Handicapper Tips & Picks

2-MONEY AGENT could get the trip. He has been overmatched for most of his career but he did come on late to finish second in last when dropped to this level. This is his third race after the layoff and the pace should set up for his late run. 7-SHARPENYOURFAITH tired late in all of his races but he does run for the top barn and every one of their charges is eligible to win on any given day. 3-SOLOMON VANDY finished a couple lengths behind top pick in last but he was also racing at this level for the first time while making his debut for this barn. He could turn out to be the longest lasting of the speed.

1-ALDORA went off as the lukewarm favorite in her local debut but she was coming off a brief layoff and starting from the 11 hole. She finally made the lead late but getting there from the outside post expended too much energy. Drew the rail today. Makes her second start after the layoff. Faces a field without much other apparent speed, though Till could be first from the gate.  4-FLATHEAD FINALE adds blinkers and turns back in distance. She really hasn’t shown anything yet but she’s the only one in here with speed figures even approaching those of top choice. 7-TILL is another adding blinkers. She tired badly in her lone start but she was close through quick fractions in her only start. 

Multiple stakes placed 4-WENT WEST could be the best of these. He’s a versatile sort, with the ability to display speed or to come from off the pace but have to think with the abundance of speedsters in this race, his rider will be patient early and make a run at them in the lane. He finished third in the Work All Week stakes here last year in his last local appearance. 3-CORTESE is another with the versatility to handle any pace. He came from far back to finish second in last, his first start of the year. Might be able to finish even stronger this time around. 6-SHACKLEFORD STRONG was claimed for $5,000 almost exactly a year ago but has gone on to have a tremendous career, winning five of his next six starts. He finished an even third here a couple weeks ago. Would like him better if there wasn’t so much other speed in the race. 

7-CLYDE’S GREEN GO finished fourth in his career debut but hasn’t finished out of the money in six races since, with one third, one win and four close seconds. He ran well on dirt and turf, in open company and against state breds and he’s been adept both on and off the pace. Of course, he is a seven-year-old with only seven career races so that just might be a cause for concern. 2-JOE THE TAILOR wired the field in his career debut, showed little in the Futurity in his next start, and then came from off the pace to beat open company going away in his last start at Turfway. Certainly figures. 3-WILDWOOD RUBEN finished about 8 lengths behind top choice in last but he was running for the first time since June and he was caught in a speed duel with fast fractions. Think he’ll be the best of the speed today and should be far fitter with last tough race behind him. 1-RHODIUM’S PRIDE is hard to figure. He was a daylight winner in his first two starts but showed little in his last two. Maybe first time Lasix will get him headed back in the right direction.

2-GUN RUSH has been sensational at Hawthorne. He had six local races and won five of them while finishing second in the other. He took some time off after last summer’s meet but returned to racing at Turfway and was just as good, with a win and a close second in his first two races there. But then he tossed in a clunker in last, when he started for a different barn for one race. But, he’s back with Watkins today and will be reunited with the rider who guided him to five straight victories last year. Expecting him to wake back up. 8-HOT DAME was ignored in last and she wired the field. She ran under essentially the same conditions. However, that race was against the ladies and she’s meeting the boys in this one. On the other hand, her speed figures suggest she’s just as fast as many in here. Would like her better is there wasn’t so much other speed in the race but there is a chance that she’ll last long enough to share. 3-COUSVINNYSACANUCK should get an ideal pace ahead of him. He finished a distant third in his first start of the meet but he drew a much better post for this race and the pace could set up even better.

8-TIME HEIST was able to take advantage of a fast pace in last and fly by late to win going away. If anything, the pace of this race could be even better for him. The field is overflowing with front runners. If his rider stays patient again, he should get an ideal trip. With a win and a second to top choice in two races this year, 7-RISKY BOY certainly deserves consideration. He’s another with a pretty good closing move. He finished second to top choice in last. It can happen again. 9-ROBUST could be the best of the speed. He wired both local fields he faced and won three of his last four, finishing second in the other. He changes barns often, he was claimed again from last, but seems to do well with all connections. Very dangerous at this distance.

They were a little ambitious entering 1-RICHIESONAROLL in the Grade 3 Commonwealth at Keeneland in last, especially since he had to race without Lasix, but he could be tough to beat in his first local start of the year. He was claimed for $12,500 here last year but improved dramatically for his new barn. He went on to record two seconds and a pair of wins against much better company prior to last. He’s dropping into an allowance today and facing many rivals that were once, as he was, lower level claimers but many that also improved dramatically. He seems like the most logical winner but think there’s a good chance he could be overbet in what appears to be a deceptively competitive field. 3-PHILIPSBURG was pretty darn impressive in his local debut. He was also making his first start for this barn. This $300,000 auction purchase was claimed twice for $7,500, both from a maiden start and then from his first start against winners. That last race was his first on dirt. Somewhat surprisingly, his rider from that last win will be riding another from this barn in the same race. But that just means that they’ll be able to utilize a talented apprentice with his five-pound weight allowance. Has to be caught. Few of 6-SILENT SUNDAY’s races have been on dirt but he did win two of three on this surface. All but his last race were in California. He came from far back to score in his last at Turfway. Think he’ll be coming late.

Very tough race despite the short field. Can make a case for most in here. But also against. It should be noted that the runners in here can’t use Lasix. Most have had at least some degree of success without it and the cool temperatures on Sunday will help. Not sure what accounted for the terrible effort by 1-REAL MEN VIOLIN in last (besides the company) but he had a couple good works since so hopefully his connections have him figured out. 4-WOODCOURT effort in the Grade 2 Rebel wasn’t bad, considering the company he faced. 5-LE GRIS would probably be my selection but his races without Lasix left a lot to be desired. However, he is one of the two in here with a win at 10 furlongs, though his came on the lawn. 3-RAGUEL had two good races at the distance, his maiden win and a third in last. He’s adding blinkers for this. 2-PATRIOT SPIRIT is hard to gauge. He’s bred to run all day but his lone race around two turns was terrible. But, if that race was a fluke, he could turn out to be the best of the speed. 6-RAVIN’S TOWN is still seeking his maiden win. He will most likely be on the early lead. He has yet to race beyond five and a half. However, his barn has a history of surprising in big races and if his sharp pilot can lull the rest to sleep by putting up slow fractions, who knows what will happen.

5-GIMME THE CANDY can make it two in a row. Lightly-raced runner wired the field in his first start of the meet. Meets others with speed but can put them away and finish with something left. 2-JET FLIGHT needed last and might still be short. He had only one short and slow drill going into that race and it showed. But, he’s turning back in distance and should be fitter with a race under his belt. Can come rolling late. 3-ALIBI IKE scored in his local debut. This runner faced better for most of his career. He seems to have the perfect running style to score in a race like this.