Harrah's Philadelphia: Analysis for Sunday 5/30

BEST BET: TATTOO ARTIST (3rd)

SPOT PLAY: BACKSTREET SHADOW (9th)

$10,000 GTD Late Pick 4 Ticket (Race 10): 6,7 / 5,8 / 1,2,3,7 / 1,4,5,8 = $32 (.50 play)

Race 1: Pennsylvania Stallion Series - 3YO C&G - Pick 4

(5) ALWAYS A MIKI put up a big 2-year-old season but hasn't really found the right spot to shine until today. I'll be shocked if he isn't firing off the gate in an attempt to take them wire-to-wire. (4) CAPTAINS PLACE seems to be versatile and could be sitting the pocket to the top pick or second-over behind live cover. (6) DEAN B HANOVER has raced well in both starts in 2021 and only needs a decent trip to menace.

Race 2: Pennsylvania Stallion Series - 3YO C&G

This could end up being a tricky race depending on which horses insist on the lead. (3) BETTOR NOT TALK is the fastest horse in the race if he decides to pace the entire mile. George Napolitano Jr figured him out last time. (4) SHORE OF HIMSELF tries stakes competition for the first time and while he lacks the "on paper" times of the others, he seems capable of chasing and closing regardless of the pace. (5) KOMODO BEACH just missed in the All Stars and won a Stallion Stake already; one to beat. (6) HULOU had no shot from post eight at Pocono in his last two. Does new driver Gingras leave? (2) KEYSTONE CATALYST is another stepping up to stakes company with the speed and form to compete.

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

Race 3: Non-winners $20,000 in last 5 or 9 races/$90,000 life

(1) TATTOO ARTIST got a much deserved week off after missing a nose in 1:47 4/5 against stakes foes last time. Four-year-old seems to be coming into form and could be ready to pop a monster mile. (4) GROOVY JOE has the early zip to make the front and ultimately sit the pocket behind the top pick. (5) NO LOU ZING took a shot but couldn't gain after chasing some big fractions in the same race as the top one on May 15. He can play with these but needs to step up.

Race 4: Pennsylvania Stallion Series - 3YO C&G

(3) CURBSIDE PICKUP comes off a complete throw-out line where he was never put in play and finished up willingly. With the shorter field and better post today, expect a big effort. (1) ROCKYROAD HANOVER won his debut at The Meadowlands and was a respectable third against better PA foes last time; big threat. (2) SHAKESPEARE has the early speed to stay close but needs to fine more late.

Race 5: Pennsylvania Stallion Series - 3YO C&G - Pick 5

I loved (5) PRAYFORTHEWICKED's qualifier on May 8 at The Meadowlands and he really didn't have much opportunity to get into his 2021 debut at Pocono from post eight. Let's look for him to be more aggressively driven this week. (7) WHICHWAYTOTHEBEACH has never finished off the board in his career and is perfect in three starts this year. The race clearly goes through him at short odds. (2) CAPTAIN SLEAZE has the early speed to get into position but has lacked the stretch "guts" to win often.

Race 6: $76,309 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes - 3YO C&G

(5) PERFECT STING sprinted home in 26 seconds to just miss in his 2021 debut and ruining his unblemished record. This is an important race in terms of points for the Sire Stakes final since he missed the first leg, though he might skip that anyway since it conflicts with the NA Cup eliminations. Either way, expect his usual strong performance. (1) ABUCKABETT HANOVER was spectacular in his first start of the year and maybe just good last time as he should've won by more; obvious threat to win. (3) GAMBLIN MO has the speed needed to make the top but figures to be yielding and will need a stretch rally.

Race 7: Pennsylvania Stallion Series - 3YO C&G - Pick 3

It will be interesting to see whether (6) EMBLAZE HANOVER guns to the front here after getting caught last time or reverts to off-the-pace tactics. The bottom line is he lands in a good spot and should have a good chance regardless. (1) RIFLEMAN still tired in the stretch with Lasix added last time but sometimes it takes a bit of time for the medication to work. Betting Line gelding has some ability and deserves another chance. (2) LINNYCALLEDFRANKIE worked out a good trip and picked up a narrow win last time. He has a clear shot but seems like an underlay.

Race 8: Pennsylvania Stallion Series - 3YO C&G

(1) SOUTH BEACH STAR has won three of four and seems like the obvious selection as the odds-on chalk. Expect big speed off the gate or an early brush. (4) HIS BEATS HANOVER has been just even racing from off the pace. Perhaps new pilot Dexter Dunn can make the difference at what should be a good price. (7) TAPPED TEEN responded to the addition of Lasix and could be flying fast off the wings of the gate again.

