Harrah's Philadelphia: Analysis for Sunday 7/19

Meet Stats: 25 - 70 (35.7%), $103.00 (-$37.00)
Best Bets: 4 - 5, $10.20 (+$0.20)
Spot Plays: 0 - 5, $0.00 (-$10.00)
Best Bet: Blank Stare (Race 9)
Spot Play: Captain Mulzac (Race 8)

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

2 - DREAM OUT LOUD N won from the pocket on the drop to this level last Saturday at Pocono. The 43-time winner is closing in on $1 million in career earnings, and it seems that class relief was enough to help him convert in his second start off the spell. Can repeat. 5 - ROLL N CATCH broke on the far turn at Harrington in his return outing, but fared well with $17.5k claimers at Dover late in the winter. Switch to three turns can alleviate gait issues. 7 - MAJOR KEY chased to hit the board twice in three $20k starter allowances at Harrington since coming back. Wide draw is his biggest obstacle, but he's proven he can rally.

Race 2 - Claiming $15,000

2 - LUCKY LEVIS widened his advantage in the stretch two weeks ago after pouncing from the pocket. He's back in for $15k after two solid starts to open his season. 3 - AMERIMAN retains Nap after chasing to save second at 25-1 behind Lucky Levis on debut. Expect stronger yet second out. 8 - WE THINK ALIKE rises from $10k starter events to tackle this tougher claiming group, but he showed grit and versatility in those early-summer lines. He can lift off cover and win like on June 24, or he can withstand sustained pressure and still finish well, like he did in narrow defeat on July 1. Wide draw may prove his biggest obstacle.

Race 3- Non-Winners $2,500 Last 5 Starts

6 - JUST PLAIN LOCO improved on the drop two weeks ago, chasing into a no-match third at 44-1. Further relief lifts him more. 1 - GO SUE ME worked off cover to gain a few positions in each of his last two. This group seems more manageable yet, and the pole keeps him close. 3 - LOVE THE ACTION bottoms out in his second start back for Burke after being hemmed in and chasing mildly on debut. Clear sailing can aid in the hunt for a minor even though he's only 2-for-67.

Race 4 - Claiming $12,500

2 - MR DISOMMA moves up for his second start for Hartline, but he proved himself beautifully against $10k company last week. A kinder journey than his stout first-over push into a :27 2/5 third split can compensate for the class hike, but he figures to be sharper anyway coming right back. 7 - IYQ YQR has hit the exacta in all four of his starts since returning to action, most recently winning at this level from a cosy pocket. His form goes unrivalled here. 8 - CHEYENNE JEFFREY looks to build on an even effort at odds-on last out. Twice before, he sustained long uncovered pushes against $10k starter company. Can figure; mind value.

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

1 - CLOUD SPEED failed to sustain an overland bid behind the tough Tiger Thompson N in his last, but pressed well to hold second the week before at Harrington. He rallied off cover to beat tougher seven back, note. 8 - OFFICIAL DELIGHT is Nap's choice on the drop after toiling behind Springsteen's monstrous 1:50 mile last week. Wide draw looms, but this race is far kinder. 2 - BLATANTLY BEST didn't lack for pace in traffic and off cover in two tries at the level, 3 - STENDAHL HANOVER fought gamely in his last and retains Tetrick, and 4 - VEGA STAR N hit the board in all four of his starts since returning and could potentially hold for a share here too if he gets away as lone speed.

Race 6 - Winners Over $25,000 Lifetime

2 - TURBO HILL won both of his starts for Bongiorno to date, both top-level races at Pocono. He's one of four to move up into today's first co-feature, and he's drawn ideally to generate a similar tracking journey. 6 - OSTRO HANOVER debuts for Auciello after a fairly ordinary Pocono qualifier. His Yonkers lines this winter indicate strength and versatility against some mighty tough competition. Worth a shot at a hefty price. 1 - PROPER ONE circled to an Open win at Harrington on Monday and gains an easier starting spot on arrival. Forgive his Big M outing; he was too far away from much tougher, and he did post a :25 4/5 closing split.

