNOW finished second in his lone turf race. He was beaten by 15 lengths but the winner of that race went on to win his next start while this runner was clear of the rest of the field. 8-CASH APP MIKE is likely to display good speed. He tired late in his turf route debut but he had to fight for the early lead. Might get away unchallenged today.