Our Handicappers

5-WILD DREAMS and 2-ARRIVEDERCCI, both trained by Larry Rivelli, both drop. Both have speed and both have a chance to wire the field. 3-WAGGLE PASS is finally in the right spot. She was overmatched in her first race in 2023, ran well on synthetic in her second race in 2024 and tried turf in last, her first race in 16 months. 1-SAFECRACKER SUE just finished second at the level. However, she has had a lot of races against similar rivals and she remains a maiden.

3-VANISKY looks like he could be a “single” in horizontal wagers. He narrowly missed in last to a runner that would be 3-5 in this spot. A little concerned that the pace of this race might not be ideal for his closing move but he did show in last that he’s capable of racing close to the front end and still finishing well. 4-UNCAPTURED PULSE could be the main competition. He displays more consistent speed than his rivals and he could provide a mild surprise if he doesn’t face any early pressure. Might take another look at 1-MR UNIVERSE. He showed little in last, his first race since 2022, but he’s dropping to his lowest level ever. Though he had been at his best on the lawn, at this level anything can happen.

Tough little maiden race. This is the kind of contest where you can make a case for almost every runner in the race. But think I’ll go with 6-BALLYBAY BEAUTY. This well-bred first timer has been training well for a barn that excels with their first timers. The trainer has been red hot. Think she’ll be ready for these. 2-MARY MOONGLOW could be the better of the two Rivelli-trained runners in here. She finished second here in her debut last year and just finished third in Indiana while making her 2025 debut. She’ll have to fight for the early lead but think she’s up to the challenge. 5-LA REYNITA wasn’t showing much in Louisiana to start her career but she’s had two races here and ran well in both. She finished third in her local debut and second in last. 3-ESCOVEDO, the other Rivelli runner, displayed good speed in both her races, last year here on dirt and most recently at Fair Grounds on the lawn. We’ll see how far she can carry her speed today. 4-OMAHA STAMP ran well here on dirt last year. She was overmatched on turf at Kentucky Downs following that race but she’s back here now and running with first Lasix. Her works have been slow but she can’t be entirely dismissed. 1-ROARING VIXEN finished well back in her debut here but she did have some traffic trouble. Could fare better with a clean trip.

This race was scheduled for turf but it rained a lot over the last couple days so it has been moved to the main track at a mile and 70 yards distance. Not sure of scratches yet so I’ll have to guess who is racing. There are possible showers today so really won’t know about track condition until close to post time.

5-FROSTY VIEW was entered for turf but he had only one lackluster start on that surface. On the other hand, he has done pretty well on the main track. Like that he had two races on off tracks, winning one and finishing third in the other. He does look like the quickest of these but his ability to get the distance is questionable. 7-SHARP STICK’S last race can be excused. His rider lost his irons (stirrups) early and though he continued to run for most of the race, he was never a serious contender at any point. Though he has been better on turf, he does have a dirt win and he’s dropping in class. 9-LITTLE STEVEN is another with a dirt victory, he just wired lower-level claimers in last, but he has run well numerous times while meeting better on the main track.

1-EMPIRICAL VIEW needed last after nearly 11 months away. She displayed good speed in that spot. However, her lone win came on turf when she rallied from far back to win by a head. Would be surprised if she was sent early but wouldn’t be surprised if she was held in reserve to make a big run late. 8-SMOKED is two for two, leading all the way in both races. However, both her races were against Illinois breds and she’ll be meeting open company today. Plus, there is plenty of other speed in this race. Don’t know if she’ll be able to shake them off. 9-SWEET MUSIC could get the trip. She didn’t make a big impact in her first start of the year but runners from her barn generally improve after getting a trip. Like top pick, I expect her to come flying late.

Good race with a solid field. Leaning toward 5-GOLD SWEEP. He had two sharp efforts at Oaklawn this year and got claimed from both. He’s moving into an allowance race but this former stakes winner and Grade 3 stakes-placed runner sports numbers that say he’s the fastest of these. 7-MONDOGETSBUCKETS, fresh off his maiden victory, could be the main competition. He’s had two races since moving to the Block barn, narrowly losing his first for them before a game victory in last. Don’t really like that it’s been five weeks since his last start and that he had only one drill during that span but you know this trainer always places them where they can win. 1-GOOD TO BE A PRINCE certainly figures. In his last five starts, dating back to December, he scored a win, three seconds and a third. Three of those races were against maidens but he’s been solid in tough company since graduating.

This looks like an incredibly competitive race. I literally could not toss out any of these runners. But I probably have to go with 4-SHACKLEFORD STRONG. He came from dead last to win his most recent race on turf but he’s been incredible on our main track, winning eight of his 14 main-track races while sporting some of the highest speed figures of any in here. 2-PHILIPSBURG could be every bit as good as top choice. He’s had eight local dirt starts, winning three, including the last against open company. He finished out of the money only one time in his last 12 starts. It’s possible that the top pair, and a few others, could be fighting it out on the front end. If that happens, 1-EYE DEE KAY could pick them off late. This closer was claimed for $25k from his last start. His new, under the radar trainer, has quietly won with five of the 10 runners he started this meet. Don’t take this runner, or this barn, lightly.