Handicapper Tips & Picks

The big drop in class doesn’t exactly inspire a lot of confidence but 4-ENGAGEMENT just finished third in a $25k maiden claimer. She had fought for the lead for much of the race and had shown good speed in her previous starts. The addition of blinkers seems like a good idea. They’ll have to catch her. 3-I’M HUNGOVER just finished second. That was her first start at this level and her first sprint in nearly a year. The pace of this race should set up for her. If top pick does run out of gas again late, this filly might be able to edge by late. 1-DAISY MAE ATTACK got much better when moved to the turf last year so it is a bit surprising that she’s back on dirt. But she does own pretty good speed. Could be an early factor. 

2-UNION DOLLY could be the best of these. She’s been the most successful on turf overall, but it’s her three wins from four starts at the distance that would seem to make her tough to beat. 5-DESERT GLOW would seem to be the main competition. She has five wins and 13 other in-the-money finishes in her career, but she’s been primarily a route runner and has never had a turf race at this distance. But we know she handles the surface. 1-WILDWOOD QUEEN is a versatile runner with the ability to run well on or off the turf. She wired the field in her last race at Oaklawn but she’s just as capable when coming from far behind. Races on turf for the first time but, given her recent form, gets the benefit of the doubt.  

3-ELECTRIC CHARGE seems most likely. Late runner almost always finishes in the money. He won his final start of 2025 and just finished second here in his first start of the year. Can improve off that effort. 5-BLURT loves the lead but he also loves to run out of gas. But, he might be able to just coast along on the front end with none in here likely to pressure him early. 1-LUCKY BOSS faces possibly his easiest field ever. Late runner might not get enough pace ahead of him, however, to fully allow his closing move.  

Not sure he’ll be able to repeat that performance but 3-WESTEROS just dominated an easier field. He’s moving up in class but this race doesn’t appear much tougher. Can make it two in a row. 2-RED MOSCATO stretches out. He has never raced at this exact distance. But, he’s been in decent form (3rd in last four) and he figures to get on or close to the early lead with the stretch out. Could be tough for a hot barn. 5-HAWAIIAN HIDEAWAY displayed good speed and held on for second versus what should have been a tougher field in his last start. Would figure to vie for the lead again today. 

5-END OF INNOCENCE is back from Oaklawn. She’s had three local races and won two of them by daylight. Just finished second in a tough Arkansas race. Could prove best of these. 1-LA REYNITA is the one to beat. She finished second as the odds-on favorite in her first local start of the year, preceded by a strong second-place finish in a race at Fair Grounds. There’s a good chance she’ll try for the early lead but do think she’ll be chasing other speed. However, she might outlast that rival and finish with something left. 6-ALROSA is worth another look. She is probably the quickest from the gate.  

3-GOGH faces his easiest field ever and does it with first Lasix. He finished second in the Futurity here last year but all his previous starts were against open company. He’s been working easily for his return but think he’ll still be ready for this. 1-CIAO TOMMASO is another that had been facing open company until last. He finished second in that race facing similar company. Gets blinkers for this contest. Could move up in a big way. 6-MY LAST ESCAPADE is often in the hunt. He’s had 18 races and is still a maiden but he did finish in the money 11 times. However, it’s been a long time since he faced state breds. That could make all the difference and he could finally graduate. 

The regally-bred 1-NITSCHKE has yet to live up to his pedigree but this could be his day. This will be the easiest field he has ever faced. He has a long series of drills coming into this race. Can break his maiden in his first start of the year. 7-LOWER BROADWAY has had only modest success at Oaklawn over the winter but know that they have been waiting to get him back on turf. Without a lot of other speed in here, he could be sent right to the lead and never look back. 6-LEMON SOHN is another whose connections were hoping to get him back on the lawn. He did show a lot in five previous turf races but his speed figures suggest he could be among the fastest of these.