Harrah's Philadelphia: Analysis for Friday 10/16

Witherite - PHL (through Oct. 11 – 66 days)
Top Selections - Overall
Win %: 351 for 927 - ITM: 648 for 927
Win Dividends: $1,542.00 - $2 ROI: $1.66
Pick-4: 1,3/3/1,2,3/1,2,6 ($9)

Best Bet: Anoka Hanover (Race 8)
Spot Play: Mr Censi (Race 12)

Race 1 - Non-Winners $2,500 Last 5 Starts

2 - ROUGH OODS steps down on arrival from M1 after poor draws hampered his ability to work into striking range. He fared better locally; class and post relief help him stay prominent with ease. 7 - CASH IS KING also drops a level following a respectable pacesetting effort in second-level competition. Staying power for minors in third-level events last month is awfully encouraging. 6 - DRUNK ON YOUR LOVE earned minor cheques in his last four Pocono tries, all against lower-level fields but all via differing tactics. Versatility and raw speed noted.

Race 2 - Non-Winners 1 Race

8 - BORN TO BE GREAT had a solid debut last Wednesday. He pressed a quickening tempo up the far side and fought gamely all the way to the end. His 1:57 3/5 mile gives him a speed edge in this group; wide draw is his primary obstacle. 4 - DIVAINTHEREDDRESS invaded from the fair circuit last week and pressed her way into second at 14-1 behind a tough Gran Paraiso. Solid effort on which to build; current form encourages. 6 - MIDNIGHT CITY has hit the board in his last six, all from on the pace or in the pocket. While he's regressed in the stretch pretty consistently, it hasn't been severe. Minor player in this kinder group.

Race 3 - John Simpson Memorial (2yo fillies)

2 - HEART OF MINE won well in a NY Sire Stakes event at Saratoga in August, and was a good second twice on that circuit as well. She's hit the exacta in 75% of her starts to date; kind draw keeps her close to the pace — right where she likes to be. 6 - DARBY HANOVER was overmatched by NY champion Test Of Faith in the Kentuckiana, but still turned in a :26 4/5 closing split over the long Hoosier straightaway. This represents a kinder group; Stallion Series form can carry a bit better here. 4 - PODIUM GIRL seeks a third straight win after demonstrating versatility in recent Freehold stakes. She's been very well managed by Ryder so far; can share on the step up.

Race 4 - John Simpson Memorial (2yo fillies)

6 - LOVE MUFFIN took on tougher in the Keystone and Liberty Bell and fared OK after tearing through the Stallion Series this summer. The six-time winner has done most everything right so far; recent improvement is very encouraging. 5 - CHEESY HANOVER tired from the pocket in her last, but fared better on the Stallion Series circuit through the summer. Looks to rebound; staying power's there. 3 - NINETEEN CRIMES parried pressure and scooted clear to win at Pocono in her last after being outmatched in minor stakes. She seems at her best when able to dictate the terms to some degree.

Race 5 - Non-Winners 3 Races or $30,000

1 - TEST MY NAUGHTY B pushed clear and evaded a couple late challengers at this level last week. Two back, she pressed well out of post 8, and three back, she pressed to a brief lead before Willing Hanover upended her on the line. Quite strong of late at this level. 6 - BANG BANG BOINGA gains Tetrick amid a stretch of solid pressing and stalking bids for minors. He was second in four of six since dropping to this level. 4 - ANDELA lifted steadily to win at 11-2 three back, and most recently gave good chase off cover to finish second behind Test My Naughty B. Solid stayer, generally speaking. 8 - GRAN PARAISO rises off a strong maiden win and can lift amid good form; 2 - KHEDIVE overcame a break to save third last out after toiling in the pocket thrice before.

Race 6 - John Simpson Memorial (2yo fillies)

4 - MACKIE HANOVER seeks a third straight win after edging clear stoutly in her last two. Strength of her Liberty Bell score encourages; Tim ops on. 5 - LYONS SOFTASSILK toiled from the pocket in the Bluegrass and stayed even amid traffic in her She's A Great Lady elim. She's taken on some of the toughest competition in this group, note. 3 - HIGH MINDED stayed on well for third at big odds in the KY Sire Stakes final two back, but since failed to convert from the pocket in an overnight. Fast miles attract, but be mindful of value.

Race 7 - F&M Non-Winners 1 Race

1 - MISS TANGO can set the pace, absorb pressure, or deliver pressure - she's hit the board in five of six via a variety of tactics. Pole puts her right in the thick of the early action and enables her to stay sharper yet late in the mile. 3 - KEEP WATCHING hooked four-wide off the home turn and closed steadily from the back to take third in her last. Minor player of late has shown improved pressing and stalking ability, too; kinder draw yields an easier task. 6 - LYNNLY'S MOM was used for position before her failed first-over bid into a :27 3/5 third quarter last week, so we can afford to give her a pass. The start before, she kept a sustained first-over push alive amid much more tolerable fractions. Respectable minor option in this spot, especially if price holds.

