El Capitan brings element of unknown to Crowd Pleaser

A horse coming off back-to-back Grade 1 victories might seem to be a cinch while dropping to face Pennsylvania-breds. But considering that El Capitan has raced exclusively on dirt in Mexico and will be making his turf debut, he’s a huge question mark coming into Saturday’s $75,000 Crowd Pleaser Handicap for 3-year-olds at Parx Racing.

Beyond Smart, from the potent connections of Augustin Stable and trainer Jonathan Sheppard, and the Maryland-based Athelstane are the only horses in the 1 1/16-mile Crowd Pleaser with a win on turf.

In the co-featured $75,000 Power by Far Handicap for statebred fillies and mares, Miss d’Oro, the runner-up in a Grade 2 stakes last season, makes just her second try on grass. She concedes two to 16 pounds to her seven opponents in the five-furlong turf sprint.

CROWD PLEASER (RACE 7)

KEY CONTENDERS

El Capitan

◗ He went 4 for 6 in Mexico, including Grade 1 wins in his two most recent starts, before being transferred to John Servis.

◗ His sire, Elusive Quality, wins at an 18 percent clip with his turf-route starters.

◗ Servis is just 1 for 13 over the past five years with horses making their turf debut in a route following a break of 31 to 60 days, according to DRF’s Formulator.

:: Learn more about Formulator | Follow the @DRFFormulator Twitter feed and get free Formulator facts

Beyond Smart (Last 3 Beyers: 77-64-70)

◗ He has won his last two starts, including an allowance at Delaware Park.

◗ Sheppard is 1 for his last 10 in turf stakes for Pennsylvania-breds.

Wise Minister (Last 3 Beyers: 84-77-62)

◗ Sire Curlin is 6 for 43 (14 percent) with turf-route runners.

◗ Trainer Mike Trombetta is 3 for 18 (17 percent) over the past three years with 3-year-old first-time turf runners off a layoff of 31 to 60 days.

Athelstane (Last 3 Beyers: 69-76-68)

◗ He won his last two starts against statebreds.

◗ He needs to improve upon the Beyer Speed Figure earned in his turf debut to contend with Beyond Smart.

POWER BY FAR (RACE 8)

KEY CONTENDERS

Miss d’Oro (Last 3 Beyers: 71-75-72)

◗ She flashed good speed before fading going six furlongs at Belmont in her turf debut July 2.

◗ These same connections (Mr. Amore Stable, trainer Jason Servis) won this month’s Klassy Briefcase turf sprint with Ju Ju Eyeballs and the 2013 and 2014 Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup with Tightend Touchdown.

Daylight Ride (Last 3 Beyers: 73-53-63)

◗ She cuts back from 1 3/8 miles for her first turf sprint since a troubled fifth in January 2012.

◗ Sheppard is 4 for 17 (24 percent) with turf horses going from routes to sprints back in fewer than 30 days.

Previous Honor (Last 3 Beyers: 71-77-64)

◗ She has finished first or second in 4 of 6 turf starts at Parx.

◗ She was fourth and sixth the last two times she returned in 14 days or fewer.

Royal Renege (Last 3 Beyers: 66-74-70)

◗ She faces statebreds for the first time after posting a win and a second in her first four career starts, all in turf sprints.

◗ She might not get sufficient fast, contested fractions to set up her closing kick.