Handicapper Tips & Picks

6-LIL CARRIE D adds blinkers for the first time since earlier in her career. She has as many starts as the rest of the field combined but she’s one of the few in here to ever shown much of anything. It might finally be her turn. 2-WILD DREAMS looks like the best speed but she hasn’t been able to carry it the entire distance. But she is relatively lightly raced. She finished third, five lengths behind top choice, in last but might get the best of that rival today. I expect 5-HOLY DAWN to display considerable improvement. She had one start, versus Minnesota maiden specials, last year. She finished in a different time zone from the rest of the field in that spot. But, she’s in a far hotter barn for this race and they drop her to the basement for her first start for them. 

6-BOONE’S PATH came up a little short in last but he was starting for the first time in about 11 weeks. He seems to hold a considerable speed edge over his rivals. With that recent race behind him, he might be able to lead this all the way. 4-MOONRISE DRIVE owns decent speed but he’ll probably just be tracking the pace in this race. If top pick does happen to face unexpected early pressure, a late surge by this runner could allow him to sneak by late. 1-HAWAIIAN HIDEAWAY comes off his best effort in a long time. Stablemate of top choice finished ahead of that rival in their last start. If the other runner isn’t fully ready, this runner might get to the wire first.

7-CALLAS has been in competitive form for months but still in a little deep. This latest drop in class could finally have her at the right spot. Late runner is dependent on an honest pace ahead of her but there should be just enough to set things up. 4-TWO TIMER isn’t exactly quick but she could be the best of the speed. Might outlast the rest. 6-BABE IN THE WOODS will be meeting her easiest field since her maiden win. She’s probably at her best on turf but no low-level NW2 on turf for fillies and mares has gone this meet. She should be competitive at a square price.  

3-BERNIE MAX appears to hold a pretty significant speed advantage. However, he’s been running out of gas in recent races. On the other hand, he was claimed from last and the barn that claimed him won three straight races with him the last time he was under their care. But, he’s also had eight races at Hawthorne without winning once. He’s the choice but with reservations.  1-LINE TO GAIN turns back in distance. He’s had few sprints in his career but he did finish second in his start prior to last, when he turned back to this distance. 5-HATCHET CREEK probably leads the second tier of runners. He’s not as quick as top choice but he should be ready to take over if that rival falters.

It took 29 races for 1-WOLF HUNTER to break his maiden but he did it with a flourish in his last start. That contest was on dirt, in a race scheduled for turf but he has always been thought of as a turf horse and he had many promising efforts on grass in his past. He meets winners for the first time but he is at the top of his game and he might only improve now that he’s had a taste of victory. 9-LICENSE TO STEAL showed none of his previous good speed in last, his first start since getting claimed by this barn but he’s dropping to what should be an easier level. Can improve now that the barn has had more time with him. It’s been years since 7-KINGSBURRY ATTACK broke his maiden but he finished third in a “key” race in last, his first start of the year and his first race for this trainer. Both runners that finished ahead of him in that spot went on to win their next races. Maybe it will be his turn. 

8-TIZ CHINA was favored in her career debut and she ran well but could never catch Boom Boom Bell. But that race should have done her a world of good. She is likely to be favored once again while meeting many of the same runners and a few newcomers and this time she’s the one they are going to have to catch. Trainer Michele Boyce is having a terrific meet and could add to her success with first timer 2-ZEE. This filly with the great Illinois pedigree has been working exceptionally well. Could give top pick all she can handle. 4-ALROSA could be worth another look. She was well beaten in her lone start but that field of two-year-olds couldn’t have been much tougher. The winner of that race was super sharp and the second and third place finishers went on to graduate in their next starts. If this filly moves up at all from her race, she could be poised to surprise.

This race could fall apart if it gets moved to the main track but don’t know if that will happen. On turf, it looks like 1-CANYON STREAK would have the advantage. This well-traveled runner would most likely scratch if the race got shifted to dirt, but he ran well in his two local starts and would probably relish the extra distance of this race. 2-HARD TO FATHOM runs well on either surface but would probably be even tougher on the main track. He just won against turf claimers at a lower level. Can repeat against these. 6-BOURBON LIFE is another likely to be a factor on either surface. Three of his five victories came on turf but his other two were scored on off tracks, from three attempts. He finished second in the other.

7-SHEINTHEARMYNOW looks much the best. This fast mare wired the fields in two of her last three races. She hasn’t been quite effective in recent allowance races but it doesn’t seem likely that any in here will be able to keep up with her. 1-BLACK GINGER hasn’t been in the most competitive form but she has met tougher on a variety of circuits since breaking her maiden. This could be her easiest test since her debut victory. 3-SECRET OPERATION will show some late run and her chances would improve if a fast and contended pace developed.