Harrah's Philadelphia: Analysis for Friday 8/28

Win %: 185 for 463 (40.0%) ITM: 328 for 463 (70.8%)
Win Dividends: $751.70 $2 ROI: $1.62
Best Bets: 24/32, $69.10 (+$5.10)
Spot Plays: 4/32, $21.80 (-$42.20)
Pick-4: 1,7/1,2,4,7/3,6/8 ($8)
Best Bet: Nicholas Beach (Race 10)
Spot Play: Quatrain Blue Chip (Race 7)

Race 1 - Non-Winners $7,000 Last 5 Starts

7 - KINDA LUCKY LINDY was stung by post 8 last out, but still held fourth after being shuffled up the far side. Minor placings in tougher races do encourage a great deal. 5 - FREDDIE MAC likewise drops a level after a one-paced pocket effort at Pocono. Gains Tetrick on arrival; should be close with ease. 2 - AMADOR stayed on best of any in recent fourth-level races and reached from the pocket against tougher six back, but that all may yield artificially low odds, especially with Nap aboard. Include, but mind value.

Race 2 - Non-Winners 1 Race

7 - BRUTALLY LUCKY rides three straight runner-up efforts into this race, and he boasts a speed edge in addition to his clear form advantage. 3 - MIND YOUR BIZ broke early last week, but was a credible third at 25-1 the start before. Gains Andy; can boost value all round if flat. 8 - GINGER TREE DON pressed and levelled off in his seasonal debut, but didn't lose that much ground after reaching the apex of his bid. Expect stronger second out.

Race 3 - Non-Winners $2,500 Last 5 Starts

3 - POGEY BEACH is starting to ramp up, as is evident by improved performances in his last two. Just last Friday, he pressed stoutly on the far turn and held onto second. Strongest among this group at present. 6 - DONAU returns to this level after only managing an even outing against $12.5k foes at Pocono. The 41-time winner is best when prominent early. 8 - MR HASANI N chased OK for third at this level on Sunday, and despite the wide draw gains Napolitano this time.

Race 4 - 2YO Non-Winners 2 Races

5 - WORLD BANK was a minor player at large odds in three Stallion Series tries. Significant improvement over his career debut is clearly noted, and his staying power is a good bit stronger too. Midpack draw on this drop in class can yield Callahan tactical options. 1 - CATELLO earned minor cheques at this level and above in all six starts to date. The pole should help him land closer to the action with ease in a largely paceless event on paper. 2 - MOTLEY returns stateside after being outmatched in an OSS Grassroots race at Hiawatha on debut. Far easier await on arrival; cosy draw can aid.

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

4 - RENTIER rose to this level last week and mustered an even effort, but on the whole he has been faster than many in this group. Corey stays aboard. 6 - BOXING GLOVES broke at Pocono last out and lost all chance, but he pressed to just miss at this level four back. Slight post relief can help his causes. 5 - SPECTRE adds Lasix on the step down after having some tough luck at Pocono and here. He did beat similar at 6-5 four back after just reaching from a cosy pocket.

Race 6 - F&M Non-Winners 1 Race

6 - SNIPER HANOVER won her qualifier last week after just over a month away from action. Significantly easier foes await today compared to PASS fields. 8 - IF UR RICHIMSINGLE chased for minors in her last four outings. Raw speed is enough to contend with the bulk of this field. 7 - KEYSTONE DELIGHT seeks to improve from her first two starts after missing her last assignment due to illness. Barring the above pair, easier await here.

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

1 - TROJAN BANNER N demonstrated improvement on the step down at Harrington last week, holding an earned pocket for a good second. Solid stayer gets further relief and the pole on arrival. Tim's choice. 7 - QUATRAIN BLUE CHIP faces four rivals dropping in class today, but he bring the strength of a gritty first-over effort on Sunday that saw him work into a head-stretch lead before only just being engulfed in the final yards. 3 - JJ FLYNN steps down after chasing evenly for minors in his last two. Earlier in the summer, he showed up as a late mid-price threat against tougher yet. Can share with similar.