Race 8 - John Simpson Memorial (2yo fillies)

3 - ANOKA HANOVER won a pair of Grand Circuit events at Lexington earlier in the month, and she's steadily working into her own. In the Bluegrass, she lifted off cover to reach, and then in the International Stallion, she brushed at the midway stage before evading the likes of Splash Blue Chip. Absolutely the one to beat. 2 - MYREANNA rises back to stakes company after edging clear to break maiden at tens-on in her last. She chased more than OK in minor stakes through the summer. 7 - JUST JOSHING may prove a value player in deeper exotics, noting success on the NY Excelsior circuit and her near miss from an earned pocket against open stakes company at Delaware in her last. She does have leaving ability from outside draws; can form carry on this jump up from the Empire State's minor circuit?

Race 9 - John Simpson Memorial (2yo fillies)

2 - ALBERGITA HANOVER can lead, press, or close from astern and enjoy success. She nearly lasted at M1 in her last, but that :26 3/5 last split proved just too tough for her. Versatility and form against some of the toughest rookies in the region encourage. 3 - SKYY drilled a 1:53 2/5 win over this track last Thursday after good chasing efforts for minors in stakes company. Versatility and form both noted. 1 - CLASSICIST won locally from an earned pocket in her return to Philly a couple weeks ago. Before that, she enjoyed mixed results in the KY Commonwealth series. Pole keeps her close enough with ease.

Race 10 - Non-Winners 3 Races or $30,000

1 - TERRITORY hit the board in six straight now, and is in a perfect spot from the pole to be on or near the pace - right where he likes to be. This is a perfect spot for him; slight edge. 2 - CYRUS PEAK is back with McCarthy - they won together from an earned pocket two back. He does rise to face tougher older company after a narrow miss in restricted stakes company, though. Mind value. 6 - SOUTHWIND DREDGE pressed and closed into third in his last two tries at this level. His staying power seems to have improved since the addition of Lasix; value option for deeper exotics with similar.

Race 11 - Non-Winners 1 Race

2 - GOLD STONES trotted a 1:55 2/5 mile on debut for Engblom at The Red Mile a couple weeks ago after rearward trips plagued her on the PASS circuit. She should be able to land close without much trouble in this paceless event. 1 - BOOM CITY can benefit from this kinder draw as well. He's hit the board in four of eight, with a pair of second-place finishes sprinkled in as well. The lack of early speed on paper can help him most. 4 - TRAIN takes on older after working to save second at big odds at Pocono in his last. Improvement noted; can share at a price.

Race 12 - Non-Winners $7,000 Last 5 Starts

7 - MISTER DAYTONA N only bumps up mildly on arrival from Pocono, where he parried sustained pressure to prevail in 1:52 last week. He beat similar from the pocket here six back, mind. Solid option in a fairly wide open event. 6 - FOX VALLEY INFERNO improved in his second start at this level last week, sustaining a bid into second before flattening. Still, that was a more than respectable effort at 15-1. 1 - MR CENSI was hindered by traffic on the final turn on the drop to this level last week, but he was able to shake free and save second. Clearer sailing makes the 23-time winner a stronger threat yet.

Race 13 - Non-Winners 1 Race

4 - SHOW STOP improved steadily into a no-match second behind Pack Up And Go at this level last out after an even but traffic-troubled journey the week before and a belated bid into third at long odds before that. Warming up now, for sure. 3 - WARRAWEE VICTOR has been fourth or better in his last five tries. Give him a pass for his last owing to the pressure he withstood through a :27 3/5 third quarter. 8 - GET ALONG drops in from a respectable third at 59-1 in the Liberty Bell. Before that, he stalked just better than even at this level. Wide draw is an added obstacle.

Race 14 - Non-Winners $4,000 Last 5 Starts

1 - SEMI TOUGH pressed into a :26 4/5 third quarter and levelled off in his last, but circled three-wide on the far turn to just miss two levels above this one in his last local start. He continues to descend on the class ladder; he shouldn't need much more trip relief in order to convert. 8 - BOMBAY HANOVER drops to a level where he just missed four back after giving futile chase from astern and being mired in traffic in his last three at Pocono. Wide draw is his main obstacle, but there's a chance for him to get involved early given a general dearth of early speed here. 3 - HEY RUN ME OVER passed tired rivals from astern at massive odds last out, and now drops to his most recent winning level. Kinder draw knocks the amount of ground he'll have to make up in half, maybe more.