Handicapper Tips & Picks

Baby races are always fun

Whenever you see baby races at Hawthorne, you can expect to see trainer Larry Rivelli send out live runners. He has two in this race; 4-LIAM’S FANCY and 3-PHINAROSA. Liam’s Fancy is bred better with a great turf pedigree, good works and the leading rider. Phinarosa worked in company with top pick, for the most part, but had a couple drills that weren’t quite as sharp. But nobody gets them out of the gate better than his rider. 5-CRUISIN IN HARMONY has been training well downstate. Although his barn is based down there, his trainer has had some luck, often at big prices, with the babies he sends up here. 2-SECOND OPINION hasn’t been working as fast as a couple of these but that series of good four-furlong drills should ensure that he finishes with something left while the others could run out of gas. 6-CITRA LINDA and 1-CITRA CLOSEOUT each have only worked three times and only at two furlongs. Guessing they’ll each need a race.

This race contested at one mile 70 yards on the main track

7-URGENT ACTION was well played in his career debut, another race originally scheduled for turf, and he displayed good speed early but he couldn’t sustain that speed weakened to finish third, 12 lengths back, in a spread-out field. But he came back with a bullet drill and now he has racing experience. Others here seem quicker from the gate but he’ll never be too far back. Guessing he’ll finish with good energy. 3-LAST ESCAPADE makes his 20^th start as a maiden but he often finishes in the money. He stretches out after two sprints to start the meet and he has been better around two turns. Should get close again today. 5-CITIZEN EX figures to break first from the gate. He tired, sprinting, in his lone race but he becomes dangerous on the front if no one challenge him early.

4-STREET STYLE just missed in last when dropped to this level for the first time. Comes back at the same distance but this time with an apprentice rider and her seven-pound weight break. Could make all the difference. 6-INCORPORATED drops to his lowest level yet. Takes blinkers off. He’s been competitive downstate in all races this year. Could be even better with the class drop and the change in scenery. 5-BLACK RUSSIAN has had 30 races and remains a maiden but almost all of his starts have been against much better rivals.

This race will be contested at five and a half furlongs on the main track. Just guessing on who might stay in.

3-PRINCESS HUXLEY is scheduled to ship in to try the turf. But, her best race so far came on Indiana’s main track. She has speed and a good speed rider in her irons. 7-CATENJO raced competitively on turf in New York in her lone start. No guarantee she’ll stay in the race but could be tough if she does. 5-DIZZY MISS LIZZY finished second, on turf, in her career debut. Her barn has started three at the meet and won with two of them and this filly was their lone second. 4-SUNNY RAY ran well in both starts, both last year and both on turf, but her drills suggest she could be even better on dirt. 

1-TWIRLING ROSES is usually well played and usually gives them a run for the money. He faced far better in his two races since getting claimed by this barn. He’s likely the one they have to beat with the class drop. 4-MON AMIE FUZZIE makes his second start of the year. He finished third in his 2026 debut but was coming on late. The pace of this race should suit. Can fly by. 3-ALL ABOUT TONITE just missed in last after taking a big early lead. He might be the best speed again but it seems likely that he’ll face more competition in the early going. Might have a hard time hanging on. 

Many of the fillies and mares in this field take turns beating the others. Whose turn will it be today? It could be 3-WILDWOOD QUEEN. She’s quick enough to be tracking the contested pace and finishes well enough to run them down late. 5-DIXIE PENNY seems a bit slower than many in here but she finished second in all three races this meet. She’ll be competitive at a square price. 2-LITTLE SASS got a perfect trip to win last, beating most of these. Think she’ll need the same kind of trip to repeat.

This race will be contested at one mile 70 yards on the main track

9-SILVER QUARTERS was always good on turf and synthetic but he has suddenly become very good on dirt. He was entered for turf twice this meet but both races were moved to the main track. He still won one and finished third in the other. Not sure what others will stay in the race but he does need some pace to run at and he could fall victim to a slow pace if too many scratch. 10-OLIVERIO was entered for main track early. He finished third in last, won by top pick, after pressing the pace in second throughout. But depending on who else stays in the race, he just might be the lone speed. 7-MOOGIE SON has been in good form on turf. He won his last and that win was preceded by a pair of seconds. Like his stablemate Silver Quarters, he likes to come from off the pace but he might be asked to show more speed to set things up for the other.