Race 8 - Non-Winners $7,000 Last 5 Starts

4 - SOHO WALLSTREET A is a prime bet-back candidate after lifting mightily to just miss Mr Censi in a fourth-level race last week. Before that, he improved mildly from astern against tougher on arrival here after a wide draw at Yonkers stung him. Strong as any in this group; the drop refreshes. 2 - ANYTHINGFORLOVE A figures to be part of the early pace given his tendencies and the favourable draw. Be wary of underlay potential owing to his defeat at odds-on last week, though. 7 - ROCK LIGHTS swept wide into second on thee step down to this level last week. Pressing ability demonstrated at Harrington noted. Simon opts off, but Nap gains the drive.

Race 9 - 2YO Fillies, Non-Winners 2 Races

6 - QUEEN TILE NO was an even fourth against stakes foes in her career debut earlier this month. Easier await; raw speed more than suits. Lots of room to build. 3 - ETRA DE VIE also exits stakes company. In a slightly tougher spot two back, she chased from the pocket to only miss by 2-3/4 lengths. Can figure to be close with ease here. 8 - TITANS HOPE was a minor player in four NYSS tries so far and drops into this kinder spot. I don't think we'll get 8-1, even with the wide draw, but her starting spot is bound to make for a tougher-by-comparison task.

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

8 - NICHOLAS BEACH is my single in the Pick-4, and rightfully so. In his debut for Bongiorno, he yielded, retook with a lap to go, and sprinted off after parrying mild backstretch pressure. Every chance at this same level to build off that strong outing. The one. 2 - BOMBSHELL HANOVER poses the biggest threat, but hasn't yielded fair value in a few starts. A fortnight ago, he was stung early out of post 7 and ultimately was ground down through the far turn. Post can aid. 1 - BUY IN advanced stoutly in the breeze from seventh to press Nicholas Beach last week and, after being rebuffed, still held third at 130-1! Pole offers a kinder task today for this credible minor option.

Race 11 - Non-Winners 1 Race

4 - LOU'S SWEETREVENGE was outmatched from astern in his last Stallion Series try, but hit the board in his last three maiden outings. In fact, he hasn't missed the ticket outside of stakes company this season. 8 - PLAY THERAPY draws in from the reserve list after chasing for third on debut for Height. Wide draw is his big obstacle, but he showed outside leaving ability at Woodbine a couple starts back. 5 - MEET THE CREEPER landed in the pocket and just missed at 11-1 last week! Expect him to be prominent again from the get-go.

Race 12 - Non-Winners $4,000 Last 5 Starts

1 - MR HOUDINI chased evenly in a third-level race last week after only managing mixed results against tougher yet. Further relief can serve to lift him all the more. 5 - WINNERESS is reunited with Napolitano after a narrow defeat at Yonkers last Tuesday. He beat tougher here seven back via an uncovered push, and he chased evenly to save third in his last recent outing. Easier do await. 7 - MUSCLE STAR worked for the lead on the drop last week, but was gathered in late by Broadway Mojo after controlling the terms. To his credit, he fared OK in the breeze at this level the week before. Minor player with similar.

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

5 - BANG BANG BOINGA circled three-wide to clear in his Stallion Series race here on Aug. 16 before being overpowered bust still holding third. He held sway at this level four back; Miller's back on. 1 - HEAT WAVE HANOVER debuts for Bongiorno after enjoying pretty good results in Toronto this summer. Can set the pace or close into it alike. 4 - MEANTTOBE DE VIE seeks back-to-back wins after his Stallion Series score, but others in this group have demonstrated superior raw speed routinely. Mind value.

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

4 - VEGA STAR N drops a level after a failed first-over try in third-level company last week. July form encourages; a sharper start is a must. 2 - THE BETTORMACK N rises mildly on arrival from Pocono, where he chased for third after being overpowered on the backstretch. Back class is a plus; mind value. 1 - HEY RUN ME OVER passed tired foes from astern in his last and chased well for minors two and three back. Class and post relief both aid.