Handicapper Tips & Picks

4-EUCLID AVENUE wired the field in his first start of the meet and will probably be sent right to the lead again in this race. This race is somewhat tougher but there are no other real front runners in the field, though Jet Flight might be first from the gate. This gelding could assume the lead before going a quarter and continue to lead the rest of the way. 1-JET FLIGHT was a solid second in his first start of the year. That race was a sprint, however, and he’s been better going two turns. The stretch out works in his favor but he’s got to keep pressure on top choice to have his best chance. 5-GLOBAL EMPIRE has been in poor recent form at Oaklawn while meeting better rivals but, a couple months ago, he was right there against the same competition. A majority of his success came on this track. The return to Hawthorne and the drop in class should get him headed back in the right direction.

2-WOLF HUNTER is making his 37^th start. He has only one win to his credit but that could easily change today. He was 10 lengths back in his most recent race but that was still good enough for second place. Doesn’t seem to have a whole lot of competition. Could earn that elusive second victory. 1-BONIFIED CRAZY makes his first start as a winner. He did finish second in that last start but the winner was DQ’d which gave this runner his maiden victory. Like that he fought hard for the lead throughout. Do think that he’ll go right to the lead again today but this race is considerably longer and stamina could come into play. 4-RUMBLING is another stretching out. This speedy runner has been around two turns only one other time and that race was on grass. He’s another whose ability to get the distance comes into question.

Not in love with 1-URBAN RULER but he does look like the only runner in this speed-filled race that will try to come from a bit off the pace, though he does have speed of his own. 2-BIG D faced tougher in his first two turf races. He raced competitively, on dirt, in his first two starts of the meet. Could kick it up a notch with the return to the weeds. 3-CHI TOWN PRINCE seems like the quickest of these and he’ll be piloted by a rider that does a great job holding front runners together.

4-LATIN CASINO gets the nod. He’s making only his second start of the year after racing only twice in 2025 but should be ready to go. He had only one workout going into his last start. Should be far better prepared to get the distance on this race despite it being a sixteenth farther. 2-UNCAPTURED PULSE, like top choice, tired late in his first start of the year. But he held on well to finish third. The winner of that race came back to win his next start, possibly making this runner’s effort in last even better than it looked on paper. 5-DEVIL’S RED should show some late run. He closed a bit to finish second in last and was still making up ground when they crossed the wire. The longer distance of this race could work in his favor.

I can excuse 5-VERONICAFORTHEWIN’s poor effort in her lone turf race. She was making her debut against maidens in a race carrying a $180k purse. Her races since have been on the main track and she has been displaying far better speed. But she does have a strong turf pedigree. Gotta give her another chance. Trainer Larry Rivelli sends out two in this race. I like 2-STYLISH GIRL’s workouts better but 6-WAR TORN GODDESS will carry Rivelli’s most-often used rider. 4-CULTURE SHOCK drops into claimers for the first time. Her barn does well with runners returning from long layoffs and this one will also be racing with Lasix for the first time.

Big drop, strong workouts, and a weak field should all converge to make 2-LAST MOON tough to beat at a very low price. 7-GRAY MIKE makes his 31^st start as a maiden. However, he does often get close. Wouldn’t be too big of a surprise if he finally graduated. 6-LORD BLOCK finished second the only time he raced near this level. That race took place almost a year ago. Could be the best of the rest.

7-JOE THE TAILOR has been competitive on and off turf and he has done well at the distance. Finished third in his first race of the meet on dirt. He should be primed to improve in this race. 4-HILARIOUS AFFAIR has had only minor turf success in his 16 races on that surface but all of those races were against far tougher rivals. He was claimed by a red-hot barn from last. Guessing he’ll be a major player at a square price. 1-SHAKE UP has been generally competitive in his turf races. Had a win here at this level last year. His recent form at Oaklawn, on dirt, has been terrible but expect him to improve in a big way now that he’s back here.