Harrah's Philadelphia: Analysis for Sunday 12/27

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: 3,7,8/2,5/3,7/3 ($6)

Best Bet: Vettel N (Race 9)
Spot Play: Iammrbrightside N (Race 1)

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

8 - IAMMRBRIGHTSIDE N was used incredibly hard in the two fastest quarters of his Dec. 13 race: He cleared from post 7 through a :27 first quarter, and then proceeded to make a three-wide push back into the lead in a :27.2 third quarter. 2 - ROCKABILLY CHARM was left behind by Voracity a fortnight ago, and was ultimately just nabbed for second by Drinka Beer up the open stretch. Give credit to his dominant win over similar four back. 4 - UNION STATION rises from $15k company on debut for Freitas. He was simply dominant off his middle move last week and made some ground out of severe traffic the start before. Worth minor consideration on the step up.

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Race 2 - Claiming $15,000

2 - GUNSLINGER HILL returns to Taneyhill after a no-match second to Union Station at this level last week. Note that he led shortly after the first quarter before Union Station overpowered him past the half. Tetrick opts on. 5 - HIGHVIEW CONALL N rises on arrival from Yonkers after lifting to hit the board twice in his last three. The 43-time winner gains Dunn; recent form uptick noted. 6 - NINE WAYS was a no-match third in the Union Station race last week, making a bid for second up the far side before a one-paced finish. Capable minor option figures to be sharper second out.

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

6 - MISSISSIPPI RABBIT circled up to win on debut for Garcia two weeks ago, and was respectable last week from a tough spot — after being forced wide off stalled cover a quarter from home, he maintained position to the end of the race. Better flow can help him bounce. 7 - DONT JUDGE A BOOK pressed his way into second in his last two tries at this level. Ability to take air can help him overcome this wide draw. Solid value inclusion in all exotics. 4 - JET ROCK returned from Yonkers last week and improved belatedly off third-over cover. Reunited with Tetrick.

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

3 - ITALIAN DELIGHT N makes a third straight drop in class and gets my approval on account of the fact he showed ability in his recent tough assignments - albeit not enough to convert. Further relief can be enough to carry him. 6 - BLOOD BROTHER set the pace at this level last Friday and was just reeled in after doing the heavy lifting. He gets another shot at the class, now. 2 - MR PROFETA is Tetrick's choice after closing off live cover to just miss tougher. Mind value on the drop; pace pressure afore can help him most.

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

2 - TISADREAM N debuts for Fanning on arrival from Massachusetts. He's got considerable pressing and stalking ability in addition to ample raw speed. Plenty to like about the invading 24-time winner. 3 - PYRO ... wow. He threw down a :55 3/5 last half last week with complete ease, and now he returns to a level where he fought gamely to the end two back. Definitely warming back up; demand fair value. 6 - JK MUSICMAN rises again after a gritty front-end score, but Pyro won much more convincingly and easily at this level last out. That being said, he's proven to be able to head off sustained pressure. Worthy of consideration.

Race 6 - Non-Winners $7,000 Last 5 Starts

1 - MAC'S BIG BOY won at this level seven back after an extended wide push to clear. Most recently, he stayed on with much tougher at Yonkers from a cosy pocket ride. Pole keeps him close with ease; tons to like. 3 - GO WEST GO FAST cleared, yielded, was shuffled some, and emerged up the open stretch to save second while Tact Tate N cascaded down the outside. Kinder draw negates the step up from that solid two-move outing. 2 - TACT TATE N, as mentioned, lifted down the grandstand side to get back in the win column last week. In his last try at this level, he raced credibly after pushing clear and trying to head off sustained pressure on the home turn, but was reeled in. Minor option given mild form uptick.

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

7 - MCMIKE reached at 21-1 two back before being outmatched and left astern in a Dayton Open. The 10-time winner moves laterally on debut for Burke; closing ability is a definite strength. 8 - ROLLWITHPAPAJOE lifted to a win over similar at Yonkers two back and fought gamely on the point since. Form and versatility unite; draw can lift price. 3 - BUY IN graduated from N5L company by way of his pocket win on Nov. 29, and he chased the tough The Wall and Full Send respectably last week. Slightly kinder foes await; should be able to land close again.

