Handicapper Tips & Picks

A solid card with three carryovers and a day that trainer Armando Hernandez has a lot of live runners. It starts here with 1-COMISKEY PARK as he drops in to win. He had a nice score two back and should be able to stalk and pounce in here. 5-SAND MOUNTAIN has some versatility as he has run well at Hawthorne. He could run right with the favorite today. 7-ALVIN likely needs some pace to chase. Expect him to settle early and rally in the lane.

Back to back short priced likely favorites for Armando Hernandez as he sends out 6-DIXIE PENNY in this spot. She finds a race that doesn't have a ton of pace as she figures to rate close early and contend throughout. The distance suits as Gonzalez is back in the saddle. 7-FREEDOM ATTACK ran well in her last, rallying late for the win. She will need some pace to chase but the price should be right. 5-JAMAICAN TRAFFIC was a good winner two back. She also looks to provide some value here as she has had past Hawthorne success.

Late Pick 5 carryover of $1,912 here as a pair look to take action. 3-REGAL MAJESTY runs for Joel Berndt as she has looked like a different racehorse since shifting to the turf. She has tactical speed and may find a good stalking position. 4-WILDWOOD ADIOS showed speed in her last, just missing on the wire. The winner came back to score on Sunday. As long as she can avoid dueling with Polska Sue early, she should have a shot. 6-HARPER BRIANA has been solid in recent turf sprints, and now we will see how she handles two turns. She will benefit from the pace in this race as she should come charging late.

The third of the short priced Hernandez favorites is here with 2-STRONGER TOGETHER figuring to take his share of action. His form hasn't been quite as sharp in his last couple which may merit the drop, but he finds a spot where he figures to be very tough. Expect him to rate in the second flight early and rally in the lane. 3-ICE AXE ran a big race two back. He also has some tactical speed and has shown better recent form. Look for him late at a price. 1-MIDNIGHT BLUE NOTE has been pretty consistent. He won on the lead in a race with no pace last out. Look for him to settle back early in here and close ground in the lane.

A very competitive bunch in here as there looks to be a decent amount of early pace. Went to 1-WOODCOCK FLIGHT on top as he comes off a solid effort in his last and should get a good trip from the second flight. His last two have been solid and the price should be right. 8-COMMISSIONER OSCAR faced tougher on the grass here earlier in the meet. He grabbed three victories this summer in Minnesota and comes back fit and ready. 6-BAKENEKO has been very honest in the majority of his starts. He has tactical speed and should get the jump on the closers in the lane.

Not a ton of early speed in here as 6-GRAND ILLUSION should get a good trip. He ran well at this level in his last and battled the entire way in that spot. He makes his second start back off the layoff and runs for a barn that has had an excellent meet. 1-SHADY MCGEE (IRE) will be hoping for some pace upfront as he figures to settle early and rally in the stretch. His main track starts two and three back were solid as he is likely to take a good amount of action in here. 3-PAYNT BY LETTERS has the potential to show some early speed and try to steal this race. He has made just a couple of starts on the year but if he can get back to his races from last summer, he will be quite tough.

A good turf sprint to close out the day. 1-SAWYER FOX has been solid in a pair of starts this year as he figures to be sent from the inside. If he can shake loose from Midterm early, look for him to never look back. 2-SHAKE UP was a good winner here two back. He got away a step slowly in his last which may have compromised him a bit. In here he figures to stalk and pounce in the lane. 5-MIDTERM broke through for the maiden score in his last. He had to battle in that spot as he has a tendency to hang in the lane. Now that he has that win, let's see if he can repeat that performance.