Race 7 - Non-Winners 5 Races or $50,000

5 - AMERICAN REBEL drops in from New York Sire Stakes company, in which he hasn't lacked for ability but has largely been overmatched. After giving futile chase to a 1:48 4/5 mile from Groovy Joe at Vernon last week, he'll find a much more manageable group and gain Tetrick. 1 - ACTOR HANOVER moves laterally after pressing into a head-stretch lead but giving way to a powerful Thinkbig Dreambig. Loses Tetrick, but gains the pole. 8 - MOTIVE HANOVER rises after pressing into a N4L win at Pocono. He's proven he can press or close from astern; Nap opts on.

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

8 - CAPTAIN MULZAC rises again after trouncing fifth-level company two weeks ago. He's mighty sharp right now; wide draw is his biggest obstacle. 7 - BLOOD MONEY also rises off an open-length win, parrying pressure to defeat upper winners on July 5 after being collared in his local debut. McCarthy opts to stay on for Pelling. 4 - BILL HALEY N raced credibly on debut in a stacked winners-over event, but only managed an even finish from one-one trail in a mad scramble for home. Trip relief can help on the step down.

Race 9 - Winners of 5-7 Races

7 - BLANK STARE pursued Groovy Joe in his second round of New York Sire Stakes competition after fending off sustained pressure at Tioga before that. Class relief can put him back on the winning track given powerful performances with tougher. 2 - THE FIRST STEP moves laterally after just reaching from an earned pocket last week. This is his kindest draw since returning to action, too. 4 - ODDS ON BOCA RATON was overpowered in the last yards of his first start at this level after kicking clear of N5L types two back. Not incapable but still warming up to these. Mind value.

Race 10 - Winners Over $25,000 Lifetime

8 - BECHERS BROOK A gave strong chase two back and since rallied for a 54-1 upset in a Meadowlands Open. Cullipher trainee is finding his best stride now. 6 - TOOKADIVEOFFDIPPER dug in to prevail at Yonkers a couple weeks ago, and has hit the board in five of his last six top-class events. Likely pace of the race. 1 - WESTERN FAME debuts for Ryder after four months away from action. The millionaire may need some time to get re-acclimated, but he's certainly not lacking for ability.

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

7 - TIGER THOMPSON N won from the pocket in his first start since December, and now he works his way back up. Qualifiers leading up to his 1:50 1/5 score indicate fitness; back class is ample. 5 - FERDINAND A deserves more respect than his 9-1 morning line indicates - after leaving and being pinned in on July 5, he chased up the pegs to save a no-match second behind Captain Mulzac at 27-1. He didn't lack for late pace the start before, either. 3 - LUCAN HANOVER rises again after a pillar-to-post win at Harrington on July 6. He figures to be part of the pace, but can the millionaire handle this stout of a jump up?

Race 12 - Non-Winners $4,000 Last 5 Starts

7 - SADIQ HANOVER finds an easier spot after lifting steadily into third in his last. Further relief can promote further improvement. 5 - PREMIER ROCKSTAR debuts for Cullipher after mild success in mid-level races at Georgian and Flamboro. He does more than OK off cover. 2 - CHEYENNE REIJANE won well two back but was stymied by a wide draw on the rise to this level. Kinder barrier can land him closer to the pace with ease.

Race 13 - Non-Winners 3 Races or $30,000

6 - GENIUS MAN drops markedly from New York Sire Stakes events where he gave futile chase to the likes of Groovy Joe and Blank Stare. I'm not expecting much in terms of value, but he's the one to beat after holding for third on both those occasions. 4 - MAJOR SKY dismissed of an outside foe powerfully in his return outing, and he figures to be sharper yet coming back. The big question: can he keep up with Genius Man? 3 - WESTERN VACATION was shuffled in his Stallion Series race yet did not lack for late pace. He didn't in traffic at Pocono the start before, either. Class and post relief can aid; minor option.

Race 14 - Non-Winners $10,000 Last 5 Starts

6 - PADUKA N demonstrated steady improvement in three starts since arriving, lifting off cover two back and wiring third-level types most recently. Current momentum can help carry him up another level. 4 - LIKE CLOCKWORK likewise rises from a third-level win, having ground down his foes on July 12 via a first-over ascent. Brennan opts off, however. 2 - SARONNO toughed it out first-over at Harrington on Monday, only to be beaten by a head in the end. Before that, he lifted well off cover for second in a $15k starter event locally. Capable presser-stalker can boost exotic value on the mild step up.