Handicapper Tips & Picks

It’s been a while since E. T. Baird has ridden around here but few have been able to hold a speed horse together as well as he. 2-PREMIUM, with E.T. aboard, looks like the best speed anyway and he has had the benefit of a couple recent races. The drop in class certainly helps. Must be caught. 4-STRANGE ARRANGE raced all winter. His recent efforts in New Orleans leave a lot to be desired but he has been terrific on this track, including wins in his last three local starts. 1-UNCAPTURED PULSE races for the first time since October but he popped a couple sharp drills in preparation for his 2025 debut and starts for a barn that brings them back ready off layoffs.

2-VERONICAFORTHEWIN seems most likely. She ran well in her last couple races and looked strong in her two local drills since then. 1-KEEN GAL has a bit of speed. She hasn’t shown much on turf despite her pedigree but her main-track races have shown some promise. 5-ENGAGEMENT finished well back in all four of her starts but she has been running on a far tougher circuit. Wouldn’t be surprised if she woke up in a big way. 

The speedy 3-REGAINED POWER had only a couple slow drills coming into this race but think he’s probably going to get a relatively unchallenged early lead. The shorter sprint distance helps his chances. Has a legitimate chance to wire the field.1-BIG D has been overmatched since breaking his maiden here in August. He’s also been plagued by frequent layoffs. But he’s dropping sharply and he has been working well since his last race in February. 2-WOLF HUNTER’s lack of many recent drills is a matter of concern but he’s been a top contender when running at the right level and he’s never been in this low since breaking his maiden. 

3-GREAT OWL drops in class. She showed little in races after breaking her maiden here on Halloween eve but she was severely outgunned in two of her three races since and finished fourth in a multiple-runner photo, chasing a clear winner, the only time she raced at this level. 5-SPIRIT TO INSPIRE owns good speed. She wired the field here in her career debut last October and raced competitively ever since. But there is enough other speed in this race to force her to run under pressure from start to finish. 4-BALLYBAY BEAUTY could display some late run.

6-PEOPLE FORCE should be tough in this spot. It’s been nearly two years since his last victory but he’s facing rivals in worse form, he has had more success than any others in here, he’s been racing regularly, and there’s a good chance that he’ll be alone on the lead. Don’t really like 1-CRAFTY KING but he just might be the best of the rest. He’s primarily a turf runner, all of his success came on the lawn, and he never finished better than fourth in limited turf tries, but he does race for a sharp barn and this will be his first dirt attempt for them. Deserves the benefit of the doubt. 2-NEW YEAR SURPRISE could fit in the mix. He raced competitively here last year. Ignore his last at Oaklawn, he was obviously overmatched. Chance.

3-SIR LIAM adds blinkers and stretches out. He has tended to run out of gas in previous route attempts, mostly on grass, but think he’ll be able to grab a fairly easy lead in this spot. His lone local drill, guessing with blinkers, was encouraging. Slim pick in a wide-open race. 4-NOT FALLING BACK drops sharply. He raced almost exclusively on turf, common for runners from this barn, and he finished far back in his lone dirt try but he’s never been in close to this easy. 6-WAYLLYN RICHARD graduated here a year ago, then was sidelined for 10 months. He returned with a win at Fair Grounds, had two poor follow-up races, and then narrowly lost his last. He had four works in the two months since his last race. Guessing this top-notch barn will have him ready. 1-OLIVERIO notched his second career win in last in Louisiana. Good tactical speed will keep him close to the pace but he is still capable of finishing with authority.

4-COUNT THE GREEN has been training well for his debut. High-percentage barn wins with 23% of their first timers. Might do it with this one. 3-KAZOOM looks like the best of the speed. He was right there early in all five of his races. Got claimed from last and his new barn does very well with their first-time claims. 5-HURRICANE EXPRESS moves up in claiming price but he’s been racing steadily and he was narrowly beaten in his last three races. 8-MY LAST ESCAPADE was like the ultimate tease last year. He looked, on paper, like he could win every race. It never happened. Maybe 2026 will be his year. Think 6-STREET STYLE will be flying late but might run out of real estate at this short sprint distance.