Race 1: Maiden Claiming $10,000, 3yo, Fillies, 1 1/16 Miles
3- Ash n’ Em: Finished a game second in her last race, more than eight lengths clear of third place in a very weak field. Doesn’t face much better horses here, and has early speed over a track where that’s been important.
5- Shall We Dance: Received decent support at the windows in her debut, but didn’t run a lick in that race. She’s gotten some time off since then, and I’ll give her a chance to improve.
1- Alibarbara: Made up decent ground in her debut, then lost all chance when she was impeded by a bad spill second time out. Still a bit of a question mark, but at least there are signs of life.
Race 2: Maiden Claiming $10,000, 3yo, 5 1/2 Furlongs
7- Higher Purpose: Didn’t do anything when facing much tougher last out, but he’s shown speed in the past. Has been working very sharply at Belmont, now ships down for the Tom Morley barn. His outside post makes him a bit shaky, but he’s nevertheless the most likely winner.
2- New Stones: Runs second off the layoff for Gonzalez, and drops in class after a dull showing last time. It looks like he’ll be close to the pace while saving ground, and should be heard from late.
6- Fix Me a Sandwich: Speed/fade type runs for the first time in six months here. He’ll try to outrun the rest early on, and if he improves on the form he showed last spring, could run them off their feet.
Race 3: Claiming $5,000, 4yo and up, 1 1/16 Miles
1- Ingadore: He sat just off the pace last out and couldn’t quite get there. Here, he’s one of the primary speeds, and the other serious early pace threat, Brahms Romp, is a notorious hanger. He has the opportunity to get a fairly easy lead from the inside, and should have enough left in the tank at the end to hold on.
4- Definitely Tonight: Got caught behind a loose leader last out, and was severely pace compromised. He still ran a very good second in that race. The worst-case scenario is that the same thing happens here, and he ends up with a piece. If an honest pace develops in front of him, and he’s forwardly placed enough, he’s got a chance.
2- Mucho Mas Grande: Closed sharply to win his last race going away, defeating a similar field as this one going away. It’s not easy to close on this track, but he’s already proven he can do it at this level. Must be respected.
Race 4: Starter Allowance $8,000, 4yo and up, 1 1/16 Miles
3- Persie: He’s been a superstar in the starter allowance ranks at Penn National, reeling off five wins in a row at one point over the track. He could end up very loose on the lead once again.
7- Watch My Dust: This one is the exact opposite of Persie. He’s going to be way behind early and try to launch one Hail Mary rally from the back. He just got up to win against similar horses two starts ago at Laurel, but lost last time out at Parx when chasing a front-running winner. The pace may work against him here, but he’s a strong candidate for underneath spots at least.
1- Double Whammy: Lost a stretch battle to Watch My Dust last time out, but figures to be more forwardly placed than his main rival here time. Outside of a dull try in the Claiming Crown two starts back, his form at this level has been consistently good.
Race 5: Claiming $5,000, 4yo and up, Fillies and Mares, 6 Furlongs
11- Miss Nosy: Gets a much-needed cutback in distance after tiring going a mile last out. She’s shown speed and faded while going longer distances over the last few months, so getting the chance to go shorter should be a major benefit. Gonzalez horses with speed have been thriving as of late.
10- D’wildcat Sunshine: Didn’t lift a hoof in her last race, but won two races at 5 1/2 furlongs a few months back at Laurel. Runs second off the claim for Richard Sillaman, who is 21% in recent times with that angle.
6- Letmeslidebyyou: Rolled up the inside to win a similar race last out. Should be on or near the pace.
Race 6: Claiming $12,500, 4yo and up, 6 Furlongs
1A- Shoe Loves Shoe: Showed speed and faded against better horses last out. The pace in that race was extremely hot; I don’t expect it to be that fast here. Look for McCarthy to be aggressive with his mount from the far outside.
4- Double the Cheers: He’s had a second-itis thing going in his last four starts, coming in second or third in each race. He fought pretty well down the stretch last time and ended up a close second, and was claimed for $5,000 out of that effort. Should press the pace and make a decent move in the back half of the race.
7- Jrock: Made his first start off a five-month break in his last start, finishing a solid third against an evenly-matched field. Should improve second off the layoff.
Race 7: Claiming $5,000, 4yo and up, 6 Furlongs
2- Zoo Yorker: The Vargas/Englehart jockey/trainer combination has been on fire as of late. This one didn’t do much first off the layoff in his last race, but he now faces slightly easier competition and has that race under his belt, which should benefit him.
6- Guick: Sat a great trip off a duel to win against similar horses last out. Runs for the third time since a long break over the spring and the summer.
3- Army Grey: He hasn’t been showing much speed in his last three races. When he showed it earlier in his career, he was excellent, at one point reeling off three wins in a row in the Mid-Atlantic. If he shows some early foot here, things will look good.
Race 8: Claiming $12,500 (n/w3L), 4yo and up, Fillies and Mares, 7 Furlongs
4- Thesweetesttaboo
6- Dialin
5- Tidy Stripe