Harrah's Philadelphia: Analysis for Sunday 12/20

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: 2,3,4/6,8/6/1,2,7,8 ($12)
Best Bet: Dojea Gizmo (Race 9)
Spot Play: Gentlemanjim II IE (Race 10)

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

6 - DA MAGICIAN never got involved last week, but lifted to victory at this level two back and pressed hard through the far turn the week before that. Looks to rebound; Nap opts on. 8 - LONG TRAIN RUNNIN invades from western New York, where he ranked among the top pacers there through the fall. Debuts for Bernard amid strong form; class is comparable. 5 - SHANE ADAM rises mightily to rejoin high-level local claimers after sustaining a wide bid through an individually-clocked :55 3/5 back half last week. Kinder midpack draw can alleviate the issues he had at this level three and four back.

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Race 2 - Claiming $15,000

2 - POLAK A won twice in three tries at this level, doing so from first-over and pocket trips alike. Tetrick was aboard for both of those wins, and he opts to stay with the 12-year-old over two others. 3 - ZINNY MACH N pressed into the lead on the home turn last week and stuck around far better to the end than he did via a similar uncovered grind the week before. On the improve; a kinder trip can aid immensely. 4 - JUST PLAIN LOCO reached from the pocket at this level three back at Yonkers, and stayed on well while overland on arrival last week. Retains Nap; staying power is on the improve.

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Race 3 - Claiming $20,000-$25,000

6 - RAZOR'S EDGE saved ground on the far turn and was forced off stride while directly on the heels of a pair of rivals who hooked wheels at the eighth pole last week. He was sent off the 8-5 favourite in that race after strong front-end wins over similar both two and three back. Every chance to rebound today. 2 - MISSISSIPPI RABBIT was able to stay largely clear of the same commotion and win on debut for Garcia after sustained success for Bongiorno in $15k races. Retains Napolitano; mind value. 4 - WISE IMAGE gains Tetrick today after McCarthy steered him to a win and a second in his last three starts at the level. Forgive his last on account of the blistering pace he was forced to keep up with through the first six furlongs.

Race 4 - Non-Winners $10,000 Last 5 Starts, 7 Races or $58,000

2 - ACTOR HANOVER makes his third start back from a brief spell, and he seems to be rather fit coming into this event. Last week, he gave stout chase to Full Send from an earned pocket and earned the fastest mile on the page among most recent starts. He's hit the board in 13 of 17 this year, too. 4 - WESTERN VACATION never threatened from astern in the slop at Yonkers on Monday, but fared better in N4L events when able to set up shop on or near the lead. Draw suits his style. 5 - MISTER DAYTONA A rises following a powerful third-level win on debut for Davis. Tougher do await, but he proved himself well for his new connections. Tetrick's back aboard the 35-time winner, too.

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

7 - DRINKA BEER proved himself well in two tries at this level, battling gamely two back and emerging out of traffic to save a no-match second to Voracity since. Wide leaving ability is proven; solid mid-price option in a well-matched field. 8 - TRENTE DEO vaulted off cover to win at eights at this tag last week. Tetrick opts to stay with the 15-time winner over three others despite the impost. 6 - SOMETIMESAWINNER strung together three wins at the level last month. Reunited with Nap on debut for Ruiz.

Race 6 - Claiming $15,000

2 - GUNSLINGER HILL debuts for Renaud and looks to get back to his winning ways after a rearward trip hindered his earning potential last week. Kind draw can put him back in play. 3 - UNION STATION didn't lack for late pace at this level last Sunday, but was hindered significantly by traffic on the far turn. Debuts for Taneyhill and gains Tetrick's favour, too. 5 - ALTA SHELBY N pressed hard into the lead last week before being engulfed. Prior to that, he sustained overland bids for better results at the level and came mighty close from cosy pocket rides. Another one looking to improve for new connections.

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

4 - ROCKAPELO almost lasted on the lead against tougher on Nov. 29 and since missed from the pocket by only a length. Drops back to his last winning level; boasts back class for days. 3 - FINE DIAMOND moves up on arrival from Yonkers after edging clear by four lengths in his last. Improving form can carry this mid-price option up the level. 2 - TULHURSTSANTANNA A debuts for Harris after a stout pressing effort to just miss at Dayton. Minor player against Indiana's best can benefit from Napolitano and a cosy draw. Lots of variables at play; mind value.

