Race 1
Top Pick: #2 Phlash Drive – Fastest Last Race Speed. He finished a strong second last out at a higher level ($16.5k) and previously won for $7.5k optional claiming, beating several of today's rivals. Strong trainer and the jockey/trainer combo is clicking. Tactical early speed fits the track favoring early pace types. This horse checks every box – class drop, speed, connections, and running style. He’s the one to beat.
Upset Pick: #3 Willhe Love (8/1) – Strong form in 2025: Two wins and a second in his last four. Wired fields going 6f and looks suited cutting back to 5½f with early speed. Ranks high in early pace ratings. Past effort against much tougher is a toss—he can rebound in this class. Potential to clear off early from post 3, especially if #2 and #5 sit just off. With most eyes on the favorites, Willhe Love could steal it on the front end if he breaks sharp and catches them napping.
Race 2
Top Pick: #1 P R Odds Setter (2/1) – Career record of 10 wins from 21 starts with back-to-back stakes performances this year. Strong early pace figures and consistent speed figures. Trained by Jason Wise, who is 32% in sprints, and ridden by top jock Jose Medina. Beat or ran well against several of today’s rivals in previous stakes events. Checks all boxes for class, form, speed, and connections. At 7 years old, she remains sharp.
Upset Pick: #6 Lady Mazatlán (10/1) – Back-to-back wins to start 2025, including a March 15 victory over solid company. Earned best last-out speed figure in a field where very few are breaking into that range. Hot trainer (Anderson 46% at the meet), and jockey/trainer combo is hitting at 27%. Freshened for this race (2-month layoff), but working steadily. Has never tried 5f, but tactical speed and pedigree suggest she can handle it.
Race 3
Top Pick: #5 Subsidize (5/2) – Consistently ran against stronger competition in 2024. Now dropping into a realistic spot after facing stakes and tougher allowance runners. Drops in class, strong trainer angle (Rte-to-Sprint 21%). Gets back to a level where he’s dangerous. Can win on the drop.
Upset Pick: #6 Thundershook (6/1) – A 9-year-old warhorse with over $420k in earnings. Solid dirt record and experience at the distance. He comes off a solid win at Fonner with the best last-out speed figure and owns the top late pace figure. He’s 1-for-3 this year and may sit the right trip behind a contested pace. Has class and fitness.
Race 4
Top Pick: #2 Trip to Freedom (6/1) – This 7-year-old mare is in sharp form and boasts the highest Prime Power rating (109.9). She’s been facing slightly tougher company and holds multiple top figures in both early and late pace. This will be her second start off the claim for a high-percentage barn (42% win in 2nd start with new trainer), and Jose Medina (hot jock) returns to ride. She consistently shows tactical speed and can press or stalk.
Upset Pick: #3 Reaux Bina (10/1) – Her last two races were deceptively good—running second twice while earning top pace figures. Good trainer, and she’s been running on deeper circuits with success. If she reverts to her March/April form and gets a clean trip, she’s very dangerous at a price.
Race 5
Top Pick: #1 Tizkandoit (2/1) – He drops from a $5k claimer to this $2,500 non-winners-of-2025 level. That’s a significant class drop which often wakes up horses. He’s a two-time winner and has faced tougher company throughout his career. In his lone 2025 start, he was only beaten 1.5 lengths vs. a tougher field, despite not racing for over 100 days. He’s had several maintenance works this spring, suggesting the barn has kept him fit despite the layoff.
Upset Pick: #9 Gold Crusher (6/1) – This 8-year-old is a class dropper with a stellar career record ($142k in earnings). He's posted top dirt speed figures and gets a trainer hitting at this meet. His last two were deceptively tough; he's much better than those lines suggest and is 2nd off the claim, a strong angle for this barn.
Race 6
Top Pick: #4 Dalton’s Rutrow (4/1) – Consistently fast and proven against better (raced at Oaklawn in tough company). Won a starter allowance at OP earlier this year. May sit the perfect pace-pressing trip and pounce late in a race lacking other early speed. Trainer change is a concern, but form is strong enough to overcome it.
Upset Pick: #8 Armavir (5/1) – Coming off a solid second. He’s hit the board in 2 of his last 4 starts and has shown improving form since moving to Nebraska. The outside post could be tricky, but it should allow him a clean stalking trip just off the leaders. Armavir has the class, speed, connections, and setup to win this race — and he's still flying a bit under the radar at 5/1.