Handicapper Tips & Picks

#6 SANTANGELO has competitive form at this level keying off the February 12th race. Class should be kept in mind assessing the race on March 5th and as far as March 30th she was running at this higher starter allowance, though also had an excuse with the trip and can improve off that effort to return competitive here. 

#5 LANDSLID could be a sharp claim for Becker given time to regroup and stepped back up to this $30k claiming level where she has been able to race competitively in the past. 

#1 EXPENSIVE LIAISON has buried form at this level keying off the place finish back in January and upgraded from the 9th place result on February 12th making a MOVE against (X_FLOW) the race dynamic. 

#1 BLUE COWGIRL has buried form from her races this season and can contend at this level. She turned in a BTL race back on 2/24 and suffered a WIDE TRIP in the two starts that followed with other adversity in running playing a role in the outcome.

#9 COURT COSTS broke slow/SLOG on debut and in a race that featured an open length front running winner and minimal change in running order making her tough to write off after just that one start. The third place finisher, Rowdy Daisy came back to finish on the wrong side of the win photo last Friday (4/14).

#6 LUNCH LADY has come up short at the shorter numbers this season and with some value compensation can be given a look. While she has lost ground late, she also has been asked to contest faster paces for the distance. #4 TAPICITA is on the "cheaper" side where the class drop today makes sense for her abilities. #5 SHESTHEBIGGAME could benefit from the return and holding form as she wheels back in three weeks maintaining that form first off the claim for Dixon. 

The TACTIC- from Keith Asmussen have cost many live runners the win or a better placement this season and appeared the case for #4 SHIP IT back in February. To be fair, the route distance is not her ideal and should appreciate the freshening and cut back to a sprint here. 

Both #6 BIOGENIC BABE and #7 CANDY CARAMEL project to improve and rebound from their most recent starts, the first against winners and now have that race/experience out of the way. 

#1 ONE MORE LAUGH also returning from a layoff and that could benefit her even as she was able to win last out, she was drifting out late and visuals leaving something to be desired - the layoff that followed was of no surprise. 

Both #2 PATTON'S WAR and #6 SPEAKINOFTHEDEVIL showed early speed in their most recent start with SPEAKINOFTHEDEVIL setting a faster pace (VF) past and exiting a higher race par (Higher OFR) on 4/1 giving him the edge (and likely value) of those two.

#7 RUNAWAY JACK does not present as much upside at this point though has been consistent and with steady form could catch the right group to clear the condition here. 

Value could ultimately be the separator on #5 HEY EUGENE and #8 MY UNCLE LEON two returning exiting the common race back on March 25th with a similar overall effort (B- OptixGRADE) for the two. 

#3 AFRAIDOFTHEBUNNY could be overlooked from the April 7th race, though going back one start earlier to March 12th ran a competitive race at this level. #8 EE YAH has been able to show legit early speed and returning to those effort here could see him tough on the lead and that controlling speed to run down. 

#2 MAJOR CONTENDER had another one of those questionable/TACTIC- rides from Keith Asmussen sent into a duel on March 25th. As fast as class and speed figures, Major Contender fits as that on his best day and should sit off the pace today from that trip and the distance change here. Stablemate #11 OTTOMAN EMPIRE also has had some TACTIC- from his races this season and that alone could see an upgrade with Santana taking over today. 

Number wise #10 VICTORY MARCH fits on the higher even of par with with buried and consistent form here at Oaklawn Park that makes the March 10th figure look less of an "outlier" on paper. 

The early pace should be honest with #8 CHAPEL BARN remaining at the route distance and likely forced to use from the outside post. #6 DRIVEN ONE could find the right trip with early speed in his own right stalking off Chapel Barn and in with first run.

#4 POLTERER took a big step forward here in March and returning with that form makes him competitive right back in this race. There is some concern that he "peaked" pairing new "tops" in the two most recent starts and wheels back off a FLOW aided win, albeit a strong B+ OptixGRADE win back on March 26th. #3 GOLD BUCKLE and #7 MULBERRY STREET also paired tops in their more recent starts, though overall numbers even running back to that most recent form sits slightly below some others in this field. 

