Classic Giacnroll tries to close out 2014 by winning Old Lang Syne

Parx Racing will close out its year on Tuesday with a pair of $75,000 stakes for 3-year-olds and up, the Auld Lang Syne at a mile and 70 yards and the Valley Forge at seven furlongs.

There’s not a lot of time to get sentimental about the Parx racing year coming to an end. Just like its Mid-Atlantic counterparts - Laurel Park, Charles Town, and Penn National - Parx will keep right on going through the winter. The 2015 season begins Saturday, Jan. 3.

The Auld Lang Syne and Valley Forge have attracted competitive fields. They are carded as the seventh and ninth races and separated by a head-scratcher of a first-level allowance. A pick three connects the races.

Carlos and Lisa Guerrero have been trying to get Classic Giacnroll a stakes win all year. He has come close on several occasions and has a reasonable chance of ending his year on a high note in the Auld Lang Syne.

“He’s doing well and likes to run fresh, but this is a really tough race,” Carlos Guerrero said. “I wanted to run in a three-other-than but they didn’t use it so I went here instead.”

In his last start Nov. 11, Classic Giacnroll defeated Cousin Stephen by a length in a second-level optional $25,000 claiming race. Cousin Stephen came out of that race to post an ultra-easy 5 3/4-length score at Parx for trainer Chad Brown.

“I think that was his best race of the year,” Guerrero said. “He came and got that horse, and then that horse came back to gallop.”

The Grade 3 Smarty Jones on Sept. 1 was also a sharp effort. Classic Giacnroll took the lead in midstretch but was run down by Protonico and beaten a half-length. Protonico came out of that race to win the Grade 3 Discovery at Aqueduct and finish a close second in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs.

Classic Giacnroll was gelded in June, which has helped him, according to Guerrero.

“He’s always been a good boy, his attitude was no problem,” he said. “But he would take some funky steps on his back end. He is going better now. He may have been uncomfortable.”

Auld Lang Syne Stakes, race 7

KEY CONTENDERS

Classic Giacnroll (Last 3 Beyers: 87-88-93)

◗ Has two recent workouts for his first start in seven weeks. Had a similar break prior to his November victory.

◗ J.D. Acosta picks up the mount from Kendrick Carmouche, who has ridden him in his last four races. Carmouche is named aboard Yougotthatgoinforu and Sailor’s Revenge.

Adirondack King (Last 3 Beyers: 97-59-97)

◗ Is 5 for 13 in his career at Parx and 0 for 17 elsewhere for trainer John Servis.

◗ Ran a big race last out in the $100,000 Swatara at Penn National, taking the lead in the stretch before being run down by Stormin Monarcho, who was winning his second straight stakes.

Yougotthatgoinforu (93-94-89)

◗ Also ran well in the Swatara, opening up a clear lead on the far turn of the 1 1/16-mile race before finishing third.

◗ Comes into this off a bullet five-furlong work.

Easter Gift (Last 3 Beyers: 88-93-72)

◗ Has the highest earnings in field of $683,000 and won a high-level optional claiming race at Belmont Park two starts back. He was fifth in the Clark last time out.

◗ Distance may be a little short for him.

Bama Bound, Javerre head Valley Forge lineup

The 10-horse Valley Forge is wide-open but two players who must be considered are Bama Bound and Javerre.

Bama Bound comes back on 10 days’ rest for trainer Ramon Preciado after winning a third-level optional $40,000 claiming race at six furlongs. Bama Bound is 3 for 7 at seven furlongs, and the extra furlong should work to his advantage.

Bama Bound earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 97 in his recent win.

Javerre is coming off a second-place finish behind his Cal Lynch-trained stablemate Calamondin in a third-level optional $40,000 claimer. Calamondin had won three of his previous four starts coming into that race. He finished sixth in last Saturday’s Grade 3 Mr. Prospector at Gulfstream Park.

Javerre should enjoy the seven furlongs of this race as it will allow him to settle and finish rather than have to work to stay in early contention as he sometimes has to do at six furlongs.

Tenango has won his last two races for trainer David Jacobson and also deserves consideration. He has not started since Nov. 7, however, and only has one recorded workout since that race, a three-furlong breeze at Aqueduct on Nov. 21.

In a previous version of this article it was incorrectly stated that the Clark Handicap is a Grade 2 stakes. It was a Grade 1 race in 2014.