Handicapper Tips & Picks

We had a lot of rain between Monday and Tuesday so there is no guarantee this race will be on turf. But, if it does get moved to the main track, 8-END OF INNOCENCE could turn out to be awfully tough. She had some good races at Oaklawn but really kicked into another gear in her local debut after getting claimed from her final Arkansas start. She crushed that field. But they tried her on turf in her next start and she failed miserably. However, if she’s back on dirt for this, I would expect a dramatic wake up. 4-DEAL‘EM AND WEEP is the one they have to beat on turf. Late runner just scored in a NW2 while making her second start of the year. Team of Block and Mojica is winning at 34% for the year. 7-SPICY ITALIAN takes on a bit better but she has been running competitively in recent turf races, finishing in the money in both turf contests this meet. She was beaten as the favorite in both those races. Has a legitimate chance to make amends. 6-OH MACARENA is more versatile than most in here. She never fired against allowance company in last but she beat $14.5 claimers by seven in her previous start. She could be headed right to the lead. 

4-RACETOTHEFINISH takes a substantial drop in class. Speedy runner races without blinkers today after a one-race experiment with them. She tends to run out of gas late but she might just toy with this field at this level. 2-A REAL HERO looks like the best of the rest. Ships back from Fairmount. She’s had seven local races and finished in the money in one of them, including a win here a year ago. She’ll be tracking the fast pace set by top choice. If that rival does her fade, this mare could edge by late. 3-RUNNERS HEAT is usually competitive when racing at this level. She hasn’t been as quick as top choice but she could be leading the second tier of runners. Rider switch could make a difference. 

7-ROAR OF SILENCE might run them down. Lightly-raced filly hasn’t competed in 10 weeks and slightly concerned with her break in training but know this barn wouldn’t run her if she wasn’t ready to compete. 4-JOURNEYIST has yet to win on turf but think her running style will be favored by what should be a contested early pace today. Expecting her to attack late. 5-EMPIRICAL VIEW hasn’t had a lot of success in previous two-turn races but she did look sharp and full of run when winning last at five and a half and would have to think the extra quarter mile of this race would be within her range.  

5-LUNDBERG might have found a bit easier, though not easy, spot. He just finished third in a “key” race with at least the first two finishers going on to win their next starts. He might be the quickest of these if they choose to send him, but he certainly doesn’t need to be on the early lead to win this. 4-CORTESE could have dead aim late. He won the last time he raced and faces a similar pace scenario today. If you like Lundberg coming out of last start you have to at least take a look at 6-FAST JACK. He finished only a nose behind that rival in their last start and had some traffic trouble to overcome.

Can make a far better case against any of the runners in here than a case where they should win but someone has to finish first. 1-POLSKA SUE is coming off a terrible effort, but she was simply in over her head. She was competitive in most races where she faced rivals similar to these. The drop back to the right level could do the trick. On paper, 3-GLAMORA would seem to stand out. However, she’s had a definite issue with layoffs and she’s shipping here from southern California with a subsequent big drop in claiming price and a move to a new barn. She has been training well, however, and might simply finally be in the spot where she belongs. 6-THINK FAST raced at the back of the pack before finally passing one in her lone start. She’s another that changed barns after that race. She’s dropping in class and adding blinkers. She has continued to train well for her new connections. Expecting a far better effort than she displayed in last. 5-SHE’S FIERCE sports slow drills but top-notch connections while making her career debut. She’s bred for the lawn and her barn always places their runners in the right spot to give them the best shot. Don’t overlook.

Not sure what 4-READTHECLIFFNOTES has left in the tank but it could still be enough to win at this level. He’ll probably be racing right off the early lead. Might outlast the rest. 5-GLOBAL EMPIRE wheel back quickly and at the same level after getting claimed from last. He has been pretty consistent throughout his career, stalking the pace and finishing well. Would expect that to continue for his new connections. 8-SIXWILLBERICH doesn’t have a big late move but he usually finishes well. Could grab a late share.

This race is jam packed with early speed. 2-RED RIZZLER might be the only one coming on late. He raced competitively in all his turf sprints, winning last two. Under the radar runner could run by them all in the stretch. 5-SAWYER FOX does look like the best of the speed. Lightly-raced runner was narrowly defeated going seven and a half in his last start. He was favored in that race and is likely to be once again. Could put the rest of the speed away and run away from the field. 1-WHATDOYOUTHINKMARK is one of those likely to be fighting for the lead. He tired late in last couple and could again but he has been a factor in almost all his turf races. Can be again.