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Race 8 - Non-Winners $20,000 Last 5 Starts/Winners Over Handicap

8 - ANA AFREET N seeks a third straight win and a fourth in five tries after battling hard to prevail in the fog at M1 last week and using a sustained attack to power clear of Dover's best the week before. There's no disputing this one's form - he's been mighty sharp this fall, and against some tough customers, to boot. 6 - WESTERN JOE upended Ana Afreet N on Nov. 14, doing so after riding cover off the home turn. The stakes-tested 6-year-old is not lacking at all for back class, and his closing kick is arguably the sharpest in this field. 3 - VETTEL N rises into a tougher-than-typical featured event, but he does so after using a :54 1/5 back half to evade his fifth-level foes two weeks ago. Wins at this level - on paper, at least - five and seven back encourage. Minor player.

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

I'm pretty keen on 6 - DOJEA GIZMO, who makes his local debut after reeling off four straight wins in as many starts for Ron Burke - his last two against tough N8L foes at Yonkers and with considerable ease. This bump up shouldn't faze the sharp sophomore. 3 - TYGA HANOVER likewise invades from Yonkers, and he finds himself in a far favourable spot after passing tired foes from astern last Saturday. Given the kinder draw at this proven level, he figures extremely well. Nap's choice of four in this group. 5 - PRINCE OF TIDES returns from The Meadows after traffic trouble hindered his chances in Open company there. He wired just easier in his previous start. Can factor for at least a share if he stays clear.

Race 10 - Non-Winners $10,000 Last 5 Starts, 7 Races or $58,000

1 - GENTLEMANJIM II IE hit the board twice in his last four tries at this level, with a hard-closing fourth from far back in the mix as well. Pole can help him convert on the drop in class; gains Simon. Solid mid-price option. 7 - TYMAL PEACEMAKER just missed out of mid-division in the slop at Yonkers last Monday. The 1:57 3/5 raw time doesn't concern me given more appropriately speedy miles at M1 two and three back. 8 - LIVE LIKE A BOSS saved third out of traffic last Friday after a two-move, first-over push did him in the start before. Wide draw is his main nemesis, but he's got enough late kick for a minor at the least.

Race 11 - Non-Winners $14,500 Last 5 Starts, 9 Races or $70,000

2 - FULL SEND rises after winning two N5L events in his last three - and rather impressively, I might add. Likely pace of the race has blossomed quite well since exiting the fair circuit. 1 - BUY IN reached from an earned pocket to likewise win his last, but he's been off since Nov. 29. There's no doubting his talent or grit, but how sharp will he be after three weeks away? 5 - SUN OF A SHOW did win an upper-winners event at Dover on Nov. 19, but had the aid of a cosy pocket ride and only just reached. Most recently, he chased to protect an even third. This is a fairly lateral move. Minor option again.

Race 12 - Non-Winners $4,900 Last 5 Starts

4 - IDEAL WHEEL pressed and flattened in a third-level race last week, and now drops to his last winning level. He's working back into form after a heck of a clunker on Nov. 13 - his Oct. 30 line is more indicative of pressing and battling ability. Nap's choice. 7 - GO WEST GO FAST toiled in the fog at M1 last week, but passed horses steadily for a no-match second before that. He's worked into top-three finishes in three of his last four against one level tougher than this one. Solid inclusion, absolutely. 5 - TACT TATE N was one-paced from the pocket last Sunday, but had to work clear before yielding. Mild success against tougher puts him on par with the aforementioned pair.

Race 13 - Non-Winners $7,000 Last 5 Starts

4 - PYRO performed well in his last two local starts, recording a front-end win and a narrow defeat. Easier await; draw is perfect for his racing style. 1 - CLOUSEAU HANOVER emerged out of traffic to take second at 16-1 in a similar race at The Meadows last Friday. If he can stay close and clear from the pole, he can threaten for another sizeable share. 2 - SADIQ HANOVER drops back to his last winning level after chasing to stay on. Consistent earner needs just a little more late oomph.

Race 14 – NW2500 in last 5 Starts

3 - PREMIER ROCKSTAR is a credible mid-price option with a repeat of last week's staying effort. The good news for him: considerable post relief. Simon opts to stay aboard, too. 6 - JK WILDFIRE drops another level after failing to fire in a quick second-level race last Sunday. Minors in fourth-level fields this summer by way of pressing and shallow closing trips indicate ability when at his peak. Mind value. 1 - TOM'S AROCKIN drops and draws inside as well. He stayed on OK for small cheques in similar races at M1 this fall, but was largely out of striking range to pose a bigger threat.