Handicapper Tips & Picks

2-EASY FAST should be tough. Fresh off a brief layoff after a few races at Oaklawn, he’s back on the track where he has had all his success. The drop in class and the recent bullet drill should have him poised to succeed in this spot. 6-SIR LIAM seems like the most logical challenger. He ran well enough in his first start after getting claimed but he was in too deep in a race originally scheduled for turf. He’s dropping back to the right level and turning back in distance. 1-CANYON SHADOWS has had four useful drills coming into his first race of the year while racing for the legendary local trainer Frank Kirby.

2-RED MOSCATO, fresh off a winning effort from which he was claimed, faces Illinois breds for this contest. His new trainer, tied for the lead in the standings, does well with horses he claims. This field doesn’t appear to be much tougher than the one he just beat. Can do it again. 5-WAYLLEN RICHARD just finished second in a similar race while making his first start after getting claimed. He doesn’t seem to be as quick as top choice but he’s quick enough to run right behind that rival. They could be one-two all the way around. 4-FEVER NATION had a couple lackluster efforts at Fairmount facing similar recently but he still looks like the best of the rest.

Good, competitive field. 5-CREATING HAVOC has a long series of drills coming into his career debut. His barn is winning at a 71% clip (five of seven) for the meet. Though they don’t generally pressure their debut horses to win early, this one definitely looks ready. 2-CAPOVIVO is another first timer with good drills. His barn sports a 25% win average with first time starters and is tied for the lead in the standings. 4-CHIEF MORTER went off as the heavy favorite in his lone race and led most of the way but tired late. That race was in July. He’s been working well in prep for his first start of the year, including many bullets, and he’ll be racing with Lasix for this start. Seems likely to grab the lead. Just don’t know how long he’ll stay there. Don’t ignore 1-LIEUTENANT CHARM. He finished third to a tough winner in his lone turf race last year. He’s been training well for a barn that brings them back ready.

Another strong race. The probable fast early pace could set things up perfectly for 5-BABY BOAT. He finished second in a similar field in his first local start of the year. He won his two prior two Hawthorne races. He won’t be the only one closing but think he’ll finish fastest of all. 2-FAST JACK tossed in a bit of a clunker at Oaklawn in his lone race this year but he’s been very tough at Hawthorne, winning four of his nine local races including the state-bred River Bear Stakes here last year. Been very good at the distance with eight wins from 15 starts. He’ll probably be fighting for the lead but could outlast them all. 4-INDYVILLE might be the most versatile runner in here. He's fast enough to go for the lead but can also accelerate late to contend.

6-FLORIBUNDA drops in class to make her first start for this barn and her local debut. With her good speed she’s likely to contend for the early lead but she has also shown, early in her career, the ability to rate. Lack of many drills since her last race in early February is the main cause for concern. 1-DESERT GLOW drops in class and stretches out. She hasn’t been very effective in recent turf sprints but she has been far better around two turns and her barn sports a hefty 31% win rate with runners stretching out. 5-APRIL’S GEM is a legitimate threat at a price. Ignore her last couple starts. They were dirt sprints and she’s never shown much on the main track. The turf is a different story. She has had eight turf victories, all at this distance.

5-TRE ITALIANI almost looks unbeatable…almost. He has always faced tough company and held the lead in all but one of his races. However, for the most part, he just tired a bit late. But, he did finish first in a tough allowance, going seven furlongs at Keeneland, last time out, though he was eventually DQ’d. This seems to be a softer group but there are no guarantees.  3-STRATO, a recent claim from Oaklawn, could get the right trip. Although he also owns good speed, he has been able to finish his races with good energy. There aren’t any real closers in this field but 4-GA MO TAK, with the turn back in distance, isn’t likely to be involved early and could possibly make a move late.

3-FLAME DANCER seems like the quickest member of this field and, at five furlongs, that often makes a difference. She ran well in all but one of her seven turf starts. Choice but a slim one. 2-RIETTA is rested and ready. She hasn’t been great on turf but she is versatile and races for sharp connections. 7-ZEE is a 3-year-old meeting older and making both her first start of the year and her turf debut but she is working well, she gets first Lasix, and she has good speed. Stablemate of Rietta is likely to challenge top pick for the lead.