Handicapper Tips & Picks

Unless something crazy happens, it’s hard to imagine 2-ANTHONY THE GREAT not getting the lead. However, it’s possible that he won’t lead all the way. He tired badly in his debut, on dirt at this distance, but did last longer in last on the weeds. However, that race was five furlongs. It’s possible that he’ll be vulnerable late. 1-ABUNDANCE races for the first time in over three months. However, he has been training consistently and he’s turning back to the shortest distance of his young career. He’ll be coming on late. He has been competitive at nine furlongs, we’ll see if he can be at six. 4-FINAL COUNTDOWN improved with each passing start. His last race, his first of the year, was on turf and he finished third. Gets first Lasix for this start. He finished behind top choice in last but was making up ground late. The extra distance of this race could work in his favor.  

3-CASH APP MIKE has had three turf races and showed some improvement with each passing start. He finished second in last. We know he can get the distance, Has a good chance to graduate. 7-CHARLEY PRIDE races for this barn for the first time. He exits California breds to take on foes at this low level. It is interesting that his first two races were on the lawn but they never ran him back on that surface while dropping him down the claiming ladder. Wonder why. 4-SAN ANTON would normally be my top choice with the return to grass but his last race was just so bad that it would be hard to pick him with any confidence, especially since he finished second in his previous race, also on dirt. But all his grass races were against better. Wouldn’t be at all surprised if he woke up and won this.  

It would be hard to pick against 2-PHILIPSBURG in this race, though think he’s far from a lock. He just beat a field when dropped in last to race at the lowest level of his career. This field in somewhat tougher but the pace will set up for him once again. 4-RACARINO certainly figures. He’s been razor sharp all year with two wins and four seconds from six races. Like top choice, he’s likely to be tracking the pace. If he makes the first move, he could easily win this. Can’t ignore 3-WINGING WAYS. He’s easily the quickest member of this field. He’s been running out of gas but on any given day he’s capable of leading from flag fall to finish.  

3-I O FEDRO had been losing races by so many lengths that it was hard to imagine him running the way he did in last. Even though he didn’t win, I thought the race was better than any of his previous starts, including his maiden victory. He meets many of the same rivals this time. It’s possible that he’ll pass them all late. 6-MONEY AGENT can surprise. I think he’s the quickest member of this field. He wired a maiden race two starts back. Might be able to do the same thing here. Not really sure what to make of 5-COOL LESTER SMOOTH. He has a great turf pedigree but didn’t show a thing in his lone race on it. But he meets easier for this try. He just dominated maiden claimers on dirt. Maybe he’ll do the same thing here.  

2-GAME SANTA meets winners for the first time but he has improved with each passing start. I had expected him to try to wire the field in last, his first try around two turns, but instead they had him stalk the early pace and make his move late. It turned out to be the right decision. Takes on somewhat tougher in his first start versus winners but with slight continued improvement he can win right back. 1-LICENSE TO STEAL has had two local dirt races this year and he ran well in both of them. He did finish far back in his other two 2025 races; one here on turf and one downstate. But he does own good dirt speed and we know he can get the distance. 6-T LAW and 4-BYWORD could be fighting for the lead.  

Not in love with any in here and there are quite a few runners with speed but think 10-WHATDOYOUTHINKMARK has a legitimate chance to wire the field. He has mostly raced in shorter sprints but he did finish second in his only race at the distance. Might take it all the way today. 7-CANYON RUN drops. He hasn’t shown a lot of “finish” in recent races but maybe he can take advantage of the probable fast pace of this race. 1-MAN ON ATTACK sometimes fires but sometimes he doesn’t. He’s been very good at this distance. He can close very well on one of his “on” days. He’ll be tough if one of those days is today. 

1-LUCKY'S LOOKIN LEFT returns to her favorite track and stretches back out. She’s been only mildly competitive downstate but she won the last time she raced here and finished second in the race before that. 4-DESSERT FIRST is in better form than most in here. She finished in the money in three of last four. But she is facing runners that are far more accomplished while she is still seeking her third career victory. It’s not impossible but it could be a tough task. 5-SILKY WARRIOR showed little in last but she had been in decent form prior to that race. She's a definite bounce back candidate. 

Can make a legit case for many of these runners but think I have to wind up with 7-EVEN THE WIND. He’s consistently in the hunt and there should be an abundance of speed ahead of him to set up for his late run. Hie stablemate 9-TOWERING STORM might be a bit more versatile, able to compete on or off the pace, but his last couple races leave a lot to be desired. 3-ALL CHOKED UP looks like the quickest of these but he has had only one race this year and that took place back at the beginning of July. He’s had some strong drills since but facing all the other speed in this race could take the wind out of his sails. 2-RIVER REDEMPTION is meeting better but he won four of his five Hawthorne turf races and he has generated the highest recent speed figures of any in here.