Handicapper Tips & Picks

From a pace standpoint, ML favorites #3 UNWRITTEN CODE and #6 ROMAN EMPRESS should dictate the pace and perhaps that is enough to carry in this spot, however neither present value in their expected role on the board. 

#4 DISCREPENCY a slight alternative given an X_FLOW upgrade along with the extra half-furlong. #7 OUTER SUNSET is the most intriguing of the group along with the slight addition of ground from the 7/19 common race they move to an "outer" post and after taking KICKBACK- while racing COVER that post change presents a further positive. 

Trainer P. Eurton should be kept on the radar a barn hitting at a higher percentage this meet (2-for-2 on the 8/15 Friday card) and positive ROI - they show up with a pair in here both second start of the meet: #6 VANCOUGAR moving off the rail with a rider change and second start back off a long 670 day layoff when WASTED energy prerace broke SLOG and SAVED ground to the B-/show outcome; #10 ANMER HALL also B- OptixGRADE despite the change in outcome from the 7/18 common race noting TROUBLE in running. 

#9 KANGAROO COURT scratched from the 7/18 common race and given a little more time as they make their way back around and the placement at the least suggests intent while Class and Speed fit on par. 

Upgrade a group of second time starters: #4 DATS MS. BLAME should benefit from the sprint debut as a PREP showing run making a WIDE MOVE and even project a rider change noting TACTIC- showing run in spots and not asked for their best on the day, or even intent in the opening weekend MSW event.

#10 AUTHENTICALLY was GREEN in their HS Indy debut back on 5/26 showing run in spots from the rail and behind open length 8-5 pacesetting chalk winner - and 2x next out statebred winner, Kontiki. Class will be put to the test with the circuit switch though noted overall form has held up from that first start and there has been intent for this circuit surface/distance entered and scratched from a similar spot on 7/26. 

Both #11 MISS QUEUE and #12 HYPERGAMY requiring some racing luck to draw in off the AE though both project to improve with the STRETCH out in distance. 

"NICE" LIVE LONGSHOTS: #6 MISS BOUGIE brings upside with the class DROP and buried form along with a competitive effort and figures recorded over the innercourse on 7/12 - B- OptixGRADE with a higher par and VF early/late pace. They are further upgraded with a rider change especially following the TACTIC- in the recent 8/2 start making a CLOSE after the SLOG into a Slow early/late pace, again with a higher par. #9 TALLAWAH brings upside off the three starts to date: a TRAFFIC trip on debut late last season as a juvenile; returning with a strong GALLOP+ in the 2025 sprint return followed up with a legitimate stumble out of the gate/TROUBLES+ creating an EX - EXCUSE in the 8/2 common race. 

#2 SHE LOVES (Value Key) showed ability recording a solid figure and B on debut making a WIDE MOVE and validated that intial start with the win two weeks later and perhaps too much too soon coming back two weeks later against winners and stretch out in distance for the 2024 season finale - a flow upgrade all things considered. She returned off the 205-day layoff to the turf in the 7/5 2025 debut catching a higher race par depsite racing under similar N2 conditions here and overall not their best chance to compete given the TACTIC- (noted rider change here) following the SLOG with in running TRAFFIC TROUBLE. 

#3 LONGHI looks the part of a runner and given the real deal reasonable stakes test in their second career start. Despite racing GREEN on debut they showed B+ talent overcoming the TROUBLE_S to make a MOVE through TRAFFIC and continued to CLOSE ground pulling away from the others all in a shorter 5.5f sprint distance. Physically they should handle the turf (surface versatile) the intended surface from the debut less than 30-days ago along with a work in between.