Harrah's Philadelphia: Analysis for Sunday 11/1

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: 5,7/5,6,7,8/4,5,8/7,8 ($24)
Best Bet: Put To Right (Race 5)
Spot Play: Iammrbrightside N (Race 1)

Race 1 - Claiming $20,000-$25,000

5 - MAJOR BUCKS tracked and reached at sixes last week after a solid chasing effort to preserve second on the crossover to claiming company. Capable at the level; midpack draw can help him land close with ease. 7 - IAMMRBRIGHTSIDE N rose to this level last week at Pocono, and he managed a solid third at long odds after working clear and yielding. He's hit the board in five of six; best when involved. Wide leaving ability is apparent. 1 - REVELRY won from the pocket at this level three back, but found himself too far off the pace to threaten in his last two outings. Pole should aid.

Race 2 - Non-Winners $2,700 Last 5 Starts

1 - HEY RUN ME OVER switches back to three turns after a break cost him at Yonkers. Second-time DiDomenico starter pressed and stayed well against tougher two back. 6 - KERRIN JOSEPH A improved steadily off cover to reach the ticket in two local tries at this class. Keeps Dubé. 3 - STATESMAN N invades from The Meadows after mixed results in claiming company. Closing ability is apparent; easier await. Mind value.

Race 3 - Claiming $15,000

In his last two starts at this level, 3 - DRINKA BEER earned a front-end win and a narrow miss from worse than mid-division. Since then, he more than held his own as a minor player in $20k events from all sorts of trips. Form and versatility both encourage. 2 - ROCKABILLY CHARM lifted to a going-away win at this level two back, and most recently worked hard to clear and was just collared after withstanding heavy pressure up the far side. Debuts for Sheridan amid renewed form. 1 - EVER AGAIN earned cheques in each of his last five starts and demonstrated respectable staying power for minors in three tries since returning from Pocono. Solid value option in all exotics.

Race 4 - Claiming $20,000-$25,000

This race, at least on paper, looks like a showdown between Wise Image and Record Machine, two horses who have enjoyed sustained success of late in upper-level claimers over this course. 7 - WISE IMAGE wired similar two weeks ago and just missed in a tough stretch duel last week. While he draws farther outside, there's only a little bit of inside speed in this field. Form can carry. 8 - RECORD MACHINE hit the board in five straight tires at this level, and after showing success on or near the lead for much of the fall, demonstrated good ability to close from astern in his last. 2 - SOMETIMESAWINNER gained gradually and stayed even on debut for Mosher last week after a narrow defeat and a failed three-wide push at Pocono for this same tag. Minor option with any semblance of trip relief.

Race 5 - Non-Winners 3 Races or $30,000

1 - PUT TO RIGHT had plenty left at the end of his 1:51 3/5 win on the drop to this level last week. Every chance to repeat; class edge is crystal clear. Easily my banker in the Hi-5. 6 - COMMANDER HILL gave futile chase to Put To Right last week, but has done markedly better at this level since returning from Rosecroft. His mid-race brushes two and three back were mighty strong; can improve if able to delay his attack just a hair longer. 7 - TETON SUNSET rode the pocket behind Put To Right for second at 15-1 on arrival last week, but he'll likely have to work a bit harder to land near the pace this time. 2 - NOME HANOVER and 4 - FRISKY PEDRO gain honourable mentions by way of earning N2L scores in recent tries.

Race 6 - Claiming $15,000

5 - MELANIE'S TEDY flattened last out, but still held third after turning up the pressure up the far side. He's hit the board in three of his last four against similar. 3 - SEVENS HOPE reached narrowly from the pocket last week after failing to get involved from the pocket the start before. Wins four and five back further encourage. 6 - SENOR MACRAY A drops back to the $15k level after an even but traffic-troubled $20k try. Consistent minor player at this level regardless of trip.

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

7 - GENTLEMANJIM II IE rebounded powerfully last week by way of his aggressive brush to the fore into a :27 1/5 third quarter and subsequent widening over his foes. The Irish-bred colt has won nearly half of his career starts and held his own against a good bit tougher earlier in the fall. 5 - BILBO HANOVER rose to this level at Yonkers after a pocket win at Pocono on Oct. 13, and he lifted mildly into a third-place finish from worse than mid-division. The 43-time winner moves laterally on arrival; raw speed should continue to improve. 4 - LETTUCERIPRITA A is the lone horse to drop in class in this field after failing to threaten fifth-level types last week. Before that, he won a Freehold Preferred decisively. Bounce theory?

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

5 - GINGRAS BEACH drops markedly from the stakes company he's knocked heads with on and off through the summer. This major step down is a big refresher. 7 - CAPTAIN AHAB didn't lack for late pace in his first start back in over a year, but he was no threat, either. Class relief should aid second out. 6 - LYONS NIGHT HAWK rises after parrying pressure and sprinting off to a 1:50 2/5 score in his last, but he takes on a pair of stakes-hardened rivals. Mind value.

Race 9 - Non-Winners $14,500 Last 5 Starts, 7 Races or $70,000

5 - BETTOR MEMORIES pressed into the lead at this level last week, only to be just nailed on the line by Peace Out Posse. Give this 32-time winner credit for strong form trajectory and the amount of work he did amid gruelling fractions last week. 4 - SOUTHWIND OZZI never got involved from astern last week, but should be able to rebound with some help from this kinder midpack draw and a third straight step down in class. Late-summer success against tougher by way of pressing and brushing efforts encourages; mind value. 8 - BEACH BOOGIE exits the same race that Southwind Ozzi does, and was a one-paced third behind Vettel N from a cosy pocket. Wide draw is his biggest obstacle today.

Race 10 - Non-Winners 5 Races or $50,000

8 - RUTHLESS HANOVER fared well in Pennsylvania stakes after decisive wins in lower conditions to start his career. He's been off over a month, but he boasts a clear class edge in this group that's mostly on the rise. 7 - BUY IN made two moves to redeem himself in a N3L event last Friday, and now he's forced to graduate after exceeding the earnings allowance of that class. Forgive his line two back on account of the competition he was forced to chase. 2 - SOMBODYITREASURE pressed and flattened in the same Liberty Bell split Buy In exits, and before that, he posted a string of strong front-end wins both here and at M1.

Race 11 - Non-Winners $2,700 Last 5 Starts

2 - BUCKWELL earned minor cheques in all four start since dropping to this level in October. There are no clear leavers in this field, so, could he land closer to the action by default? 7 - WHEELER WALKER makes his second start on Lasix after a good second two back and a flat outing from astern since. Similar await. 3 - ROCK N ROW invades from Rosecroft and gains Tetrick on arrival after decent pressing and stalking showings there. Moves laterally.

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

5 - CAPTAIN MULZAC improved into third against tougher last week after being caught too far astern to threaten the start before. He nearly converted at this level three back; relief can lift him. 6 - HE'S PACKIN pressed well into a :27 1/5 third sectional before fading last week. Consistent minor player against tougher drops again. 4 - BETTER B ROLLING pressed and edged clear at Pocono in his last, but failed to sustain on the point in past local tries. Heading the right direction, but mind value.

Race 13 - Non-Winners $2,700 Last 5 Starts

5 - SWEET BEACH won from the pocket at this level six back, but toiled from rearward and traffic-troubled trips since. Reunited with Tetrick on the drop. 1 - NEWBIE just missed two back from an earned pocket, and was softened up after brushing since then. Gains Nap and the pole. 8 - FASHION BYTHEBEACH chased to be fourth or better in four starts since exiting the claiming ranks. Wide draw is his main obstacle.