Turf season in Chicago is here! Three grass races dot the card today at Hawthorne with huge fields abound…take advantage of these very contentious affairs. You can reach me on “X” @hkravets and/or email at hkravetshorse@gmail.com….. Post time is 3:40pm EST. Good luck, and CRUSH YOUR BETS ON DERBY DAY!
Race 1: 3 – 6 – 2
#3 Little Steven (8-5) is not exactly a win machine (1/14), but has the best speed figures in the field and should really appreciate stretching back out to two turns. His 5-wide rally last time came up short, but today he should sit off the horse to his outside, pounce on the far turn, and get the job done at a low price in the opener.
Race 2: 4 – 2 – 7
Early Pick 4 Ticket: 2,3,4,5,7 / 2,3,5 / 2,7 / 4,7 ($30)
TURF RACING IS BACK IN CHICAGO!! The first grass race of the season is a 5f allowance, and as expected, there’s plenty of early speed signed on. I’m hoping price-horse #4 Caly Bali (10-1) can take advantage of the pace and close from the back to win. She raced well in Minnesota last year going this distance, and it’s not easy to close going 5f at Canterbury. Ignore her last effort…it was 2-turns at FG and was 4-wide with no chance.
Race 3: 5 – 2 – 3
If #5 Red Label (3-1) goes off at his ML odds, I might be making a big win bet. The gelding faces a weak group and should sit a great trip on the outside stalking the Rivelli speed, who often quits late. He’s coming back quickly (2 ½ weeks), but is tons the best on paper in my view. Stalk and pounce.
Race 4: 2 – 7 – 6
It’s very hard to find good form in this event for $5k claimers going 6f, so I’ll take the chalk / class of the field with #2 Style (6-5). She takes the blinkers off, and based on her form here last year with blinks off, that would be PLENTY good enough to beat this crew. Only concern is she’ll be too far back early, but with any decent effort should win here.
Race 5: 7 – 4 – 1
Late Pick 4 ticket: 4,7 / 2,3,4,5,8,10,11 / 7,8,9 / 1,12 ($42)
Maidens going 6f compete in R5, and I have a feeling the Rivelli firster will be very live and take quite a bit of money. I’m choosing experience over possible talent with #7 River Ridge (2-1) for Illinois Derby-winning trainer Michael Campbell. The 3yo Kantharos gelding is bred to be good and precocious early. Most importantly to me, he has a start under his belt, a decent 4th vs. some good ones at Tampa. He puts the blinkers on and should show plenty of speed. I also like that he has a work over the Cicero oval. might pose a problem for First Love late as she’s in fine form as well coming from Turfway Park with Felix in the irons.
Race 6: 4 – 8 – 2
The first turf route of the season is a nut to crack. Of the many options, I’ll go with the soft favorite in #4 Simple Logic (5-2) for Trainer Block, but not with a ton of confidence. The last race was just a prep for this on dirt, so don’t take too much stock in that effort. Before that, he was very solid in New Orleans and here going two turns…any effort similar to those will give him a big chance to land in the winner’s circle.
Race 7: 9 – 7 – 8
In general, I don’t like to be as “chalky” as I am with these picks today, but they all seem very logical, and #9 Border Patrol (2-1) is no different. I’m a big fan of horses with tactical speed drawn to the outside, plus he has a nice work over the strip on 4/27. He could be a better horse on turf than dirt, but there isn’t much to beat in this race. Works are solid for his 2024 debut, and Block’s layoff numbers are very good.
Race 8: 1 – 12 – 7
The nightcap is a very tough two-turn allowance race, the type that should really interest bettors to close out the card. Veteran jockey David Cohen is now riding here on the weekends, and is aboard the classy gray gelding, #1 Degree of Risk (3-1). Only for 1/15 lifetime, he needed his last at Turfway, takes the blinkers off, and should sit a nice inside stalking trip in the bulky field. He has steady works from Ky. and should ready to fire a good effort, getting first-run on the deep closers.
