Harrah's Philadelphia: Analysis for Sunday 5/28

BEST BET: COMMAND (6^th)

SPOT PLAY: TATTOO ARTIST (10^th)

Race 1: PA Stallion Series 3YOC&G - Pick 4

(4) MAMBA was used hard and paid the price last time at Pocono. The road to the front should be easier here. (1) FULL SUPPORT has been racing well the last few weeks and seems up to the task of at least hitting the exotics. (2) SAVE AMERICA hasn't looked the part of a horse that was second in the Metro last year and it isn't encouraging that he drops down to the Stallion Series ranks. '’m avoiding him here at a short price but respect that he could awaken.

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Race 2: PA Stallion Series 3YOC&G

(7) BROOKDALE MIKI came down last week for the Sire Stakes and he was just even in the fastest mile of the year for the division. He immediately moves down the Sire Stakes ladder and that switch can pay dividends. (5) HUNGRY MAN was also just even last time in what was his first start of the year. There is some ability here and the possibility exists that he improved over the winter. (1) GIRLDAD already has a win in this series and Gingras figures to be firing off the gate from the inside.

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Race 3: $51,583 PA Sire Stakes 3YOC&G

(4) IT'S MY SHOW has been the most impressive 3-year-old I've seen thus far and as long as we get above even money I'll stick with him. (3) LYONS SURFING is still winless on the year but you can see him getting sharper with each start. (2) AMMO owns a perfect record but still needs to show me a bit more speed before I will take a short price.

Race 4: PA Stallion Series 3YOC&G

(1) MORE THAN YA KNOW and (2) IDIOSYNCRATIC look like the best in here and they are tough to separate. Most people will use both on their Pick 4 tickets so the right thing to do is pick one. (7) PRIMO UOMO is the wildcard of this group. He's been dominating at Saratoga and there is no telling how he stacks up; longshot appeal.

Race 5: $51,183 PA Sire Stakes 3YOC&G - Pick 5

(7) LARCENY chased Ken Hanover home willingly last week after making a break in his first start of the year. There seems to be ample early speed to set him off from the back and I don't think we've seen his best. (4) BAMBOOZLER is clearly the one to beat after a game mile where he was used hard versus It’s My Show. (3) ERVIN HANOVER has ability but needs to make the jump to the next level.

Race 6: PA Stallion Series 3YOC&G

(1) COMMAND got stuck in a bad spot and when he swung wide for the stretch it was just too late to get there in TSS most recently. Expect McCarthy to make sure he's cutting the mile here. (3) PANETTONE HANOVER is clearly going to the top and should be sitting a cozy pocket behind the top pick; mild upset chance. (6) POSEIDON DEO came along late for third last time and seems destined for a similar outcome here.

Race 7: Non-winners $15,000 in last 4 or 8 races life

(7) HAZEVILLE and (8) RIP WHEELER are both getting a condition change while in great form. Expect them to be firing hard off the gate, but with a bunch of other speed players signed on they could have company. Not sure it will matter as they seem to be too fast right now. (2) SOUTHWIND OZZI has plenty of class and wouldn't be a shock on the win end if the top two run into trouble.

Race 8: Non-winners $20,500 in last 4 or 9 races life

(6) LOU'S PEARLMAN gets some clear class relief here and outdraws the others exiting Open company. Millionaire is supposed to be able to wire this field. (2) NANDOLO N raced well despite given a tough trip last time. He could be coming around and is worth Pick 5 consideration. (1) DA DELIGHTFUL has speed and form but tackles classier foes this week.

Race 9: $51,583 PA Sire Stakes 3YOC&G

(8) KEN HANOVER really impressed me last week when he powered away from the field and posted a 1:49 mile. Considering he doesn't have a Grand Circuit stake on his dance card until late July, there is no reason to resist firing hard from the outside. (1) SEVEN COLORS couldn't get involved from the outside post last week. He should be mid-pack this time with a chance to pick up cover. (4) STORMALONG was even in his first start of the year; can improve.

Race 10: #Senditin Invitational - $10K GTD Pick 4

I've been off the (4) TATTOO ARTIST bandwagon for some time now but this seems like a good opportunity to hop back on. The 6-year-old freshened up with some time off and qualified back sharply with Lasix added. With all due respect to (5) SOUTHWIND GENDRY, there are no confirmed killers in the field. The latter is probably the horse to beat and he's shown some guts in the stretch. (2) WILD WILD WESTERN ships from one end of Pennsylvania to the other and it isn't for the Atlantic Ocean view. This guy is plenty sharp and has big speed.

Race 11: $100,000 Betsy Ross Mare Pace Invitational

This field is loaded with potential early speed players and there is no doubt that (2) RACINE BELL is one of them, but she's also been able to rate just off the pace with success and that might come in handy here. (1) DOUGS BABE A raced very well in the Matchmaker series until the final when she came up a bit flat. Lasix is added now and perhaps that is a difference maker. (4) AMAZING DREAM N came up short last time after missing nearly four weeks of action. She's classy and clearly a player. (8) NIKI HILL certainly has the ability to overcome the post and the big question is whether the trip will work out. Four-year-old does possess the quick turn of speed to take advantage if the pace is hot.

Race 12: $100,000 Maxie Lee Memorial Invitational Trot

(4) HILLEXOTIC made two moves last weekend in the Cutler and held very well versus a much better group than he faces today. My gut says he's a key in the Pick 4 but he has been caught on the wire a few times this year. (2) AMIGO VOLO may have landed in the right spot as getting around the #1 shouldn't be too difficult and that could have him sitting a perfect trip. (3) AHUNDREDDOLLARBILL hasn't been sharp in some time but he has the class to compete.(6) PAPPARDELLE gets tested for class here but it is worth mentioning that his 1:52 2/5 win over the track last week came after missing almost four weeks and the horse reportedly scoped sick after the race, so maybe there is more to come.

Race 13: $100,000 Joseph Auger Memorial Invitational Pace

(3) LOCHINVAR ART A has some options here as he can fire to the front and try to secure the pocket behind (4) RUTHLESS HANOVER or let the two to his outside gun out and look for cover. After some less than stellar miles at the end of April he has perked back up in May. The latter has always been a fast horse and has been showing off that speed and staying power this year. He won't go down without a fight. (1) MAD MAX HANOVER didn't beat much at The Meadowlands last weekend but it was still very encouraging that he won his 2023 debut. Four-year-old has a right to get better and he's already proven he can pace a 1:47 mile. (5) SOUTH BEACH STAR has been on quite a roll and only lost his win streak last Friday at the hands of #4. I lean against him here with speed to his inside, but he could win.

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Race 14: PA Stallion Series 3YOC&G

(2) CANNIBAL was an impressive winner in his first start of the year. A repeat effort would give him a big shot at a win. If he improves the rest are in big trouble. (3) HUNTERS HERO has been very sharp of late; exotics must. (7) SHEER TERROR takes a meaningful drop out of the upper Sire Stakes level.

Race 15: Non-winners $15,000 in last 4 or 8 races life

(1) ISLAND OF THE SEA dropped and popped in this class last week and gets a free ride here. (5) PAT MCGARRY A has been racing well and owns a pair of second-place finishes in this class two and three starts back. (2) SHADOW CAT has been climbing the ladder with ease and may just be good enough to handle this bunch. (7) JACK'S SHADOW N goes for three straight but is clearly tackling tougher foes.