Race 9: Open

(8) BACKSTREET SHADOW comes off two dull lines on paper, but two back he had a brutal trip and last time he came home in 25 1/5 with no shot after missing over a month of action. He's the class of the race and should be able to flex his muscles. (4) PYRO has found himself in recent weeks and could be heard from if the top one shows any signs of weakness. (2) SHNITZLEDOSOMETHIN has big speed and his qualifier on Tuesday should make him tight. (3) J M MANDAMIN has won his last four starts on five-eighths tracks.

Race 10: Pennsylvania Stallion Series - 3YO C&G - $10K GTD Pick 4

This is a tricky race without a clear standout and an unknown pace scenario to start the Pick 4. (6) BOILER MAKER looks to be improving with every start. My only hesitation is that he hasn't shown early speed and could get away last if Tetrick doesn't get more aggressive. (7) COALITION HANOVER could certainly wire this field, but what happened last time when he stopped and finished ninth? (4) DOUBLE METAL reached this level last time and raced very well, but Tetrick moves to the one he owns (#6).

Race 11: $100,000 Commodore Barry Invitational

(5) NICHOLAS BEACH made a believer out of me with a monster performance last Saturday at The Meadowlands. He has the big speed needed to make the top and should be sitting no worse than second. While he lacks the résumé of some of the others, the race goes through him. (8) THIS IS THE PLAN is also capable of flying off the gate as he proved in the Borgata final. He finished only a nose behind the top pick last week in a strong mile despite missing more than a month of racing. He'll be on my Pick 4 tickets as I expect Gingras will be going forward in a hurry when the gate folds. (3) LEONIDAS A seems likely to switch to off-the-pace tactics in this spot and will have every chance to prove himself; demand at least 8-1 before taking a shot here.

Race 12: $100,000 Betsy Ross Mares Invitational - Pick 3

This is a really nice group of pacing mares and given the right trip the majority have a fair chance to win. (3) JK FIRST LADY went a brutal trip on May 22 - three-wide on the first turn and not clearing the lead until after the half - to lose by less than two lengths behind horses with much better trips. In her third start back she should be ready for a peak performance. (2) SOHO BURNING LOVE A takes a small step up in class but is as sharp as or sharper than any of these. She may even be the horse to beat from the driver/trainer combo that won so many of these big races with Shartin. (7) RACINE BELL faced some traffic and finished willingly last time. It is another bad post for this sharp 4-year-old, though luckily she has the early speed to make her own trip. (1) TREACHEROUS REIGN was parked every step and pressed some first-over in the common race most of these exit. She could be an interesting price play if Todd McCarthy can work out a trip.

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

Race 13: $100,000 Maxie Lee Memorial Invitational

After a pair of qualifiers and a poor effort to start the year, (1) AMIGO VOLO finally showed the signs of life I was looking for before hopping on board his bandwagon. While he was only second, no one was beating Beads that night. There are some questions here in terms of trip and regular driver Dexter Dunn logically choosing Manchego, but the price should be fair to take a shot. (5) MANCHEGO was all class in winning the Cutler and sh'’s clearly the one to beat. That said, I'm not sure I would get on board if they bet her down to odds-on status. (4) FORBIDDEN TRADE raced well with no shot in the Cutler and got a good tightener on Tuesday over this surface. I believe he could step up and win here but considering his last year-plus of work, demand some value. (8) IT’S ACADEMIC has big speed and will clearly be going towards the front. How much traffic will he face on the way to the top?

Race 14: $76,729 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes - 3YO C&G

(2) SOUTHWIND GENDRY wasn't quite as good in his second start of the year but that doesn't change the fact that I still view him as the best horse in this race at this point. He should be sitting no worse than second with every chance to win. (6) ONE EIGHT HUNDRED is likely to be heading to the front and did beat the top one off a nice pocket trip the last time they met. (7) EXPLOIT hasn’t shown much early speed and it seems unlikely we'll see it here. He's capable with the right trip.

Race 15: Pennsylvania Stallion Series - 3YO C&G

(5) SIMON SAYS HANOVER took a tour of the track from post eight and closed very willingly late from an impossible spot to get fourth in his 2021 debut. Let's expect much more here. (3) WARRAWEE WHYNOT and (2) STRAIGHT TALK both have early speed and should be aggressive off the gate. Either one is capable of winning in this spot.