Handicapper Tips & Picks

#9 GOLDEN GAMBLE showed ability first out with a competitive effort on debut with an outside post (WIDE) and tough two-turn distance. They stepped up with the MSW win and improved figure wheeling back for the second start just 27-days later. From there they went to the FG and stakes company with perhaps a subtle "excuse" in the Untapable Stakes MANIC prerace bucking and kicking in the paddock and despite that behavior turned in a credible B- OptixGRADE and again improved number in the Silverbulletday noting the WEATHER impacted track conditions and TROUBLE trip. The 9/6 return should be a good starting point and if following the form cycle pattern starting off their career, they should be sitting on a peak effort here. 

#6 GREEN LIGHT fits in terms of Class/Speed and timing to be sitting on go returning to KEE. They were dominant closing out 2024 with the B+ N1 allowance win and ran a big race off the bench as part of the Very Fast early/late back to hold as the BOS while WIDE and RUSH after the TROUBLE. That effort with some projected regression could have played a role and fit coming out of the KYD event while refamiliarizing with J. Ortiz, the rider aboard aboard today. 

#10 SIMPLY JOKING showing some confidence for this placement coming back off the layoff and right into graded stakes company. She has been training forwardly to prepared for this race, looks race ready (key work 10/5) and making the trip from west to run at KEE and for the 7f, return to one turn distance for a positive trending barn. 

#4 PLAYMEA TUNE brings in current form with the series of B- OptixGRADES in the current Tapeta cycle while projecting a peak effort third off here. They put in a strong CLOSE following the in running TROUBLE in part to the TACTIC- in the Bold Venture (G3) back on 8/16 paired with the route conditioning last month in the Durham Cup (G3) to step up today returning to their preferred one turn, extended sprint distance. 

#11 BOURBONONAHOLIDAY worth a longshot look returning from the layoff and could be dismissed with that in play along with the recent running lines and finishing positions. Going back to their debut last September recorded a BTL/EX and coming back this year showed progression as a 3yo. They were given a flow upgrade (Fast/Very Fast) on 5/11 projecting to IMPROVE off the 5/30 visuals and upgraded again from 6/20 making a WIDE MOVE X_FLOW.