Handicapper Tips & Picks

4-BLAZING AFFAIR drops in class to make her local debut as well as her first start for the Block barn. She displayed good speed to break her maiden but she came from behind in most of her starts. With all the other speed in here wouldn’t expect her to try for the lead. 1-NIGHT ROSE and 3-SPIRIT TO INSPIRE could vie for the front end. If one or the other doesn’t break alertly, the other could wire the field. 5-REACH’NFORRAINBOWS drops off the claim. She ships from a tougher meet and will race for a barn that does well with first claims. 

4-PRINCE DAY has reeled off four straight victories. He wired the fields in those races and nearly won his fifth race back in the same manner. He’s likely to face plenty of front-end company today but it hasn’t fazed him lately. Can extend his streak to five. 3-COACH JIMI D often faces tough company. He has speed if he needs it but might be at his best when he tracks then pounces. He had a win and two seconds in his three prior Hawthorne races. He figures to be tough in his return. 5-SPONGE BATH showed little in his first three starts of 2025 while racing in New Orleans but woke up in a big way in his first start here. He took the lead early in that race and drew off to win by 12. Not sure which runner will show up today. 

3-LICENSE TO STEAL was in against some salty veterans last time out and he failed to make an impact. But he’s dropping to this non-winners of three for his second start of the meet and he will find the company far easier. While he’ll never be considered “fast” he is usually among the early leaders in his races. Wouldn’t be surprised if he wired this field. 5-WESTEROS usually finishes with good energy. He was in poor form in New Orleans over the winter but started showing more when getting back here. After finishing fourth in his first start of the meet, he won his non-winners of two by 10 lengths and then finished second in last, a race similar to this. The pace should set up. Could pass them all. 1-VINO COURAGIO finished third in his two races this meet. He’s pretty much a one-paced runner and usually won’t close a ton but he can wear down tiring runners late.

5-STREET STYLE ran competitively in only one of his six races but he has never been in against such an easy field. Seems most likely. 6-SIG FORTY FIVE has had the most “success” of any runner in this race. He just finished second when dropped to this level for last. Could be ready for the next step. 2-FREEDOM EMPIRE has had only a couple slow drills coming into his first race of the year but he might be the only speed in the field. But not sure how long he will last.

This is a fun race to handicap. A legitimate case can be made for the majority of runners. But I have to go with 1-KING OF SHEBA. It wasn’t just that he won his debut, you generally expect Rivelli-trained runners to do that. It was the way he won. He tenaciously fought for the lead every step of the way and still came out on top. It’s true that the race was on dirt but it was originally scheduled for turf and this runner is bred to love the lawn. Of course he has to prove himself on a different surface but feel that he’s up to the task. 2-JOE THE TAILOR could easily win this. He is another tenacious runner and he has three turf scores to his credit. His rider is likely to have him closely tracking the early pace, hoping top choice folds under pressure. 7-URBAN RULER was just claimed from a winning effort in a turf non winners of two. He’s taking on better today but his new barn sports a 37% win average with their claims. This runner is versatile but expecting him to be racing in close proximity to the lead. 3-HE GONE is close to as quick as top choice. He’ll be racing with first Lasix. 5-GUNNY SACK ran well in all five turf races, winning twice. But he’s been mostly in against Illinois breds and he’s making his first start of the year. 6-BOTE seems a bit overmatched but he did just finish second to Urban Ruler.

7-NITSCHKE, fresh off his maiden score, could be tough. Leading rider stays aboard for talented connections. Makes his second start of the year. Seems capable of winning on or from off the pace. 3-FRONTIER MARSHALL might be the quickest of these. His best races came against Illinois breds but he’s going to be tough if he finds himself on an unchallenged early lead. 6-CASH APP MIKE is the sleeper. I’m ignoring his recent form. Expecting him to display far better speed with the move to the turf and with the good gate rider in his irons. 

5-MOOGIE SON gets the nod. He’s had a case of seconditis, including his last two races, but the majority of his races were against far better rivals and it won’t be long before he visits the winner’s circle again, now that they have him racing at the right level. 8-MAN ON ATTACK races for the first time since January but he’s had five drills in the interim. This might be the easiest field he has even met in a turf race. Should be a forward factor throughout. 7-CANYON STREAK has been training well for his 2026 debut. He was claimed in his final start of 2025 but a barn that wins with 25% of their first-time claims. He owned good speed early in his career but started coming from off the pace as he aged.