Harrah's Philadelphia: Analysis for Friday 6/26

Best Bet: Patriarch Hanover (Race 12)
Spot Play: Mr Censi (Race 3)

Race 1 - NW 1 race lifetime

A number of these horses enjoyed minor stakes success in their rookie seasons, and a couple among them stand out: 5 - SUNUMA BEACH who pushed in the breeze for a :27 3/5 third quarter two weeks ago after chasing for Stallion Series minors last year, and 8 - BOMBSHELL HANOVER, who passed tired foes from astern in his 2020 debut after hitting the board in 5 of 7 as a rookie. Both have clear edges in terms of raw speed and class; the former gets a slight nod owing to the draw. 3 - LYONS FRIENDS is a second-time starter with ample closing kick to keep up with the top pair in his debut effort for Bongiorno.

Race 2 - NW2 races lifetime

7 - TREND made up ground at the end of her lone qualifier by way of a :27 2/5 closing quarter, and that was after being shuffled mildly up the backstretch. Capable filly debuts for solid connections. 3 - ANOKA HANOVER likewise made late inroads in her lone qualifying line, and her inside draw should yield a cosy trip. 8 - PUB CRAWL won her qualifier at Gaitway and was slightly faster than Trend over two turns, but will have to contend with a wide draw and a fair bit of inside speed, at least on paper.

Race 3 - NW7000 in last 5 starts

8 - YACHT WEEK gets significant class relief after exerting for early position, toiling in the stretch, and giving up third in the final sixteenth on Sunday. While he's got another eight-hole to contend with, he proved competitive at this level at the Big M two weeks ago. 4 - MR CENSI is the main danger on the step down from fourth-level company. A closer look at his Sunday line shows that he was shuffled to last up the backstretch, found room to split rivals at the eighth pole, and made up 1-1/2 lengths in the stretch once free. Solid mid-price option with clear sailing. 5 - ALL WEEK lifted late for third at big odds on debut at M1 two weeks ago. Expect sharper second out at the same level, and note his past success over this course, too.

Race 4 - NW 3 races or $30,000 lifetime

6 - WARRAWEE VELOCE was used hard to achieve the lead in his first start back, but ultimately was ground down in mid-stretch. Expect better second out; his win over this oval is a plus. 5 - MANKAT responded well in his June 18 qualifier after chasing for minors in similar company at Dover this winter. He can set the pace or close into it with similar ability. 4 - ESAI HANOVER does show stakes lines from his rookie year, but didn't do much in the late stages. Class relief is sure to aid, but how much?

Race 5 - NW2500 in last 5 starts

3 - VEGA STAR N cleared from post 8, set a hot pace, but gave way late in his debut for Peña last Saturday. Post relief should yield an easier task at the same level; expect sharper coming back, too. 7 - AMERICAN VENTURE chased mildly for fourth at 44-1 in the same race. He's right back with similar as well; back class duly noted. 5 - DONAU is a veteran in search of a kinder spot after $12.5k claimers proved too tough before the forced layoff. 1 - YUPPER chased respectably in his qualifier last Thursday but will require a kinder trip than fall lines indicated, and 2 - MOTOR CITY MARCO drops a level after proving absolutely no threat to second-level types on Sunday.

Race 6 - NW 1 race lifetime

7 - IT'S A SHORE THING figures to be sharp after three qualifiers already this month. If the breaking issues are in the past (and it appears they are), she has the raw speed and closing power to handle this manageable group. 8 - SIRENS SONG makes her career debut after two Gaitway trials. While she regressed in both of them, her 1:55 3/5 mile on June 15 is ample for these. 3 - JOE'S SIGN broke before the gate in her lone pari-mutuel try. Before then and since then, she turned in even qualifying lines. Cosy draw can get her closer to the action.

Race 7 - NW4000 in last 5 starts

4 - WAYWARD MAN tired amid his pursuit of tougher at the Big M on debut. He figures to be sharper second out, and he gets a much easier group. 3 - FITZGIBBONS debuts for Pat Lachance after struggling in Ontario as a 3-year-old. That Magical Acres qualifier encouraged - while he didn't gain ground, he showed ability to pass horses. This is a cosy enough spot. 7 - MASTER CLAVE debuts for new connections after proving a non-factor - but in touch - in similar races at Dover this winter. More aggressive handling is bound to help him find better results.

