Handicapper Tips & Picks

#4 BRIDGE CLASSIC is worth a look in here returning from a near “excuse” in the 5/21 allowance race. They move back to claiming company and the grass conditions which have seen them individually competitive in the past. They also pick up a rider change to suggest some intent with apprentice, J. Aranguren aboard. They hold early speed if necessary to make the lead, though also capable of tracking rival #2 ALADANTE or #3 CHI TOWN PRINCE should they go forward.

Also picking up a rider change (J. Loveberry) #1 MR. SWEETS physically projected surface versatility going back to the main track series of TAM races and ran to it (B) moving to the turf on 5/14. Coming off that WIDE MOVE trip they shift back to the inside and a scenario with a contentious early pace to track from the inside and pick up first run.

The claiming event on 5/14 was a common race featuring #5 PONCHO ATTACK and given a flow upgrade (VF) coming back from the  router just two weeks ago. Going back to the sprint from the layoff on the day, they turned in B-, a competitive effort when factoring the recent layoff lines, lacking recency 124-days and noting the TROUBLE_S and in running TROUBLE- while also noting TACTIC- something jockey A. Stanley will have to be on their “A” game to improve from here. 

#2 I’M HUNGOVER has had to settle for the place while recording B, winning type efforts at the level for the two maiden races this season. Things change ever so slightly here picking up J. Loveberry and the extra half-furlong of ground, especially that distance marker which could have yielded a different outcome either time.

Their stablemate #5 LILAS OAK TREE also should benefit from the slight addition of ground and overall racing as they make their second start of the current cycle. They should hold fitness asked for early speed, HARD_LEAD, in the return on 5/24.

#4 WAVE OF MEMORIES returns from the layoff and while needing to show improvident from last season, numbers are not far off their other rivals #1 STYLISH GIRL and # TOUR DE’PORT and with some pace to chase should be moving up late. 

Two barns with two runners representing the bulk of the field while S. Becker standing alone with #5 CRUSHED ICE is not of it to play spoiler as they ship in and project to move up with the STRETCH out In distance.

While CRUSHED ICE can show early speed and likely positional speed from the outside; #1 SALLY SUPRISE from the rail should be out showing early speed. SALLY’S SUPRISE should appreciate today’s change in class though has in the past shown some distance limitations around two turns. By contrast her stablemate, #2 IZZY’S MONSTER holds established route form at Hawthorne making their return here and first off the layoff. There are some spotty works since the February FG start, though does have a live barn with familiar rider, L. Colon back aboard.

A similar tactical approach can be assessed for the two J. Haran runners where #3 END OF INNOCENCE has recorded the recent higher speed figures and just sneaks into this conditions while remaining protected claimed back in 2025 for the $12.5k tag and since then has raced higher for Haran. In terms of #4 WHAT’S TO DO she has upside in her own right coming out of a match race on 5/20 at HS Indy with some subtle trips going back to last season at Hawthorne both on the main track and the turf. 

#5 KETCHUM moves up considerably for this second start back of the season and class drop from the $225k stakes race last month at CD, breaking SLOG and higher par suggesting DROP, while also back on Lasix for this race. On first asking, last October they broke their maiden (MSW) over this course and distance and the late season debut suggested they would move up off that form at the FG and did just that picking up the January allowance win and then the 2/1 “trip” following making an X_FLOW RUSH to finish in a BLANKET at the wire.

OFF THE TURF: #1 JOE THE TAILOR should find the ideal tracking trip sitting inside of "need the lead" (Q1) rivals #3 KAZOOM and #4 HE GONE. Keeping in contact with that pair, the trip suggested on Standard OptixPLOT is still key with the shorter 5.5f distance. 

#6 WHISKEYINATEACUP had a look moving to the TURF though holding form and should be running on late (Square). #2 GUNNY SACK should benefit from the start returning this season. While upside can be projected they come into this race lighter on speed figures to date and must step up on that front for the top spot here. 

While #7 ROYAL BRO makes since as the favorite in this race, there are others capable of showing up for a top effort in this spot at longer odds, buried form and with recency:

#8 A P BLAZING GREEN has the benefit of the races this season, progressive OptixGRADES and subtle changes returning here. The slight addition of ground, while moving to the outside could assist as far as trip (similar Standard PLOT position shape as ROYAL BRO and #6 BOTE) and reuniting with A. Santos, a rider aboard last season to further overall intent.  

#5 LAST RETURN is a bit of a stab as they must run a new top, a much faster race than anything they have recorded to date. With that said, they find a subtle change in class and make the trip up state to run in this spot on the TURF. Physically they look the part to take to the grass and there has been some intent going back to last season for the turf and perhaps that is the change they need to step forward while still a lightly raced 5yo.  LAST RETURN also holds early speed and projected longer odds than the other E/EP rivals in #1 BOURBON STREET BOY and #4 LAST MOON the pair in their individual ways taking a step up in class for this event. 

#1 STRONGER TOGETHER has a look wheeling right back for this race in what looked as much of PREP coming off the layoff earlier this month. They wheel right back in 10-days, reunite with A. Bendezu, and should be fit noting the TACTIC- and WIDE tracking on a Very Fat (VF) early pace on the day. STRONGER TOGETHER should hold value while landing in a similar Plot position/shape here as rival #6 GLOBAL EMPIRE also back in 10-days picking up a win from a different race on the same card. While capable of pairing wins, should consider value once again with the subtle class change as well as coming off a PERFECT FLOW (VS/Very Slow early/late) race shape.

