Handicapper Tips & Picks

Very nice race despite the short field. Wouldn’t be surprised if every runner in here went off at 3-1. If the field stays intact, there’s a good chance that Journey and Not Falling Back will wind up in a speed duel. If that does happen, 1-ANOTHER MYSTERY and 6 PROTONIC POWER will get the pace they need to set up for their late run. Another Mystery nears $1,000,000 in earnings. He has won seven of his 14 local races and six of 12 at the distance. But he is 10 years old. Protonic Power was beaten as the favorite in last when the race was moved to the main track but he is another that has done well on the local turf and he won his last two turf races here, beating Another Mystery as well as Journey. As mentioned above, 3-JOURNEY and 4-NOT FALLING BACK will likely leave the rest of the field far behind as they fight for the lead. But that duel could cost them. On the other hand, if one scratches or doesn’t break alertly, the other could have clear sailing on the front end. 2-COACH JIMI LEE didn’t show much in his lone turf race but he would be hard to beat if this race somehow got moved to dirt.

7-DYNAMIS was entered for the main track only. While the race is unlikely to be moved to dirt, he would be hard to beat if that happened. 2-KETCHUM will be tough on the turf. He was overmatched in a $200k stakes race in last but good natural speed and the ability to still finish well bodes well for his chances in his first start back here since his maiden score. 6-MAN ON ATTACK is the main competition. He runs well in most of his turf races but he hasn’t won in a couple years. But he missed by only a head in last. Figures prominently. 1-CIAO TOMMASO was an impressive winner in his turf debut. He beat state-bred maidens in that start but he won by seven and the speed figure he generated in that race places him squarely in the hunt.

What is the over/under on the number of claims entered for 3-CONI’S COUP? He wired the field in a dominant fashion in his first start of the year while protected by the waiver claiming rule. He’s eligible to be claimed in this race. If he runs the way he did in that last race, who will come close? 4-PEOPLE FORCE seems like the only one in here capable of offering any kind of competition. He won two of his last three but just seems considerable slower than top pick. 5-HARD TO FATHOM is in terrible form but he’s dropping a few levels to make this start.

5-MISCHIEVIOUS RICHIE makes only his second start and his first on turf but think he’s substantially quicker than his rivals. Love his pedigree. Loved his mama. They’ll have to catch him. 1-ROCKFEST has had two turf races, both sprints, and he finished second in both. Don’t think he’ll keep up with top pick early but he could be poised to ow him down in the stretch. 3-THIS BEAU KNOWS finished third in a “key” race to start his career. That was his lone sprint. Turns back in distance for this. Should make some kind of move late.

It’s unlikely that it will happen but 10-STRANGE ARRANGE, entered for the main track only, would be awfully tough if this race did get moved to dirt. 6-EVEN THE WIND seems to hold the advantage. He lost his first race of the meet by a neck to slightly better. He has always done well on this course. His tactical speed allows him the luxury of racing well against any kind of pace. 4-SAWYER FOX is plenty quick. He won two of his three turf races at this distance and it seems likely that he’ll secure the early lead. 2-NAGY AND THE BEARS is a solid competitor. He finished second versus slightly better in last after winning the race prior at this level. 

6-LUCKY DESTINY stretches out for the first time. With the stretch out, he’s likely to be much quicker than any of his rivals. Can wire the field at a great price. 1-WOLF HUNTER looks like the one most capable of catching top choice. He finished in the money in his last three. However, he’s making his 29^th start and he has only managed the one victory. 2-MOONRISE DRIVE finished in the money in four of five Hawthorne races.

Like the way 5-CULTURE SHOCK finished her last race. It was only a maiden claimer but it was her first start of the year and her first race with Lasix. This race is a couple of furlongs longer but she was full steam ahead when they crossed the wire in last and the extra distance of this race but even suit her better. 8-ROYALLY SASSY, like top pick, graduated in last, her turf debut. Unlike that other filly, they are both 3yo’s meeting older, she wired the field. She might be sent right back to the lead today. 6-PEACOCK ROAD could be coming on late. Not sure there is enough early pace to set up for her but she did win her lone Hawthorne turf race utilizing that strong late move.