Handicapper Tips & Picks

#10 YURAK earned the lone B OptixGRADE in the field from their debut last month at DMR while racing GREEN and finishing in a BLANKET at the wire.

#6 HYPERGAMY showed run on debut and projected to appreciate the STRETCH in distance while they found that change for the second start they also found themselves in stakes company pairing up B- OptixGRADES with a subtle trip.

#11 FORTUNATE TRUTH might have to wait for another day sitting on the AE though earned a follow from the debut racing both GREEN and WIDE following the SLOG. They should benefit from the experience/PREP and added ground.

FTS starters for the McCarthy barn worked together from the gate on 9/26 - #2 ISLAND HOME inside with a compact frame and some early speed pressed by #8 CONQUISTADORA to their outside more of a route turf build while the two heads up for the move. 

#2 INVINCIBLE finds class relief and the edge with ABOVE on Speed/Plot. On Surface/Distance they show a clear Q1 Square pace advantage over their pair of main rivals from the ML #5 MYSTIC FLYER and #7 JARAMA chasing. 

This is a race to be flexible and demand value with a strong par for the level and no shortage of contender types. That includes #5 PROOF HE RIDES one that might be dismissed given the recent finishing positions since the layoff. Returning from the layoff they ran a competitive race given the lack of recency and WIDE trip on 7/25 at their likely shorter than ideal distance. The inside coming back on 8/23 forced DUEL, should return to a tracking trip here with the draw, complexion of the field along with the subtle change in distance. 

#5 CARA ROSE is upgraded with the DROP and SHORTER distance returning from the Juvenile Fillies Turf (8f) against open company last month. She was part of the Very Fast early pace before FTQ and NO_PUSH to further upgrade. In addition she holds main track form and figures on par to compete and while shortening up from the mile the extended sprint distance might be an additional positive. 

While #6 LIBERATION earned a B- in the Generous Portion stakes last month, that same B- OptixGRADE was recorded by #2 LINO'S ANGEL with a less than ideal TACTIC- trip making a WIDE MOVE and projects value given LIBERATION as the expected heavy favorite. 

#4 MAAZ brings upside off the stateside series of races. The local debut in June was compromised after the TROUBLE_S making a RUSH into a Very Fast early pace. They raced X_FLOW from the opposite side coming back in the 8/3 La Jolla Stakes upgraded with the race shape and B- OptixGRADE with all things considered. They can be further upgraded off the subtle trip (TACTIC-) and WIDE while racing as the only 3yo against older on 9/4 and finds that key change returning to age restricted company. 

#3 BREVE has spent most of their career in Snowflake Contention races something that changes here with the Sun rating. The only time they did not race in a Snowflake was the Fire last August at SR resulting in a win. While they have had the lower Contention rating they have had higher SpeedRate similar to today including the two recent DMR starts returning competitive races under similar par and bringing in current form for this third start of the current cycle. 

Longshot #1 DONEMESSWITHTESS is lighter on Class (Below) though on the Plot along with BREVE sits as a Q4 Surface/Distance Square to upgrade with today's race shape. This marks their second start back off the layoff and reasonable to project a move forward in that current cycle. 

Trip will be key with the noted race shape for #2 LADY MONTCLAIRE one that otherwise brings in for for this level doing back to the races from earlier this season, the 1/3 win. 

Given the race shape (Fire/70 SpeedRate) that could play against #3 KING ELVIS and #9 ADAPTED, #2 BRITISH ARTILLERY appears the most likely in that scenario. #7 DREAMS AND SCHEMES should present value to include with today's race shape with form and figures that fit. While numbers and class and lighter on the other Q4 Square - #8 TRUE SHOT they could be given some longshot inclusion.