Handicapper Tips & Picks

2-MY LAST ESCAPADE has to break his maiden someday, doesn’t he? Hopefully it’s today. He’s been knocking at the door for months with four seconds and a third in his last five. This might be his easiest field yet and probably his last hope to graduate at this meet. 1-JACKSON'S BUDDY is another in decent form, with seconds in his last two starts. However, he’s been meeting Indiana breds and will be facing open company for the first time. Makes his first start for this barn but still think he’s meeting tougher today. 4-CRUZIN AND CURSIN finished third, well behind top pick in last, but still beat half the field. Might expect at least as well today.  

Off turf today and not sure of scratches so guess we’ll just wing it. 3-RAVENS TOWN looks like the quickest of these. He does tend to run out of gas late but the short sprint distance and meeting his easiest field ever should enhance his chances. 2-SPANISH KISS had good speed in the past but think he will be coming late, if his recent races are any indication. He’s been in good form in Iowa and the pace should definitely set up for him. 5-BALADINE takes a much-needed drop in class. He will be pressing the pace and could make the first, and winning, move if top pick tires. 

This seems like a race any can win but it might be 3-WOLF HUNTER’S day to pass his prey. Hate his record of one win in 32 races but this versatile runner can close well and so many of his rivals are likely to display speed. 4-COOL LESTER SMOOTH is one of those likely to try for the lead. Don’t think he’s the quickest but he might show a more sustained effort that his other speedy rivals. 1-BYWORD didn’t handle turf in last but he was in better form prior. Late runner narrowly missed at this level two races back. Might get all the marbles today. 6-TANGO MIKE MIKE finished second in his last two in Iowa and narrowly missed in last but that race was over two months ago and he’s had only two drills since. On the other hand, his trainer wins with 30% of his first-time claims. 2-GAME SANTA was a sharp maiden winner in last but he’s another that hasn’t raced in a couple months and he’s another with only two works since that last race. 5-SKIBIDI RIZZ is probably first from the gate but he’s been stopping do badly that he’s hard to recommend. But he is finally dropping to the right level. Will that be enough?  

1-RACARINO could run them down. He finished fourth in one of his eight races this meet but he finished first or second in the other seven. The pace sets up. Can take them late. 6-ALL ABOUT TONITE heads back to the main track and drops to the right level. I would ignore his last couple on the weeds. He’s been far better on dirt, especially when racing near this level. 10-LAND MARK DEAL was okay going long in the past but he’s been far better sprinting late. Showed little in a route last time out but had a win and two thirds the last three times he sprinted.  

Interestingly, most runners in this race are equally adept on dirt and turf. No guesses who will scratch. 1-GOOD APPLE looks like the one they have to catch. He’s been in great form at Fairmount. And though he didn’t run well in his lone race this meet, that was his first race of the year and he had been solid here in the past. 3-I AM LOWKEY has been either win or fold this year. He finished up the track in his two prior races on this track but he seems to be a legitimate threat in this spot. 5-DR. PERRY had been in good form prior to last. Those recent races were on turf, but two of his three victories were scored on dirt and he does appear to be the best closer in what could be a speed-filled race. 

5-EASY FAST looks like the one to beat. He ran well in all races since dropping in for a tag. He won his last after finishing second in his prior three. He’s eligible for the claim today after running under the waiver claiming in last couple. Looks tough right back. 3-BERNIE LOMAX looks like the quickest of these. He’s won far more races than any in here but remains eligible for the race because of the low claiming levels of his wins. He completely dominated the field in last, his first race after getting claimed by this barn. Two lackluster drills since his last race, two months ago, don’t inspire a lot of confidence but he has to be given the benefit of the doubt. 6-GOT GHOSTED wasn’t in the best of form for much of the year but he woke up and finished second, on turf, two races back at Canterbury and then shipped here to win his local debut. Takes on a bit better but she seems to be at the top of his game.   

6-LITTLE DIXIE could be tough. She's dropping a few levels to take on these rivals. Forget last on turf. She had been far more competitive in recent dirt contests. 10-LEGALLY LUCKY can wake up. She has had few opportunities to race lately, and it’s been three months since her last start. But she has trained well during that time, she’s dropping to the lowest level of her career, and she gets the top jock. 1-SHE BE SHEEHAN is worth a glance. Her recent races leave a lot to be desired but she is stretching to her best distance and runners from her barn do very well in their second starts after layoffs and those stretching out.