Race 8 - Non-Winners $20,000 Last 5 Starts, 9 Races or $90,000

5 - PEACE OUT POSSE enters today's feature off a gritty first-over effort to just miss similar at Yonkers. I'm inclined to forgive his Nov. 28 line on account of a wide draw and short run to the first turn. He fared well locally earlier in the fall; strong finishes up and down the page encourage. 2 - TITO ROCKS lifted in the slop to beat N8L foes in his last after a pair of local stakes wins earlier in the fall. Fits via the N9L provision; versatility noted. 6 - ROCK THE TOWN showed up late last week, accelerating off the home turn and elevated into third behind the much tougher Western Joe. This group is significantly more manageable; Tim opts on.

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

3 - VETTEL N brushed and parried pressure at this level two back, and followed it up with a respectable effort in top-level company. After being locked in, he located a seam in the final sixteenth, but was shut off momentarily and forced to check before re-accelerating. Strength in tougher fields encourages in this kinder spot. 7 - OUR MAX PHACTOR N pressed his way into second before levelling off last out, but his 1:50 4/5 mile is the fastest last start on the page. The 27-time winner gains David; logical mid-price option owing to mid-fall success. 1 - CAPOZZO invades from Yonkers, where he's risen steadily in class over the past few weeks. Pole can get him close to the pace, where he likes to be, but he's not incapable off cover or in the breeze, note.

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

3 - ROCKIN MEDICINE parried sustained pressure to narrowly prevail last Friday. Before that, he stayed on for second in three straight starts - also against N3L company. Form edge is crystal clear. My single. 5 - TERRITORY was hindered by traffic behind Rockin Medicine last Friday. Staying power for minors of late puts him above most in this field. 8 - SURFER BEACH added Lasix last week and pressed hard into a narrow miss. Wide draw makes for an even tougher task today.

Race 11 - Non-Winners $10,000 Last 5 Starts

4 - CRIMSON AND CHROME drops back to his last winning level after passing the tired from astern for minors in fifth-level races. Midpack draw gives him a kinder task, too. Narrow call. 8 - GENTLEMANJIM II IE is my value play for the afternoon, owing to his stern first-over grind into the lead on the far turn last week. The wide draw is bound to give him an added obstacle today, but his ability far towers over what 12-1 would otherwise indicate. 3 - MAJOR OFFENSE angled out with a furlong to go and just missed in his last. That was his second start at this level. Before that, he raced evenly from midfield after being saddled with a double jump in class. Dubé opts on.

Race 12 - Non-Winners $7,000 Last 5 Starts

1 - TRENTE DEO worked hard to achieve the lead last week, but was engulfed after exerting from post 8. Tetrick chooses on over three others; class and post relief are bound to aid. 5 - SWEET TRUTH drops back to a winning level after splitting foes late last week. Two back, he sustained long progress to reach at this level. 2 - LINDYTHEFOURTEENTH could well be the catalyst for pace pressure noting last week's effort in defeat to JK Musicman, but he's effective off cover just the same. Warming up. Minor option.

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

5 - FEELING CAM LUCKY pressed hard through the far turn before flattening last week. While sixth, he wasn't beaten by that much. Similar group awaits today. 7 - CAPTAIN NASH can add value to exotics given his proven pacesetting and deep closing ability. Note he was forced five-wide in the stretch last week before surging at big odds. 2 - CHEYENNE RYAN LEE drops a level after toiling from the pocket in his last. He showed better chasing and closing ability earlier in the fall; relief can aid.

Race 14 - Non-Winners $2,500 Last 5 Starts

1 - EFFRONTE A fought off sustained pressure in a second-level race a couple weeks ago, only to be upended in the final yards. Easier await off that gritty, game outing. Todd's choice. 3 - SOHO WALLSTREET A was a one-paced third with tougher last out, and made mild ground into third-level starters the week before. Another one who can benefit from the step down. 8 - MR D'S DRAGON, like the other two mentioned, drops in class. Closer cover is a must for him to overcome the wide draw.