Handicapper Tips & Picks

1-COMISKEY PARK once again proved, in last, that he isn’t a fan of the weeds. But he’s back on dirt for this race while dropping to the lowest level of his career. Might be invincible today. 2-LATIN CASINO would seem to be the only one capable of giving top choice a run for the money but he’s been off over a year and his works have been erratic. 5-SAND MOUNTAIN could turn out to be the best of the speed. 

6-DIXIE PENNY took on tougher in two of her four races since getting claimed by this barn. She showed little in those spots but she won her other two races when running at the right level. Drops back today. Could be headed back to the winner’s circle. 2-LILY'S WOOFY, like top choice, has struggled while meeting better but she’ll be facing claimers today.  This will be her first local start of the year. She always loved this track. Should wake up with a bang. 1-TIME BREAK owns deceptive early speed. Her recent starts weren’t always competitive but she moved into a hotter barn since her last race. Wouldn’t overlook. 

7-TRINITYTHREEINONE could make it two in a row. Recent grad owns a good closing move and most of her rivals in here are more interested in the lead. She can run them down. 3-REGAL MAJESTY makes her local debut. She’s one of many with speed in this field but like the tenacity she showed in her two turf races; fighting all the way and never backing up. Could outlast them all. 8-CALLAS is another likely to come on last. She hasn’t raced on grass for almost a year but she did show some ability in limited turf races in the past. Welcome back Brian. 

2-STRONGER TOGETHER drops. Don’t really expect him to go for the lead but he could if they chose to send him. However, think he’s better when tracking. He’ll be close throughout but could surge past late. Twelve-year-old 1-MIDNIGHT BLUE NOTE scored his 12th victory in his last start. He wired the field in that race. Is likely to try the same tactic today despite all the other speed in the field but it could work again. 8-DANVILLE hasn’t been in the best of form lately but he could be the best closer in this speed-filled race. 

Pretty open race. Doubt if there will be a heavy favorite. I’m leaning toward 1-WOODCOCK FLIGHT. He ran well in all his Hawthorne grass races other than an overly ambitious try in the $150,000 Carey last fall. He was narrowly beaten in his first start of the meet and ran well enough to finish third in last. Might get it all today. 5-MASAI WARRIOR raced well to finish second in his local debut. That was his first start at this level and he closed well to grab second. He had always faced better on the lawn. Could be tough in his second trip over the course. 6-BAKENEKO just missed. He’s moving up a notch but he could easily be the best speed in this race. 10-TEMPER TANTRUM won five of his nine 2025 races but he was claimed from last and there’s no guarantee that he’ll have the same kind of success for his new barn. 

1-SHADY MCGEE has had 53 5aces and only two have been on fast dirt. However, both of them were here and he ran well in both. He is likely to be tracking what promises to be a heated pace. Might be able to edge by late. Not sure what to do with 4-ICE SHARD. He’s taking a pretty severe drop in class. You have to expect him to improve at this level but his speed figures don’t really stand out. 6-GRAND ILLUSION is probably the best of the speed though not by much. The good thing about him is that he doesn’t back down from a challenge. Don’t think he’ll clear the field but there’s a good chance that he’ll be right there every step of the way, 

1-SAWYER FOX gets the nod. She’s been sharp in all three of her turf starts, winning one of them and narrowly missing in the other two, finishing second in each. She owns good speed but also the capacity to come on late. 4-SINE QUA NON might need the start. He’s making his first start of the year, his first start for this barn, and the first outside Southern California. But, his new barn doesn’t really press them to win them to win when fresh. But, he is likely to come flying late. 7-RED RIZZLER might be in a little deep  but he has been surprisingly good in turf races and he generally finishes well. Don’t know if he’s good enough to win this but wouldn’t be too surprised if he finished in the money. 5-MIDTERM is probably the quickest out of the gate but he’s making his first start against winners and could be in a little tough.