Harrah's Philadelphia: Analysis for Sunday 11/22

2020 Statistics (through Nov. 15 – 86 days)
Top Selections – Overall:
Win %: 450 for 1,194 (37.7%)
ITM: 847 for 1,194 (70.9%)
Win Dividends: $1,988.10 - $2 ROI: $1.67
Pick-4: 1,3,8/4,6/4,5/2,4,5 ($18)
Best Bet: Sometimesawinner (Race 5)
Spot Play: Lisburn (Race 11)

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

7 - DA MAGICIAN and 1 - ROCKABILLY CHARM both look to repeat at the level, and seem to be about even in terms of current talent and ability. That being said, Da Magician seems to be the stronger value offering between the two. He debuts for Watson after pushing clear and maintaining his lead last week and chasing down a hot pace to upset at nines the start before. Rockabilly Charm drew off boldly on the rise to this level last week, and figures to be near the action with ease from the pole. Dunn opts on over two others. 4 - POKERFACE BLUECHIP hit the board in four straight starts, and now gains Tetrick on arrival from Pocono. Solid finisher can figure well in all exotics with clear sailing.

[DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card]

Race 2 - Claiming $15,000

6 - ALTA SHELBY N almost got the job done last week, only missing by a head, but it's worth noting he sustained uncovered gains from out midfield to pace a :55 back half. He won at this level three back; kinder journey can lift him the rest of the way. 5 - MAYFIELD DUKE won twice in his last four, from on the lead and off cover alike. Versatility and proven ability at the level make him a contender, to be sure. 8 - IDEAL ROCKY could prove a credible value player from the outside in this field, given a string of six straight cheques at the level. Last week, he pressed into a head-stretch lead before giving way, and that effort demonstrated improved ability to take air over October lines.

[DRF BETS: Wager on today's Harrah's Philadelphia card at DRF Bets.com!]

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

4 - STONE HANOVER never found a way into his last race, but was tasked with chasing a 1:48 3/5 mile thrown down by Angers Bayama. Raw speed and further class relief can lift him on return. 5 - LET IT RIDE N debuts for Norman after winning his Nov. 11 qualifier. He fared best over a mile in Australian starts; strong finisher is well suited to American racing. 8 - LACHIE MAGUIRE N drops for a second straight start after chasing to be fourth or better in his last three. Wide draw is his main obstacle; proven staying power from pressing and stalking trips alike is a big plus.

Race 4 - Claiming $15,000

6 - IYQ YQR drops back to $15k company after two wins and a second-place finish against tougher. He's hit the exacta in five straight. Expect him to seek control of the terms from the get-go. Lots to like. 8 - UNION STATION sustained wide gains to reach in his last two starts for $15k. That kind of closing ability will help him overcome the wide draw. Dunn's choice. 5 - SEVENS HOPE A gets Teague this week after Napolitano opts off. While he was sixth in his last two tries, he was only beaten by less than two lengths after working to seize early control last week. Capable with best; mind value.

Race 5 - Claiming $20,000-$25,000

6 - SOMETIMESAWINNER is a pretty clear Hi-5 banker to me, given sustained success and proven versatility at this level since Mosher claimed him on Oct. 17. Nap's choice of four in the group. 3 - CLASS SIX wired $20k foes at Pocono last week after saving fifth out of traffic the start before. Mixed results mildly concern, but the 44-time winner still has the ability. 1 - WAGON MASTER lifted into second twice in his last three from pressing and stalking trips alike. Consistently good finisher can boost Hi-5 value if able to avoid the breeze. 8 - BARBADOS rises to this level after a 1:51 4/5 conditioned win on Nov. 10. Wide post is his big obstacle; it didn't do him any favours here last month. 2 - JET ROCK rises after rallying off cover to win his last. Kind draw partially offsets class hike.

Race 6 - Non-Winners $14,000 Last 5 Starts, 7 Races or $70,000

Almost the entire field is rising amid strong form cycles. 8 - DEALT A WINNER pushed clear and threw down a :55 2/5 back half in the slop last week, and now he debuts for Burke after hitting the board in four of six from all sorts of trips. Back class is hardly lacking, either. 7 - RODEO ROCK hit the board in six straight at this level or tougher, but has yet to win this year. Proven pressing ability can do him a lot of good. 4 - SEEUINNASHVILLE A debuts for Cassar after winning two of his last four tries in Australia with Andy McCarthy's brother Luke aboard on both occasions. He won at a mile on Aug. 1 and over much longer distance in his Sept. 19 try. Endurance is no concern.

