Harrah's Philadelphia: Analysis for Friday 10/2

Through Sept. 13 – 50 days - Top Selections - Overall
Win %: 272 for 702 (38.7%) ITM: 497 for 702 (70.8%)
Win Dividends: $1,191.50 $2 ROI: $1.70
Pick-4: 4,8/6,7/4/1,2,5 ($6)
Best Bet: Myreanna (Race 3)
Spot Play: Tiger Thompson N (Race 8)

Race 1 - Non-Winners 3 Races or $30,000

3 - BUY IN is absolutely worth another shot. After a speed break at the start last week, he caught the field and gained steadily into the second-fastest quarter of the race before flattening. If he can get away cleanly this time, he's a major threat. 1 - SWEET ANGEL BOY pounced from the pocket for a stakes win in his last. He draws a fourth pole in five starts; stakes success can carry him into this older group. 4 - MYSWEETBOYMAX was one-paced in the same Keystone split that Sweet Angel Boy exits. Before that, he pressed and chased respectably in PASS events. Staying power is ample for these, and Nap opts aboard.

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

2 - WORLD CLASS DUKE rallied from astern to save third in each of his last two - and he made considerable ground. Class relief can land the veteran closer. 4 - WILDMAN pressed well at Freehold last out before levelling off. Similar await on arrival; switch to three turns helps staying power. 6 - HERE COMES SWIFTY chased evenly for minors in both tries since dropping to this level. Marcus stays on.

Race 3 - Non-Winners 1 Race

1 - MYREANNA finished second in six of 10 starts to date this year - mostly against stakes company. Significant class edge duly noted; the one to beat. 2 - GRAN PARAISO stayed on far better in his last two tries, and should be able to gain another cosy stalking spot by way of this inside draw. 5 - GINGER TREE DAR brings a three-race win streak to the big city after enjoying success on the fair circuit. Recent lines indicate improvement from early in the season.

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

8 - FEELING CAM LUCKY may have to overcome the eight-hole, but he did over come a wide journey against tougher enough for third last week. He's got a clear class edge, and he didn't particularly lack for pace when kept astern in tougher groups late in the summer. 2 - RAINBOW ROMANCE N figures to make an impact in this much kinder spot. He drops in class again and can benefit from this inside draw after being kept astern in two Yonkers tries. He proved his late staying power sufficiently there, I thought. 7 - LAREDO TORPEDO N cleared, yielded and chased well to just miss McErlean at 12-1 last week. A near identical set of circumstances is present this afternoon.

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

4 - SHARED INTEREST A looks to repeat on arrival from Harrington. Horses dropping into this race from tougher events have lacked of late in terms of staying power; this one's form can continue to build. 5 - TONY SOPRANO circled boldly to just miss at this level after a break cost him all chance two back. The 20-time winner is on the improve again. 6 - CASA PALMERA drops below her last winning level after a failed bid from astern at Pocono. Gains Nap this time.

Race 6 - 2YO Non-Winners 2 Races

4 - CLANCY'S BAR exits stakes company, where he was a consistent minor player all summer. Can press the pace or rally off cover alike. 7 - KEEPTHETAB HANOVER was one-paced from pocket and close tracking trips to hit the board in three of his last four. Wide draw will present an added wrinkle, but he's got enough promise to at least share. 1 - RARE MUSCLE improved mildly for third last out after floating forward for position. Pole keeps him closer yet on debut for Del Cid.

Race 7 - Non-Winners 1 Race

4 - PACK UP AND GO chased well to protect second in his last two outings since toiling in stakes company. He's fared fine at this level; raw speed edge is extremely clear. 8 - MAD MAN HILL worked to the lead heading to the far turn last out, but was eclipsed by the rising Holy Moment. Wide draw is his main obstacle today. 6 - GALVESTON does better when near the action, but it's worth noting he made up 8-1/2 lengths without the aid of cover in a :28 third quarter last week - and then did not regress in the stretch.

