Harrah's Philadelphia: Analysis for Sunday 6/28

BEST BET: Big Oil (Race 7)
SPOT PLAY: Magritte (Race 6)

Race 1 - Non-Winners $14,000 Last 5 Starts, 7 Races, or $70,000

4 - VETTEL N makes his second start back after being just collared by Western Joe at the Big M. Far easier await this one off a sharp 1:48 2/5 mile. 6 - LYONS STEEL exits the same race, having pushed a :27 2/5 third quarter before weakening in the breeze. Gains Nap. 2 - BLAZING BOBBY SOX has been out of action since March, but held well for minors in top Dover races. He's got the staying power to factor in deeper exotics.

Race 2 - Non-Winners 3 Races or $30,000

3 - SEA OF LIFE was a minor player on the stakes circuit as a rookie, and he returns from a nearly 8-month layoff by way of two sharp Gaitway qualifiers. Last year's raw speed + this month's closing kick = solid contender at the level. 6 - REMEMBER THE BEACH was used hard early to clear in his return outing, and lacked fight off the home turn when pocket rival Barrage Hanover vaulted past him. He does figure to be sharper coming right back. 4 - SAILBOAT HANOVER never threatened in his return outing, but it was his first purse start in over 9 months. Raw speed is ample for this group, at the least.

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

3 - SEEING EYE SINGLE had an extremely tough journey on debut, pushing middle splits of :54 3/5 and 1:22 3/5 at the Big M while parked uncovered for the first six furlongs. Post relief should alleviate trip woes on arrival. Moves laterally. 5 - PADUKA N engaged in an extended duel for second behind a clear leader on arrival last week before tiring late. He's another one who can bounce off a tough journey. 8 - CASH IS KING won the season opener, duelling down Blatantly Best from an earned pocket. He did far more work in the race, and as such, gets the nod for a minor on the way up the class ladder.

Race 4 - Non-Winners 5 Races or $50,000

1 - LYONS NIGHT HAWK is back in action after nearly four months away. He hit the board in half his starts at three, and he was mighty sharp in his 1:51 3/5 qualifier on June 18, trailing only stablemate Shartin N to the line. 7 - ACTOR HANOVER was driven to chase into second after being boxed up the backstretch last week. He returns to face similar, and is one of three to make his third start back. 6 - ODDS ON BOCA RATON drops a level after rallying belatedly into fourth on debut at M1 last week. Closer cover can help him make better use of potent late kick.

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

2 - YOUCANIKNOW drops a level and draws far better on arrival from Pocono. This much easier task can help him strike for Burke second out. 3 - HERE COMES SWIFTY moves up mildly after chasing for third in his return effort. The 10-year-old's staying power is ample for this group. 1 - NEAT rises off a win, but gives up a slight speed edge overall to Here Comes Swifty. A likely factor, but how severely will his price take a hit? 7 - MELANIE'S TEDY is an honourable mention for Hi-5 considerations. He passed tired horses at this level last week after being carried three-wide, and Tetrick opts on over two others.

Race 6 - Non-Winners $10,000 Last 5 Starts

6 - MAGRITTE used a :27 2/5 third quarter to attack in the breeze last week, but was just outkicked by a fresher rival after duelling at 14-1. Loved this horse last week, and he proved his ability admirably despite coming up just short. 2 - SUNKEN TREASURE didn't lack for late pace at boxcars last week, but was the victim of a blind switch in the backfield heading to the far turn. A closer starting spot should ensure clearer sailing on the step down. 8 - PASSA-GRILLE BEACH will look to jump a class and a half following a dominant 1:50 3/5 score at The Meadowlands on June 20. Given that win came after 3-1/2 months off, I'm confident he can at least contend for a share coming right back despite the class hike.

Race 7 - Non-Winners 3 Races or $30,000

6 - BIG OIL rode the pocket to a qualifying victory at The Meadowlands on June 12. He took on tough foes as a rookie, and wrapped up last year with a Grand Circuit win at Lexington. Far easier await the son of Father Patrick in his seasonal debut. My Pick-4 single. 7 - SWIPE RIGHT chased evenly behind Sans Defaut at Pocono last Sunday, and a repeat of his 1:54 4/5 mile would put him squarely in "best of the rest" range. 5 - KREDIT KARMA competed in the slower N4L division at Pocono last Sunday, and held up well from the pocket to only miss by a length at 23-1 on that occasion. Consistent minor player last year will have to step up his game a bit here, but he can figure in deeper exotics with ease.

