Harrah's Philadelphia: Analysis for Friday 10/23

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: 3,4/6,7,8/1,6/5,6 ($12)
Best Bet: Test My Naughty B (Race 12)
Spot Play: Clouseau Hanover (Race 10)

Race 1 - Non-Winners 1 Race

2 - GALVESTON tired late after firing to the fore from post 8 last week. He's exhibited better staying power in previous outings, and now he gains the cosiest draw he's had all season. 6 - ROCK ON LOU sustained wide gains up the far side into the fastest quarter of the race two weeks ago, and still had enough left in the tank to take third. Credit his pressing effort - albeit futile - the start before, too. 1 - ISSA HORSE returns to action after 7-1/2 months off, and his two local qualifiers indicate solid staying ability. Last week, he was a good third behind the classy Captain Ahab. Can contend; mind value.

Race 2 - John Simpson Memorial (2yo colts and geldings)

2 - JACK FIRE chased for minors in a pair of Grand Circuit events at Lexington. That success on that stage gives the four-time winner a massive class edge in this group. Far and away the one to beat. 3 - LEPANTO seeks a fourth straight win after tearing through the Stallion Series and narrowly holding in the Liberty Bell two weeks ago. Likely pacesetter is going to have to pick things up a good bit today; mind value. 1 - PILOT HANOVER pressed and just missed Lepanto in their meeting two weeks ago, but showed promise in his uncovered gains for over four furlongs. Pole can help him stay fresh.

Race 3 - John Simpson Memorial (2yo colts and geldings)

6 - HIS BEATS HANOVER lifted into a pair of near misses in his last two tries, including in the Liberty Bell two weeks ago. While still a maiden, he's finally finding his best strides and some fast miles. 3 - CYRUS PEAK hit the exacta in five straight outings, via pacesetting, pocket and pressing bids alike. Versatility and form both encourage. 2 - NOT TODAY showed success in both the Excelsior and Freehold stakes series this summer, and he's well drawn to be involved with the pace from the outset. That said, raw speed will have to improve in order to contend for more than a minor.

Race 4 - John Simpson Memorial (2yo colts and geldings)

6 - SUNNY CROCKETT won his Liberty Bell split decisively two weeks ago after a no-match second in the Standardbred at Delaware. He's only missed the board once in his career; form and class tower over the others. 1 - FLEMSTEEN pressed a :28 4/5 third quarter up the far side in his last, and held third after flattening. He's hit the board in all but one start to date, and that fourth-place finish was a narrow miss off cover in the Keystone Classic. 4 - INCENTIVE has improved markedly in recent outings. While outmatched in the Haughton, he's fared OK locally and showed improved chasing ability in pursuit of Sunny Crockett in their last meeting.

Race 5 - Non-Winners $4,350 Last 5 Starts

6 - VALLEY OF SIN made an uncharacteristic break at Pocono in his last after a game second-place finish the week before. Now, the 10-year-old drops two levels below that runner-up effort. Well equipped to rebound. 2 - WINNING PRINCESS rises after delivering a dominant bottom-level score at Pocono in her last. The ease with which she drew off from Casa Palmera encourages greatly. 1 - OVERNIGHT SHIPPER gets a pass from his last two, owing to his sustained uncovered pushes through the middle half on both occasions. Pole can yield an easier journey for this value player. 4 - SPEED IT and 8 - NOBLE WARRAWEE were runners-up in their respective most recent starts, and can rise for minor shares in this event.

Race 6 - John Simpson Memorial (2yo colts and geldings)

5 - SOMEWHEREINVERONA almost lasted on the point in the Liberty Bell - but had to leave from the eight-hole to clear and hadn't raced in nearly a month before that. Expect sharper second out. 3 - MYSWEETBOYMAX rode the pocket to upend Somewhereinverona, but didn't have to exert himself at all to achieve that position. He did demonstrate some pressing ability in the PA Sire Stakes consolation, but I'd be wary of accepting a short price on him. 2 - BET MINE closed steadily from the pack to only miss the aforementioned pair by two lengths. With the short field and cosy draw, he won't have to make up nearly as much ground this time.