Race 7 - Claiming $20,000-$25,000

3 - RAZOR'S EDGE sustained wide progress to finish a good second behind Rockabilly Charm last week. He finds a softer group this time; front-end score over similar conditioned company three back is a good indicator. 8 - ALEX TYE won for $20k four back and $25k three back, and comes back to this proven level and course after mixed results at Pocono against tougher. Wide draw is his big obstacle, but he overcame it more than OK on Oct. 25. 1 - MORE DRAGON improved to take second to Da Magician last week after even finishes from farther back (yes, Nov. 11 was an even line once you account for Revelry's runaway score) before that. Pole can aid.

[DRF BETS: Wager on today's Harrah's Philadelphia card at DRF Bets.com!]

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

4 - ENOUGH SUN drops in from stakes company after a six-week spell. The four-time winner debuts for Mosher and boasts a sizeable class and speed edge. 6 - FULL SEND powered clear of N3L foes decisively last week and now takes on tougher as the only one making such a jump. To his credit, he shows solid form and versatility. 1 - ACTON HANOVER toiled late two weeks ago, but still held fourth behind the tough Buy In. This group is a tad more manageable; inside draw can keep him close with ease.

Race 9 - Non-Winners $10,000 Last 5 Starts

5 - SOMEBADDUDE was used early for position but toiled late in the Angers Bayama race ... before that, he overcame road trouble to take second against tougher. Success with top-level fields all through the fall is a truer indicator of his abilities. 4 - RESPECT OUR FLAG rises after holding off pressure to win at twenties-on at Pocono. While unsuccessful in recent tries before that, he did break 1:50 on numerous occasions. 2 - ARTMAGIC invades from Yonkers after making late ground two and three back and just missing from the pocket most recently. Slightly tougher await; inside draw keeps him close with ease.

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

2 - SADIQ HANOVER sustained a long first-over grind into a quickening pace in his last, and didn't level off too badly in the stretch, all things considered. Grit in preserving victory three back noted, too. 4 - CAPTAIN MULZAC lifts a level after a narrow miss on the point last out. Mild closing ability in pats tries at this level can carry him; Tetrick has gotten to know him well. 5 - DREAMFAIR CHARRO returns to action for the first time in nearly three months, and the :27 4/5 quarter on the end of his qualifier earlier in the week indicates that he's fit. Capable presser-stalker can boost exotic value or even convert with ideal circumstances.

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

8 - LISBURN was second to the ultra-consistent Time To Dance in the Gold Cup and Saucer in August. In his six starts since, he was beset by some trip trouble, but he left the Kenny Arsenault barn on a good note via a 1:54 1/5 score at Charlottetown. A fraction of his morning line offering is good value, frankly. 7 - ROYAL HEART moves laterally after chasing OK from the pocket at Pocono in his last. Beware underlay potential given his $20k win seven back and despite this wide draw. 1 - OUTCRY can benefit from extreme post relief. Draw a line through his last, and give credit to the move he made up the far side to take over second in a taxing first six furlongs two back.

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

1 - LOU'S SWEETREVENGE arrived last Friday and turned in a strong two-move effort from post 8 for second at this level behind a tough Full Send. Pole can leave him even sharper yet this time; Tim opts on over two others. 8 - ROLLING WITH SAM hit the board in four of his last five overnight races, and he consistently gains off pressing and stalking trips to prove a late factor. Those strong finishes encourage immensely. 4 - MONTEREY JACK takes on older company on debut for Givens after being outmatched in his last Kindergarten prelim. Easier - but older - await.

Race 13 - Non-Winners $4,000 Last 5 Starts

5 - SWEET BEACH rises after parrying mid-race pressure and edging away of bottom-level foes at odds-on. Tetrick stays with the 30-time winner who has had traffic and trip excuses in recent tries against second- and third-level types. 1 - DIVISION BELL improved belatedly in a N4L event at Pocono before shipping south. Gains Nap and the pole on the drop. 3 - OURLITTLEGENERAL A finds an easier group on arrival from Pocono — pressing and close tracking efforts with tougher in October yielded good finishes. If memory serves me right, this is Vernon, N.Y.-based Leon Bailey's driving debut at Philly.

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

4 - PURE ROCK makes his second start back since August after he passed tired foes at the end of a high-level claimer just last week. Post and class relief aid, as does this kind midpack draw. 1 - CLOUSEAU HANOVER never got involved from astern last week, but did fare better when able to land in mid-division or better. Pole can serve just that need. 8 - SOMEWHERE FANCY drops back to a level where he just missed off a second move two back and won well six back. Wide draw is his main obstacle.