Double Berg hard to look past in turf feature

Four of the nine fillies and mares entered for turf in Tuesday’s $46,000 feature at Parx Racing are coming off victories, a number that would have been even larger if Je Suis Enchantee hadn’t surrendered a three-length lead in deep stretch to fall short by a neck as the even-money favorite in her most recent start.

Despite all that good recent form, Double Berg looks better than any other horse.

A 5-year-old mare from the barn of Parx’s third leading trainer, Phil Aristone, Double Berg comes into Tuesday’s second-level optional $25,000 claimer at a mile and 70 yards on grass with four victories in her last five starts. She is 4 for 6 on Parx’s turf course and two of her wins this summer produced Beyer Speed Figures that exceed the par of 80 for Tuesday’s class level.

Her chief rival may be the 3-year-old Giant Shadow, who has won her last two starts by daylight margins for trainer Edward Graham. She takes the next logical step up the class ladder after clearing her first allowance condition by two lengths on Sept. 5. Graham is 3 for 4 with last-out winners returning from a break of 31 to 60 days in a turf route. That notably includes Hardest Core, winner of the Arlington Million in August.

The other extremely sharp 3-year-old filly in the field is Step Aside Boys, who has put together a three-race winning streak since May while racing on dirt, turf, and Tapeta.

Race 8

KEY CONTENDERS

Double Berg (Last 3 Beyers: 72-71-82)

Makes her first attempt at this level after beating $12,500 starter allowance foes on Sept. 15. She is 2 for 3 returning in less than 30 days or less in a turf route following a win. Post 9 should not be a problem; horses are 5 for 33 (15 percent) from that slot in turf routes contested between a mile and 1 1/16 miles this season at Parx.

Giant Shadow (Last 3 Beyers: 74-78-63)

Woke up in her fourth career start and second race since coming to Edward Graham’s barn in late July, winning her maiden by more than nine lengths, and then followed up by clearing her first allowance condition at Laurel Park.

Step Aside Boys (Last 3 Beyers: 73-68-48)

Needed eight tries before she finally left the maiden ranks in an off-the-turf event for Pennsylvania-breds at Penn National. Returns to turf after wiring six rivals in an allowance on the Tapeta at Presque Isle Downs.

Je Suis Enchantee (Last 3 Beyers: 72-65-75)

This 3-year-old filly missed by a neck making her turf debut in the $100,000 Penn Oaks in May and was beaten less than three lengths in a stakes at Monmouth Park. Failed to last as the even-money favorite against far softer at Mountaineer last time out.

Avarita (Last 3 Beyers: 70-30-66)

Looked good clearing her first allowance condition on Sept. 11, coming home her last quarter-mile in 23.61 seconds.