Harrah's Philadelphia: Analysis for Friday 7/3

Meet Stats: 25 - 70 (35.7%), $103.00 (-$37.00)
Best Bets: 4 - 5, $10.20 (+$0.20)
Spot Plays: 0 - 5, $0.00
Best Bet: Cafe Americano (Race 7)
Spot Play: With Out A Doubt (Race 8)

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

5 - FIFTY CENT PIECE is far and away the one to beat in the opener. She left hard for the pocket last out, battled for the lead on the far turn, and was only beaten by a head in the end. She's never missed the exacta, and her raw speed edge here is mighty at worst. Lots to like. 4 - ARCLIGHT HANOVER does seek back-to-back wins at the level, but he had the aid of second-over cover and pressure afore in his narrow score last Thursday. Capable, yes. Best value option? Not so sure, especially given Fifty Cent Piece. 3 - PROTEAS did his best to fend off pressure after being headed, but was ultimately just outdone by Scooby Goo — who tripped out from the pocket. Credit the work this one did through the final three-eighths.

Race 2 - F&M Non-Winners 1 Race

2 - PRIMROSE pressed stoutly to force a :28 4/5 third quarter on debut - in fact, she paced that split in :27 4/5 uncovered before just missing. She can very capably build on that outing coming right back. 6 - LIBSPEAK hit the board in 60% of her rookie starts, including Ontario series action. Her Gaitway qualifiers indicate fitness and chasing ability. 7 - HANNAH GRANT retains Dunn off a lone qualifier, in which she sustained gains off the far turn to narrowly miss. Staying power is a plus, to be sure.

Race 3 - Non-Winners $7,000 Last 5 Starts

2 - WINNING AMERICAN nearly swept to victory at Pocono last Sunday after sustaining massive gains through the back half. Similar await on arrival, Nap takes the lines, and the inside draw should yield a far easier task. 8 - HAMMER CREEK rises off an impressive first-out win, in which he opened ground steadily through the final three furlongs and was driven to maintain clearance to the end. One of many who can improve second out. 1 - NOBLE PRIZE made late inroads in the Hammer Creek race after circling four-wide off the home turn. A kinder trip can help him handle the step up enough for another minor share at potentially big odds.

Race 4 - Non-Winners 1 Race

5 - ALDEBARAN REVANI sparkled in her second Magical Acres qualifier, throwing a :27 3/5 third split before opening up significant ground on the far turn. The sky's the limit for the daughter of Donato Hanover, and she's already got ample speed over three turns. 7 - BEAUTIFUL MRS A added Lasix for her 3-year-old debut, and it resulted in a good chasing effort for a through the final 2-1/2 furlongs. She shared for second at 10-1 after mounting uncovered gains; expect sharper coming back. 4 - STITCH HANOVER was the other half of that tie for second, digging in despite being worn down through the far turn. Another second-out starter looking to improve.

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

8 - IDEAL WHEEL gets class relief and is reunited with Nap on arrival. Trip relief will go a long way here too - he made stout inroads without cover to force a :27 3/5 third quarter in his return outing. If even the slightest thing goes a bit more right for him, he can bounce. 7 - YUPPER rises off a driven win over first-level types. He's typically best in the presser-stalker role, and Dunn has a few options to land him second- or third-over again. 6 - LYONS WILLIAM had to work to clear from post 9 in his last before yielding and chasing to maintain second at big odds in his return for Faurot. Granted, that was nearly four months ago now, but there's enough upside provided he can get involved early. 2 - HERE COMES TEDDY was even after ducking dull cover last week, and 3 - LOVE THE ACTION showed ample raw speed in two Gaitway qualifiers to contend here.

Race 6 - Non-Winners 3 Races or $30,000

This race sets up as quite a showdown: 6 - BARRAGE HANOVER seeks three straight after solid two-move efforts both here and at The Meadowlands. Last Sunday, he vaulted to a decisive win after clearing early and yielding with a lap to go. His strength and momentum are clear as day. On the other side, 1 - FORCE N FURY demonstrated versatility in recent Gaitway qualifiers and had strong showings all round in the Kindergarten Classic last season. If he's suitably fit, he'll be tough to topple. That's the big variable. Exotic players can look to 5 - PATRIOT NATION as another inclusion, particularly given his proven ability to close off cover since returning to action last month.

