Handicapper Tips & Picks

Tough to take a shorter number on both #1 MO'EM DOWN and #2 MARJORAM returning from layoffs and doing something new making the move to the turf - taking nothing away from them as individuals. 

#8 STRUCK BY HER returns to make their second start in against winners first in allowance company and exciting the Sweet Life stakes from a TACTIC- trip. They were able to break their maiden in the local debut back on 1/11, a solid MSW race which not only produced three next out MSW winners but one of those, Forced Entry (10th on 1/11) took the Santa Ysabel (G3) last month and pointed to the SA Oaks (G1) later on the card. 

#9 HOTROCKET returns second off from a TROUBLE trip after a VSLOG start on 3/15 showing run  despite the outcome and finishing position. 

#4 ZALAMO takes a drop in class and could be reasonable for this 6yo along with the recent layoff lines and holding just the lone stateside win from last Jan. That layoff pattern noted in this belated second start of the year; and from a EX - EXCUSE on 2/15 given the "trip" while capable of IMPROVE as they were unable to run to potential on the day all things considered. 

#12 KAWAZAKI should be sitting on a peak effort second off, back into claiming company. With that said, they not only require that top effort but also trip with their runstyle from the outside all coming together. Similar in the case of #11 AH JEEZ holding back class, numbers and returning to the claiming level where they recorded a B- with a WIDE trip and BLANKET finish at the wire - the HOT connections also tough to dismiss. 

The potential for a contested (Fire/41) early pace is noted both in terms of pace making the race and trip for both #5 ANOTHER ZERO and #7 MOHAVEN given their preferred runstyle. 

#1 CEE DREW brings in a solid late kick and class wise solid back in with Cal-bred runners holding a perfect record in statebred company. She was dominant/B+ with the Cal Cup Oaks win to put her on the stakes level here. Can even credit the Jimmy Durante effort making CLOSE X_BIAS while making her way first time to the main track in a very tough spot, the Santa Ysabel (G3) with class and timing playing likely a bigger role then the ground she stood on. 

#1 CHEROKEE NATION does not have to prove themselves on speed figures and even class. In their races to date they have shown an "every other" pattern one that if followed suggests a down swing returning from the dominant/B+ MSW win in their most recent start and recording a new top (fig) in the process. While that must be considered. in this case they have been allowed the 36-days between starts to recover and that effort - a change from less than 30days into the RB Lewis (G3) on 2/7 along with a noted TRAFFIC/TACTIC- trip in an extreme race shape, BUNCHED. Even their race back at CD in the KY JC (G2) raced with blood present in their mouth, had to RUSH into at Very Fast early pace before encountering TROUBLE and NO_PUSH after, overall was not their day, near ex worthy.