Race 7 - John Simpson Memorial (2yo colts and geldings)

4 - BILLY CLYDE drops in from a pair of even but non-threatening Grand Circuit outings at Lexington. He was a steadily-closing third over this course in an early-season PASS event. Class edge can carry; MacDonald opts on. 3 - WHICHWAYTOTHEBEACH just missed out of the pocket last out in his first start back since a hard-earned third in the Keystone Classic. He hasn't missed the board to date; versatility is apparent. 5 - ALWAYS B SWEET lifted late to just miss Mysweetboymax by a length after working for early position in their Liberty Bell split. Prior to that, he charged home in :25 4/5 to take second in a Kindergarten split. Solid stayer, to say the absolute least.

Race 8 - Non-Winners 3 Races or $30,000

6 - BUY IN was outmatched in his Liberty Bell division and was tasked with giving futile chase from astern to stakes-tested colts like Tru Lou, Allywag Hanover and Manticore. The big takeaway: His 1:50 1/5 mile is the fastest over three turns on this page. Far easier await today. 7 - TERRITORY hit the board in his last six and nearly rated his way to victory in the slop at this level last week. Wide draw is his main obstacle; form encourages. 8 - SEA OF LIFE broke the 1:50 mark twice at Lexington in Kentucky Sire Stakes competition — including in the Sept. 20 final in pursuit of Tall Dark Stranger. Pressing and stalking ability against the best of the best both noted.

Race 9 - Non-Winners 1 Race

6 - TRAIN was second in his last two outings, both from close tracking trips. Nap takes over the lines on this improving son of Cantab Hall. 1 - BOOM CITY chased respectably to hit the board in three of his last five, and this inside draw can help him stay sharp once again. 4 - INTEGER chased evenly in his last, but was demoted on account of the interference he caused by pushing in at the start. Improved staying power can help him boost exotic value.

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

6 - STARVIN MARVIN earned minors in four of his last five tries, all against significantly tougher. Raw speed and staying power are both ample for this group, into which he is the lone class dropper. 5 - CLOUSEAU HANOVER pressed well for second in a similar race at Pocono last out, and did the same three back. Ability to take air is a big plus. 2 - RAZOR'S EDGE rises after wiring second-level foes in 1:51 on Sunday. He had a fair bit of pace in reserve at the winning post on that occasion, which is encouraging on this bump up.

Race 11 - Non-Winners $2,500 Last 5 Starts

8 - BOMBAY HANOVER simply failed to get involved in his last couple starts, but showed ability at this level and one above last month. This group shapes up as fairly manageable, despite the wide draw. 4 - DRUNK ON YOUR LOVE pushed clear at the bell last week before yielding and gapping the box on the far turn. Give due credit for his early exertion. 3 - POGEY BEACH pressed steadily up the far side in the same race Drunk On Your Love exits, and that was after working to seal off the pocket early. Any trip relief can help him improve.

Race 12 - Non-Winners 3 Races or $30,000

1 - TEST MY NAUGHTY B looks for a hat trick after winning her last two at this level. She's well drawn to control the terms from the outset, but she does show ability to sustain uncovered progress as well. Lots to like. 2 - ANDELA lifted steadily to win at this level four back, and since chased into the board in her last two. Fairly consistent stayer should be able to stay close with ease once again. 6 - HIGHWAY TO THE SKY rebounded from a pair of breaks well with an even fourth-place effort over off going last time. She's an OK stayer, and as such figures to boost exotic value with a similar effort.

Race 13 - F&M Non-Winners 1 Race

5 - CAVIART LUCIA makes her debut off a stretch of improving qualifiers, both at M1 and Lexington. Late pace - albeit mostly on the straightaway - towers over these foes. 1 - MISS TANGO hit the board in six of her last seven, including recent pocket and pressing efforts. Pole keeps her close to the action once again; beware underlay potential. 3 - BEAVER CREEK MISTY had to work for the pocket in her last few starts, and she almost converted at over 100-1 in her last! Forgive two back owing to traffic. Solid value option.

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

5 - EFFRONTE A was better than even two back and improve mightily in his last: a first-over grind into a quickening pace to just miss Tact Tate N. He steps down from that gritty effort and draws favourably. 1 - CAPTAIN DISOMMA suffered from severe traffic trouble in his last, but kept even with a pretty strong pace. Pole can keep him close; clear sailing is a must. 7 - DRAGON STRIKES drops in class after even efforts for minors in his last three at Pocono. Value option in deeper exotics with similar staying power.