Race 1: MdClm $16k 3 Year Olds 1M
1st: #6 Icy Dude, Linda Rice shippers always grab my attention and this one’s improvement from first to second out is significant. Drops to lowest level at smaller track, should do well.
2nd: #5 Top Hat Treason, first time for Ferris Allen was just nipped at the wire in his last going this distance over a muddy track.
3rd: #7 Baby Boy, Brittany and Sheldon Russell certainly have a track record of taking cheap horses and getting the most out of them, she’s been getting over-bet probably of late.
Race 2: Clm $8k 1M
1st: #2 Caladan, Capuano always grabs my attention, this one dropping to the lowest level of his career after being competitive all fall in OC$25k events. Bad loss in claiming company last out, hopefully blinkers grabs his attention early.
2nd: #3 Cause He’s Western, some early speed and has the Beyers previously to compete for the win here. Gets a much better jockey this time out.
3rd: #1 Charging Lion, acquitted himself very nicely at 12-1 last out, this is his level.
Race 3: Clm $5k 1M
1st: #9 One More Tom, extremely even field, this one bounced last out after a nice win going today’s distance at the $10k level two back. Beat 13 rivals in that one showing really nice closing speed and the third place finisher came back to win himself. Retains McCarthy today for Robert Klesaris.
2nd: #4 Lucky Junior, really nice rally last out from 11 lengths back after a half mile to close the gap and finish second. A serious closer who, given added ground, should be a threat considering there are a number of front runners in this one.
3rd: #7 Blue Danube, one of the aforementioned front runners, when he gets away with an easy lead he usually wins. Depends how the track is playing.
Race 4: Clm $5k F&M 1M
1st: #2 Life in Flash, slight bounce last out as the 6-5 favorite, previously had won two in a row huge at this level locally and is 3-5 with a 2nd under her belt. Giving her the nod after the bounce.
2nd: #8 Ravenel, returned to her career best figures after a couple really poor efforts when beating Life in Flash last out. Going to price in a bit of regression off that big effort.
3rd: #1 R True Sensation, consistently early speed, could stay up for third on a fast track.
Race 5: OC$25k 1M
1st: #3 Benandjoe, acquitted himself well in his first off the bench for Tim Wooley albeit in claiming company. Hugh McMahon claimed last out probably with eyes on the turf season, but with the blinkers last out he ran his best race yet over the dirt and defied a speed bias making up nearly 12 lengths in the last half mile. Expect improvement second time back.
2nd: #5 Rising Perry, he ran well last out and appeared to be tiring late going longer than today’s distance. Has that look of a horse that has woken up lately, being closer to the front of late.
3rd: #9 Going to the Lead, good case for this one on top who has been second 4 times in 5 tries here with a win in his maiden voyage in July. Think he needs a sprint.
Race 6: OC$35k F&M 6 & ½F
1st: #9 My Star Potential, love the looks of this one who absolutely devastated the field off the bench last out going one panel shorter than today at 9-1 for Claudio Gonzalez. Second time back with another little break she should be ready, has been breezing really well. Love her speed. If you toss the one outlier effort her resume is nearly spotless.
2nd: #2 Firth, another one with a good deal of speed on both surfaces, this one really did well in the slop last time. Definite contender.
3rd: #5 Blue Eyed Girl, clearly the morning line odds makers choice, she’s won 4 of her last 6 including the race she was claimed from the Joe Sharp barn at Churchill. Hard to know what she’s facing at Parx in starter allowance company but she’s been odds on in each of her last 6. Much tougher field here.
Race 7: OC$62k 3 Year olds 1M
1st: #1 Pitching Ari, Cesar Nambo might have made a mistake putting this one up for sale for $25k, Claudio spotted it and he immediately came back to win in OC$40k company by 3 lengths at today’s distance. Not much more you can ask for here.
2nd: #4 Tapping the Glass, love the name, this one has improved recently and scored the maiden win nicely last out earned a 69 Beyer. The second place finisher there also came back to win. Has been breezing well.
3rd: #7 The Poser, McCarthy and Hammy Smith team up with this one who is steady at this level earning two straight 64 Beyers.
Race 8: MdClm $10k 5 & ½F
1st: #4 Leading Man, 9-5 ML favorite was really close last time out and chart commenter said steadied ½, checked 1/8th, so maybe he was full of run that day but got bottled up. Has shown speed in the past, getting out front would help in this short sprint.
2nd: #3 Carthage, lightly raced 4 year old earned his best figure on turf but has shown some run on dirt as well.
3rd: #2 Egregious, been close a couple times on the bull rings of Charles Town and Timonium.