Race 8 - Non-Winners $10,000 Last 5 Starts

7 - TIGER THOMPSON N was pretty badly compromised on the far turn two weeks ago, but kept even in the stretch to save fifth. He cuts back to his most recent winning level now; clearer sailing makes him a viable roughie choice. 6 - SOMEWHERE FANCY rises after pushing clear up the far side last week. In his last try with similar, he chased well from an earned pocket to just miss the stakes-tested Aflame Hanover. 2 - SEMI TOUGH drops in class after an even stalking effort last week and a failed pressing bid before that. Cosy draw can land him near the action without much exertion involved.

Race 9 - Non-Winners 3 Races or $30,000

4 - SWEET HEART AS invaded last week and found three turns to her liking. She secured the lead and sprinted off from the chasing Bang Bang Boinga to win convincingly on arrival. Similar await; Nap opts to remain aboard. The one to beat. 1 - BANG BANG BOINGA figures well to boost exotic value after hitting the board in six of his last seven and eight of 10 this year. Pressing and stalking ability both noted. 5 - BEYOND ORDINARY invades from M1, where he enjoyed good results and demonstrated versatility in his last two outings. Both qualities encourage.

Race 10 - Non-Winners $7,000 Last 5 Starts

A few credible options present themselves in this race: 1 - REPEAL OR REPLACE lifted well to just miss far tougher at Pocono last week with a 1:49 4/5 performance; 5 - BEACH BOOGIE drops back to a proven level after passing tiring fourth-level rivals from astern, and 2 - MR PROFETA looks to rebound from a break on the step down to this level last out, and past stalking and closing efforts at the level prove that he's capable. The lack of pace in this field - at least on paper - yields the biggest question marks. How this race will play out is a big quandary, and likely the key to its outcome. Judge value real-time as best as possible.

Race 11 - Non-Winners $4,000 Last 5 Starts

4 - WINDSONG PIONEER steps down again after an even effort last week. Past success in higher conditions and upper-winners races encourages. Gains Nap. 3 - LANDONFITZ just missed at 54-1 out of traffic on the rise last week, and he's hit the board in four of his last five. Rising stalker-closer can boost value in all exotics. 2 - KAREN HANOVER steps up mildly again after protecting a no-match second from an earned pocket at Pocono last out. Forgive two back on account of sustained wide exertion early on.

Race 12 - F&M Non-Winners 1 Race

1 - LYNNLY'S MOM was fourth or better in her last three tries at this level, and she has demonstrated steadily improving raw speed. More manageable foes await today. 8 - TEMPURA HANOVER stayed on well in her last two, but must contend with yet another wide draw. Demand fair value on this rookie. 6 - BEAVER CREEK MISTY worked hard for position in her last two starts, and only regressed mildly while holding onto minor cheques. With a general lack of inside speed here, she should be able to land close again.

Race 13 - Non-Winners 3 Races or $30,000

5 - KINDA LIKE BUD nearly got home at 38-1 last week after riding the pocket, and he lifted similarly at eights three back. Similar await; Berry opts to remain on. 1 - DOODLE HANOVER won locally two back and then drilled a 15-1/2 length victory at Bloomsburg last weekend. Sharp enough; pole keeps her close. 4 - CATWALK AS tries three turns after breaking at Yonkers. Gains Nap in her local debut; raw speed from Scioto lines is ample.

Race 14 - Non-Winners $2,500 Last 5 Starts

1 - PREMIER ROCKSTAR passed tired foes from astern a level above this one in his return last week. As recently as August, he was competing in upper-winners events locally. Now, he bottoms out, draws the pole, and is Nap's choice over two others. 8 - QUATRAIN BLUE CHIP makes a similar drop after chasing off cover for third behind McErlean last week. The wide draw is his biggest obstacle today. 3 - ODDS ON COLUMBUS chased evenly to save third at 13-1 in a similar race at M1 in his last. Before that, he had excuses for late regression, namely early exertion from a wide draw and a sustained pressing bid. Can share for a bigger piece with a kinder journey.