Handicapper Tips & Picks

3-COALMINER’S KITTEN was a game second here opening weekend while making his first start for this barn and his local debut. He fought for the lead for most of the race but gave way late. The winner of that race came right back to win another. That race was his first sprint in his 11-race career but he handled it well. Figures to improve from the experience.  2-ON KP returns from a lengthy layoff to face the easiest field of his career. His works have been slow, even on a track that has been playing fast, but he owned sharp speed in the past. Loveberry aboard is a positive factor. 6-COUNTRY GUY’s speed figures lag behind those of many of his rivals’ but he did win his last two in New Orleans and his barn was on fire last weekend. Worth another look.

5-PEGGY’S WAY could graduate. She’s a 3-year-old facing mostly older rivals and she hasn’t raced since October but she has a strong series of drills, she’s making her first start for a barn that sports a lofty 40% win average with runners starting for them for the first time, she’s getting first Lasix, she’s dropping to her lowest level yet, and her rider won with 13 of his 40 runners at the meet. It doesn’t hurt that her trainer is also red hot. 4-TRIBEST might want more distance but she did close well at this distance to finish second in her local debut. Figures to get the same kind of trip, though probably on a fast track, this time. 7-GRACEFUL SCARLET didn’t show much when she was racing, facing California breds last year, and she went off at huge prices in all those starts. But she’s another getting Lasix for the first time. She moved to a new barn that does well with runners debuting for them as well as runners returning from long layoffs. Expecting far more from her today.

3-ANNA AFTER MIDNIGHT will have to be caught. She has only competed in sprints until now and she ran out of gas in all of then but can see her building a commanding lead with the stretch in distance and might be able to hang on. Can’t ignore 7-GOOD MAGIC WOMAN. She’s shipping in from a tougher meet. She’s not likely to be anywhere close to the lead early but is likely to be gaining on top pick late and might be able to run by. 6-ALTAR GIRL hasn’t gotten close but she has been racing regularly and is likely fit enough to get the distance. Facing the easiest field of her career doesn’t hurt.

4-DEVIL ran well in all her dirt sprints. She was just second to her talented stablemate Beehive but she also finished seven lengths ahead of the third-place finisher. She’s not the only speed in the race but think she’ll ultimately be the best. Graduates today. 1-JOYZELLA has been tough in all her races against Illinois breds but, for some reason, they keep trying her against open company. Not today! She’s in where she belongs. She’s had 16 starts and only two have been against state breds and she finished second in both. Her speed figures compare with those of top choice. Just maybe. Neither 6-CHERYL’S APPEAL nor 7-LION’S LAW showed a thing in their respective lone races but Cheryl’s Appeal races for the top barn and the trainer of the well-bred Lion’s Law won with all four of his starters at this meet. 

4-FIRST LOVE is the best of the speed. She wired her last two races that were contested on fast tracks, though she obviously didn't like her off-track races contested in between those wins. She's meeting better today but they'll have to catch her. 1-NO TAPPIN OUT is the “logical” selection. She has been in pretty good form in Kentucky. However, all of her races came on synthetic racetracks and I couldn't even find a dirt workout. There's no guarantee that she'll handle this surface. 2-FAST N HAPPY can't be overlooked. She graduated in last, her first start here and her first for this barn. Came from the 12 hole in that last race to win going away. Her barn won with their first four starters at the meet. Beware. 5-BROKEN HEARTS BAY will be coming late. She didn't fare well at this level in her first start of the meet but could get a better trip with the extra real estate. 3-LIL CHILLY seems more versatile than most. She won two of her last three races in Louisiana though those races were against Louisiana breds.

There is an abundance of speed in this race but 7-WEST ISLAND has shown the ability to last under pressure. He pressed the pace through blistering fractions in his local debut and held on to finish second. That race could have primed him for this one. 6-SOVIET STANDARD is probably the best of the speed and he's dropping in class. However, he had only one workout prior to his first start of the year, where he stopped badly, and apparently doesn't have a work since. Not sure he'll be able to carry his speed the extra sixteenth mile. 2-NEW DICE will never be considered a serious closer but he is one of the few in here that has shown some ability to run on late. Could make a stretch run and possibly share.

3-MINNESOTA MOON stretches out. He finished fourth in both races this year but both were sprints and he's been better going long. With the stretch in distance and two solid races under him, he just might be tough on the lead. 4-IZEONDEC just finished second at this level. The barn was red hot last weekend. The fire can continue. 8-PERFUMER never really fired in his first start of the meet but he probably needed the race. The pace of this race could set up for a closer and he could be the ideal candidate to take advantage.

7-PLAY TWENTY drops. She displayed good speed in her two races this meet but those races were a little tougher. She should be far harder to catch with the drop to this level. 4-AUNT STELLA was a game winner in last. She fought for the lead for much of the race but still was able to draw off late. A similar effort today could get her back to the winner's circle. 3-ESSENTIAL BELLA makes her first start for this barn. She hasn't been in the best of form but runners moving to this barn often improve.