Trip and value can upgrade #2 COLOSI over #1 FLATOUT WINNER both horses exiting the March 16th common race. Flatout Winner was dominant on the day and could see some regression here while Colosi had a subtle trip beginning in the GATE with the WEATHER conditions playing a role in the outcome. Local Hawthorne connections, Scott Becker has #5 FORT PECK returning from the 49-day freshening and the timing as well as trip could see them return to a peak effort. 

#4 VALIANT PRAISE fits right in at this level with their running style as the main challenge here once again. McPeek will add the blinkers wheeling back from the April 2nd race where they recorded a B- OptixGRADE and solid CLOSE in that 4th place finish. 

#3 GREEK HEIRESS will also look to hold her form coming back today and to the maiden claiming level from a BTL place finish under similar conditions on March 18th. Milligan also had #8 MISCHIEVOUS ME in that March 18th race for her debut and wheels back here where some improvement is not out of the question for this second start noting the TROUBLE_S and WIDE trip for her on debut. 

Number wise #9 RATIFIED fits based on her first two starts, both of those sprinting and coming back to a sprint for this race. She can be given a "flow upgrade" from the March 26th race as part of the Very Fast early pace before losing ground (NO_KEEP) at the higher Special Weight level as well. The same "flow upgrade" is in play for #10 ACCELERATING BABE as she returns here in the third start back off the layoff and could still hold upside, upside she will require needing a new top effort to compete where with others more established on form and figures. 

The presence of these two could make things tougher pace wise for #6 BOOGIE WOOGIE GAL one that was able to make a "lone" lead on debut and projects to find the bulk of public support off her number from March 5th. She has been off the 47-days since and while the class "drop" is in play, this is a lateral move in terms of OFR keeping in mind the conditional Special Weight race she (and many others) exits. 

#4 DEALING JUSTICE was scheduled to run in the Matron Stakes here back on March 31st though scratched (medication) and will show up here instead. The intent to run in that stakes race for $250k is noted and for a runner that has numbers and form that fit on par remaining at this allowance level and condition that fits this horse perfectly, almost like it was written for her. 

#6 SPEEDOMETER returning in this spot is interesting and while she must prove she is on this level, there could be an excuse for March 17th. She raced with blood in her mouth that day and was agitated all around suggesting it was not her day to show up and race with a top effort. Her stablemate #8 HEADLAND returns from a BTL effort back on March 2nd when forced to change her RunStyle as she was anxious in the GATE and unprepared at the start, getting away SLOG/TROUBLES+ closing into a softer pace. She should have plenty of pace to run at in here given the complexion of this field and also has show early speed as well with that versatility noted. 

A top effort will be required for #7 LET'S BE CLEAR though if she has that type of race in her, this would be the time to show it second off the layoff and another that could benefit from the expected contested early pace with her RunStyle. 

The race shape along with some buried form could see #6 K J'S PISTOL ANNIE competitive in this race and first off the claim and freshening by Quinonez. #8 CHAI TEA also should find herself competitive with the DROP that has been required for her all season, overmatched at the higher allowance and stakes races this year. 

#4 BETTY JO rushed up into a Very Fast pace making her return just 13-days ago in the Rainbow Miss Stakes, a contentious spot for her all around and makes for a better fit back in at the claiming level. Given the age and layoff lines for #3 SMARTY'S ANGEL she is not the type that can be relied on for a "prep" and coming back from the long 476-day layoff Cates is likely to have her race ready. She must still prove it on the track, though her maiden win back in March 2021 fits at this level and in the right claiming level for her abilities.

#12 SWEETNESS TO was every live back on March 18th though had a legit EX - EXCUSE on the day. The connections brought her back against open company on March 31st not looking to compete, but regain some confidence. She can improve off those starts though still requires a top effort today though left in the mix due to the expected longer odds with upset possibilities.