Handicapper Tips & Picks

3-CUT THROAT was favored in his career debut at Churchill. However, he didn’t break alertly and just backed up from there. But liked his drills going into that race and he had a couple good drills since. Deserves another chance. 1-DORMIE seems to be coming into his debut in the right way. Like the longer workouts than the blowout three-panel work on Wednesday. Ready to roll. 6-KING OF ANGELS, stablemate of top choice, has been training smartly for his debut. His barn wins with about 27% first timers. Should be a major player.

1-R U JOKING finally drops to the right level. Ignore his last two starts. His most recent was his first start of the year and his prior race was against tough open allowance company. At this level he can fight for the lead and still finish with something left. 5-DASH TO THE CASH might need the race but he’s the best closer in a race that that features a brisk early pace. 4-REGAINED POWER might be the quickest of these but he does tend to run out of gas and might be better suited to a shorter sprint.

2-CLOUDY LASS seems more versatile than most in here. She’s had only one poor race in her career. Ran well in all Hawthorne starts, on grass and the main track. She was third in her last two. Can better that today. 5-RISING CREEK is a first timer with good drills and sharp connections. Gets the top rider. Can win at first asking. 6-VERONICAFORTHEWIN finished in the money in her last five starts. She looks like the quickest of those who have raced. Might be able to lead throughout.

The ability to come on late could make 7-VIA DEL CORSO tough to beat, though he is plenty quick on his own. Races for the top barn. Think he would be best if he stalks the early pace. 5-UNCAPTURED PULSE, 2-FINDAWAY, and 3-SOMNUS could tire after vying for the early lead.

Rain is in the forecast so no guarantee that this race will stay on the lawn but there’s only one confirmed turf runner in this field, though many have had some turf experience. On turf it would seem that 10-TIZMEONEMORETIME could hold the edge. She has had 11 grass races and ran well in most of them, including a second-place finish versus similar in last. She doesn’t have a big finish but she will be coming on late. 9-TUM TAP never ran on turf but I think she could be the best speed on either surface. She needed last after the lengthy layoff. Think she’ll be better prepared to get the distance today. 7-RICHIESGOLDENGIRL tired badly in last (same race as Tum Tap) but she was another coming off the layoff. 3-BRAVE SAMANTHA didn’t show a thing in her first start for this barn but she was simply overmatched. Drops to the right level for this race. Think she’ll be a major player on or off the turf.

2-WESTEROS was outgunned in last, an optional claimer, but was in good form prior with a win and two seconds in his previous three races. Keeps Loveberry in the irons. Will be tough today. 1-REGIMENTAL finished in the money in all four races this meet and in five of last six local starts going back to last year. He comes from so far back that it’s been hard for him to win a lot of races but have to appreciate that he’s always in the hunt late. 3-ROCKET HOTSHOT has been alternating good races with bad. He just missed in his first race of the meet but beat only one in last. If that pattern continues he should be live today.

Again, not sure this race will be on turf.

2-MAN ON ATTACK looks tough on turf. He won only one of his 20 grass races but he gets close almost every time. With his versatility he should be a top competitor on or off the lead. Although 7-TEXAS CYCLONE has had some turf success, I think his chances improve greatly if this race does get moves to a dirt, especially if it is a fast dirt track. He’s capable of going right to the lead or pressing the pace. 1-GRAND ILLUSION moves up in class but he is quick from the gate, and he won three of his last five races, including two on the turf.