Race 8 - NW10000 in last 5 starts

2 - CAPTAIN MULZAC improved well off excess cover in his first start back. He draws far more kindly on arrival, and should be sharper yet against similar. 3 - GINGRE TREE MARTY rises off a powerful front-end Pocono score which saw him turn aside pressure on the far turn and widen his margin to the line. 5 - JK WILL POWER also seeks back-to-back wins, but may be overbet on account of his coming just below this level. Late kick off cover encourages, though.

Race 9 - NW 5 races or $50,000 lifetime

The race goes through 5 - QUEEN OF THE HILL, who enjoyed great success as a rookie, but there are a couple here who, at fair prices, could present better value options, especially with a race under their respective harnesses already. 6 - MISSION HILL faded after an overland journey on debut, but still turned in a 1:55 3/5 mile off the shelf. His earlier lines this year indicate far better closing ability. As such, I'm expecting him to rebound. 8 - TRIXAR will have to overcome post 8 on arrival from Pocono, but he figures to get a slightly easier task today compared to chasing a :27 4/5 third quarter off 3-1/2 months away.

Race 10 - NW 1 race lifetime

1 - GIULIETTA was no match for winners last week, but she has the raw speed to contend in this more manageable group. Closer early position can go a long way. 2 - KHEDIVE qualified evenly in 1:58 at Magical Acres a couple weeks ago. The first-time starter has ample speed and staying power. 4 - TUIS SHADOW won his Pocono qualifier in going-away fashion. Noted sub-2:00 miles put him in the hunt for a minor.

Race 11 - NW7000 in last 5 starts

3 - IZOH faces significantly easier than any field he took on last fall, and he does so off a qualifying win. The 6-year-old kept an uncovered bid alive pretty well against two levels tougher two back. 4 - NEWCASTLE has a race to his credit already since the shutdown, and now he gets class relief after passing tired foes and posting a 1:54 individual time. Mind value. 2 - MAX'S BEAST made steady inroads through the middle half of his last race before flattening, and he held his own twice before that after doing significant amounts of work. Similar await; capable if fit.

Race 12 - NW 3 races or $30,000 lifetime

5 - PATRIARCH HANOVER hit the board in over half of his rookie season starts, including a no-match second to Amigo Volo in the Matron. In two starts already this season, he's shown strong closing kick and ample raw speed. Last out, he circled wide off cover and lifted into fourth by way of a :26 4/5 last quarter. The one to beat. 7 - MUSCLESANDMASCARA didn't make nearly the same splash on the Grand Circuit, but won here in October. She was largely outmatched in M1 qualifiers, but did show signs of improvement in her second morning outing. 1 - HANNAH can prove a factor if she's able to leave her breaking issues behind. She pressed well for second in the Liberty Bell here last fall, and she sustained progress wide of foes in her May 31 qualifier. Minor option as such.

Race 13 - NW 1 race lifetime

3 - DEVIL OR ANGEL chased evenly with a rapidly quickening pace for third in his return outing. He was mighty sharp there, and this group seems more manageable yet. 1 - REVOLT closed off cover for third at 70-1 in his return, also against similar. The pole will give him a far easier task this time around. 7 - SWEET MILO only hit the board once in eight tries as a rookie, but his minor cheques against restricted stakes company are cause to consider him for a share in this kinder group.

Race 14 - NW4000 in last 5 starts

4 - MORE THE BETTER N overcame the back row admirably in his return effort, making steady gains wide of foes in the middle half before only regressing minimally in the straight. Expect sharper second out; similar await. 7 - NY WHITESOX dug in grittily to win his qualifier last Thursday, and he seems to fit well here. In his lone 2020 outing, he chased for a no-match second against similar at Yonkers. 1 - WAVES OF FIRE A was even against similar at Yonkers, but has been off since. Pole at least can keep him close to the action with ease.