Race 7 - Non-Winners 1 Race

2 - CAFE AMERICANO seems to have it all, at least enough to take on maidens: minor cheques in stakes races at two, a massive raw speed edge, and a solid first-out effort capped with a :27 last quarter. I don't see any real gait issues that this well-bred gelding has to deal with, and driver Andy Miller did steer this one to a runner-up effort in Lexington last fall. 3 - JEAN JEANIE can add significant value to exotics if she can build on her chasing effort for third at Dover against N2L company. Fitness is the variable, but the printed odds warrant a shot. 8 - PALM SPRINGS qualified decently despite mid-race traffic issues hampering late progress. Closing sectionals from 2020 qualifying lines indicate this one could be in better position to earn a minor share than in her rookie year.

Race 8 - Non-Winners 5 Races or $50,000

3 - HEART N SOUL DEO cleared, yielded, and gave futile chase to tougher from the pocket in her first start since October. Her 1:54.1 mile was mighty respectable, and post relief today can minimise early exertion. 6 - WITH OUT A DOUBT hooked four-wide out of traffic to just miss similar last out, and really earned my respect in doing so. She was loaded with late trot then; expect better yet now and not much harm to value. 2 - TRIXAR pressed hard through the middle half after being parked from post 8 in the same race With Out A Doubt exits. Post relief is bound to help him keep his bid alive a lot longer.

Race 9 - Non-Winners $4,000 Last 5 Starts

3 - MAJOR IMPACT rallied into a no-match second on debut, and he comes right back at the same level. Better starting spot can sharpen him up even more. 7 - CAJOLE HANOVER drops a level after posing a strong threat to third-level types at 20-1. Give credit to thee veteran's uncovered push up the far side. 8 - WAYWARD MAN chased to close the gap behind Chucky De Vie last out, and showed improved staying power compared to his return outing. He's warming back up.

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

1 - JK WILL POWER chased well to protect second behind a too-tough Captain Mulzac last Friday, and lifted off cover to beat just easier the week before. He gets a similar group today, and the pole should keep him close with ease. 3 - DREAM OF LUCK was a minor player with tougher at Yonkers before the shutdown. Forgive his lines two and three back on account of uncovered gains and post 8, respectively. 6 - ON THE VIRG was just even with tougher in his last few tries, but he showed better two classes above this one last December. He figures to be in better shape now after two solid chasing efforts at Gaitway. Minor option.

Race 11 - Non-Winners 3 Races or $30,000

1 - DIP ME HANOVER made steady gains into second on debut, and now draws far more cosily against similar competition. Stakes experience makes her a prime player once again. 3 - MOLTO BENE chased into three straight third-place finishes from off the pace to kick off her sophomore season, and her Meadowlands lines were capped by particularly strong last quarters. Solid contender in exotics. 6 - HANNAH moved out from third to challenge on the far turn at 10-1 last week, but Patriarch Hanover simply proved far too tough. Similar await this one, as well.

Race 12 - Non-Winners $2,500 Last 5 Starts

4 - DONAU gets another crack at bottom-level company after making uncovered gains into second up the far side and still holding third after levelling off. This group seems even a bit more manageable. 1 - CHEYENNE REIJANE is one of only three to drop in class, doing so after an even chasing effort in his second start back. The pole can serve to get him closer with minimal exertion. 7 - MOTOR CITY MARCO dropped to this level last Friday and passed tired foes for a minor share. He can serve to boost exotic value yet again.

Race 13 - Non-Winners 1 Race

8 - PUT TO RIGHT is McCarthy's choice of two in the field, and rightfully so. The Alagna trainee took on the best of the best all year as a freshman, and in fact lifted into second in an International Stallion division. This group is much easier. Seek value in exotics. 2 - BUCKWELL hit the board in half hiss starts to date, and chased well to save third last Wednesday in his seasonal debut. Expect stronger; clear sailing can aid, too. 1 - FURIOUS BEACH can contend here with a duplicate of his Meadows qualifier. He's really turned a corner in recent weeks, it seems. Minor option.

Race 14 - Non-Winners $7,000 Last 5 Starts

8 - MR D'S DRAGON was taxed a little too much in a :26 2/5 duel at Pocono last out, and as such toiled late at odds-on. Class relief can help him work back to better form. 3 - ON ACCIDENT pushed off cover to a mid-stretch lead on debut, although he was ultimately outkicked to the line. Despite defeat as the favourite, give extra credit to the additional ground he had to cover to achieve the lead. 4 - SEVENS HOPE A flattened in the breeze after a mild advance up the backstretch into a :27 4/5 third quarter. Similar await; a kinder trip can help him return to better finishing ability.