Race 8 - Winners of 5-7 Races

3 - AFLAME HANOVER made a strong push from the pocket at 51-1 in last week's Graduate after closing stoutly out of traffic on debut. He turned a lot of heads in this region last season, that's for sure. 4 - ADRIANO HANOVER kicks off his 3-year-old season after lifting mildly in a Magical Acres qualifier. He fared well on the regional stakes circuit, but petered out some in the end of the summer. Should be much fresher today. 1 - BLOOD MONEY won't have to work so hard for early position today compared to two Big M starts this month, and this kinder draw should serve to sharpen him up late in a big way.

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

Today's feature is a truly wide open race, with credible cases to be made for over half the field. That said, I give my attention to 5 - OUR MAX PHACTOR N, who turned up a first-over grind to just miss similar at Pocono last Saturday. The 25-time winner makes his third start back since Nov. 21, when he ground down similar rivals at Yonkers. 2 - LOVE ME SOME LOU almost lasted on a pressured lead last week, but his :54 3/5 back half was eclipsed by pocket foe Alluneedisfaith N. Worth another shot with similar, but mind value. 6 - IMAROCNROLLEGEND N was outmatched by the likes of GeeZ Joe and Sintra in last week's Meadowlands Preferred, and traffic trouble didn't help his cause, either. Kinder await on arrival.

Race 10 - Starter Allowance $25,000

8 - YANKEE HEAVEN seeks a third straight win after pressing and closing his way to claiming scores at Dover before the shutdown. Versatility and grit duly noted; fitness is the lone variable. 1 - MAYFIELD DUKE never had a shot from astern at M1 on debut, but proved a capable presser-stalker at this level in the winter months at Dover. He figures to be stronger second out. 3 - MISTER INDIANA won for $30k in February at Pocono and was mired in traffic in the series final which followed. Can share with best if clear; value option for exotics.

Race 11 - Non-Winners $14,000 Last 5 Starts, 7 Races, or $70,000

7 - REDBANK BLAZE A pressed his way to a going-away 7-1 score at Pocono off the shelf, and this step up in class is minimal. He figures to be stronger yet. 5 - LARRY KARR was worn down after working to clear and being forced through a :27 third quarter at Pocono last Saturday. Any semblance of relief on this tiny step up can go a long way for him. 3 - CAVIART REAGAN won his last two, and now he debuts for Leamon on arrival from Tioga. I liked seeing him shrug off a late challenge in that June 15 line.

Race 12 - Non-Winners $2,500 Last 5 Starts

1 - WARRAWEE TOTAL drops a level after clearing, yielding and chasing to hold third last week. Lots to like coming back into easier. 2 - DEALMAKER exits the same race, in which he chased evenly for fourth. Relief helps him just the same. 5 - CAPTAIN DISOMMA hasn't raced since last year, but showed he could make late inroads for minors at this level. Gains Tetrick.

Race 13 - Starter Allowance $15,000

I really liked the effort I saw from 3 - DEERFIELD BEACH last week. He landed in midfield from post 8 before advancing into a :27 4/5 third quarter and winning a duel on the far turn. Ultimately he was engulfed in deep stretch, but he accounted for himself beautifully. Expect better second out with the kinder draw. 5 - SKYWAY BILLY won that race from a cosy tracking trip, but it's worth noting he hooked three-wide around the game Deerfield Beach at the eighth pole to make the winning move. 8 - BUGGER BRUISER makes his first start back since March, when he overcame traffic trouble to take third at 45-1 in a $12.5k event at Yonkers. Live long shot potential for deeper exotics presents if he can bring a similar effort.

Race 14 - Starter Allowance $12,500

3 - BARBADOS was a handy winner at this level last week. There won't be much as far as value goes, but he has cemented himself as the one to beat here. Gains Tetrick. 4 - FINAL JUSTICE possibly did the most work in the race by way of his steady first-over gains into a no-match second at 19-1. He showed none the worse for wear off the layoff. 7 - MYIDEALSON N was ground down under sustained pressure through a :27 1/5 third quarter at Pocono last week, but was successful at the $12.5k ranks at Yonkers through the winter. Can bounce some with a kinder journey.