Looking at the Plot, the early pace should be honest with both #2 PEOPLE FORCE along the inside and #7 BLURT from the outside sitting in Q1 on/above the Par Line as Circles. Sitting in the “cat-bird” seat is #4 SIXWILLBERICH and reason to give them a look here while recorded a B- OptixGRADE on 4/23 and while no real “trip” excuse on 5/17 is now in the third start of the cycle/layoff to reasonable suggest a peak effort today. 

#6 MY LADY SLEW as a big Q1 Square, the lone runner in the field above the ParLine looks to hold a massive front-end pace advantage in this field. That ABOVE carries in terms of Speed figures and  paired with the ABOVE+ designation on Class. The connections see fit to wheel right back in a week for this race, a quick return second off the layoff holding place/B- making a RUSH after the TROUBLE_S and LONE lead stalked by the race winner, Journeyist.

As far as form cycle, #3 LOTTA ROSES should be sitting on a peak effort third off the layoff. Their form cycle started with the turf intention on 5/7, a PREP that day while in against open company and staying in the race with the event moved to the main track. Following that effort and back to the turf with F&M improved with the B- OptixGRADE and regular rider, A. Bendezu back aboard forward on 5/21.  #4 APRIL’S GEM also wheeling back from that 5/21 common race and place finish back at the 7.5f distance where they have been effective though on a long campaign without a win since August 2024. 

#9 MEMPHIS CASH QUEEN looks very live not only drawing in as MTO for this race but also in terms of form cycle with the PREP STRETCH in the sprint return on 5/10 to return to a top and competitive effort here. 

Rain expected again for Saturday so not sure we’ll stay on turf

4-BRIDGE CLASSIC showed little in his lone turf start but he was in against much tougher. Plus, would expect him to be a far more formidable foe if this race did get moved to the main track. 1-MR SWEETS just missed in his turf debut. This might be a slightly tougher field but everything his barn sent out this meet has been live. Top jock aboard helps. 3-CHI TOWN PRINCE moves up off the claim. Barn has been hot from the start of the meet and they have been winning with 24% of their first-time claims.

Like Chi Town Prince in the first 1-STYLISH GIRL was claimed from the leading barn by the barn currently in second place by one win. This filly tired in both races but she’ll be racing with first Lasix today. That could make the difference. 2-I’M HUNGOVER, the logical favorite, finished second in her last two, barely beaten each time. Makes her third start of the meet. It could be the winning one. 3-TOUR DE’ PORT has gotten slightly better with every start this year and finished in the money in last two. 4-WAVE OF MEMORIES had a pair of thirds here late last summer but might need a race. 

On paper this looks like a contest between 3-END OF INNOCENCE and 2-IZZY’S MONSTER. Both have been good on this track, though Izzy’s Monster has had far more local chances. However, the nine-length romp by End of Innocence would seem to imply that she’s on top of her game right now. She did win three of her four Hawthorne starts. Slim pick. 2-IZZY’S MONSTER is always tough on this track and always tough at this level. She’s had far more experience here with five wins and another seven in-the-money finishes in her 14 local starts. She’s been training vigorously for her first race since February. You know Lalo will have her ready. 4-WHAT’S TO DO takes on a bit tougher but she might hold a slight edge in speed. She finished second in what turned out to be a match race in Indiana in last after all but two scratched when that race was moved to the main track. Could try to wire them.

5-KETCHUM could hold the edge on turf. Don’t know if he’ll race if this contest gets moves to the main track. He was probably in too deep in a $200k stakes race at Churchill in last and coming off the layoff didn’t help but think all of his races were against tougher. Should be hard to beat. 4-HE GONE figures to be game on the lead on turf or on dirt. He was barely beaten in last, his local turf debut. Could be even tougher with that race behind him. 1-JOE THE TAILOR has been in great form for months, dating back to last fall. He’ll be pressing the pace once again and could edge by if the top pair lock up early. 3-KAZOOM can’t be ignored. He just wired the field to break his maiden and he could be even quicker on dirt.

7-ROYAL BRO gets the nod. His most recent races haven’t been too sharp but this will be the first time that he’ll be back on turf since 2024 and all his success came on the lawn. He was recently gelded and he’s dropping to the lowest level of his career. 4-LAST MOON is another that was claimed from the top barn by the barn in second place. He dominated bottom-level maiden claimers on the dirt in last and takes on considerably better here but his pedigree lends itself to grass racing. 1-BOURBON STREET BOY is likely the quickest of these. He does tend to run out of gas but he might hang on to share if he builds a commanding lead.

2-PEOPLE FORCE finished far back in his first start after getting claimed by this barn but he was in much too deep. He lost that last race by about 25 lengths but the winner was over 12 lengths clear. In any case, he’s dropping back to an easier level and getting the top rider who was aboard for the winning effort in his previous start. Not really sure what to do with 6- GLOBAL EMPIRE. He crushed an easier field in last but didn’t show a thing at this level in his previous start. 3-ELECTRIC CHARGE was outgunned in last but he had been in good form prior. Stretch runner is likely to attack late.

6-MY LADY SLEW says catch me, at least if this race stays on the weeds. She just finished second between a couple hard-knocking Michele Boyce-trained runners. She’s been a specialist at this distance, winning five of 12 starts. 4-APRIL’S GEM is another that has been so good at the distance. All eight of her turf wins came at seven and a half. She held on to finish second in last after taking a late lead. Maybe she’ll get to the lead late again and not look back. 9-MEMPHIS CASH QUEEN figures prominently if this race gets moved to the main track.