Harrah's Philadelphia: Analysis for Sunday 7/26

Win %: 81 for 238 (34.0%) ITM: 161 for 238 (67.6%)
Win Dividends: $305.80 $2 ROI: $1.29
BB: 12/16, $35.00 (+$3.00)
SP: 1/17, $4.20 (-$29.80)
Best Bet: Dealt A Winner (Race 9)
Spot Play: Imarocnrollegend N (Race 10)
Pick-4 Ticket: 1,5,8/5,6,7/3/1,2,4 = $13.50

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

8 - DOJEA SOLO debuts for Hastings off the claim after lifting off cover for second in each of his last two. There are just enough options for mid-race pressure here that he can thrive of a helmet. 1 - BLUEBERRY HEAVEN invades from Pocono after emerging out of traffic to save third at 13-1 on debut for Sansone. Pole can keep him close given a general dearth of early speed. 7 - RECORD MACHINE made a bid for second two weeks ago before levelling off, but hadn't raced since February prior to that. Expect sharper second out.

Race 2 - Claiming $15,000

1 - BETTER B ROLLING won from an earned pocket two weeks ago, and now returns for the same tag in his second start off a 4-month spell. Nap chooses on over two others, and they should be even stronger coming back with the aid of the pole. 5 - MORE DRAGON rises on arrival from Yonkers, but has shown strong finishing ability from mid-division and worse in his two return outings. Mid-price option can show up late with ample pressure afore. 2 - DEERFIELD BEACH debuts for Pellegrino off the claim after respectable showings at this level since returning. He won going away two back, but flattened after enduring :27 third splits in the breeze both one and three back. Likely catalyst for pace pressure once again.

Race 3 - Non-Winners $10,000 Last 5 Starts

1 - DIALAMARA almost held on under pressure to beat similar at Dover four back, but that was in March. Since then, he's turned in respectable efforts at Harrington with just easier - lifting off cover to win, absorbing pressure after clearing from post 8, and trying to chase out of traffic. The pole negates the class hike on arrival, and Allard can keep him prominent with ease. 7 - WARRAWEE UNIQUE steps up more markedly on arrival from The Meadows, but he turned in a pair of powerful and fast wins there this month. Given that The Meadows usually cedes almost a second of a speed edge to eastern tracks in the state, that 1:50 4/5 mile impresses all the more. Can contend.

Race 4 - Claiming Handicap $20,000-$25,000

4 - BARBADOS rises after three straight wins to start the meet. He can set or press the pace alike, and Nap chooses aboard. 6 - TIME OUT I'M TIRED drops from a runner-up effort in fifth-level company on debut for Taneyhill. In recent efforts, it's seemed he's had one big push. It's up to Morgan to use it at the right time. 5 - ONLYTHETUFFSURVIVE pressed to a $20k win at Pocono two back before tiring after chasing cover in his last. He's proven he can go with these; mind value.

Race 5 - Claiming $12,500

4 - ARTACHE HANOVER won at this level from the pocket two back and chased stoutly to just miss a tough IYQ YQR since. Class and form unite. 3 - SEELEY MAN makes his second start since December, and frankly he fits well here after only giving way to third in his return outing. Similar await; expect sharper. 5 - CHEYENNE JEFFREY keeps Nap after pressing and stalking efforts have yielded him three top-two finishes in his last four. 7 - RON BAKARDI looks to rise from a $10k win, but was claimed out of the Garcia barn. Addison's only batting .056 so far this year. 1 - CANDELL was even for minors in his last three at this level, and he figures to factor in the Hi-5 with similar finishing ability from the pole.

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

3 - ROCKAPELO won well on the drop at Pocono on Tuesday. The 12-time winner seems best when he's prominent from the outset, and he gains Brennan on arrival. Additionally, this step up isn't too daunting despite four foes moving down. 4 - MIKE'S Z TAM is one of those four, having been swallowed up on the lead in hiss last two tries. Further relief should help, but will he be able to control the terms in a race full of effective speed? Mind value. 6 - ROCK THE NITE retains Nap after a runner-up effort at this level two weeks ago. He has shown both pacesetting and pressing ability since returning.

Race 7 - Non-Winners $4,000 Last 5 Starts

1 - IDEAL WHEEL vaulted from the pocket to win last week. The pole gives him an easier task compared to his last local outing, in which he circled three-wide from post 8 to clear before tiring. Forgive that July 3 line as such. 8 - LIVE LIKE A BOSS steps up off a win as well, grinding out a first-over trip to reach at odds-on. Before that, he toiled in upper-winners company. This field suits better, but a wide draw gets in his way. 5 - SOMEWHERE FANCY looks to improve in his second start back. Here two weeks ago, he didn't lack for pace in traffic against tougher rivals. Clear sailing is a must.

Race 8 - Non-Winners $10,000 Last 5 Starts

5 - PERSIMMON A looks to bounce after early exertion and late traffic left him regressing in the stretch in his last. He drops to his most recent winning level - two back, he was used hard twice in a :55 4/5 half before staving off pressure to the line. 6 - BILLY BADGER N has the speed edge in this group by way of his 1:48 4/5 mile at M1 two weeks ago, but he loses Dunn on arrival. Surely capable as his July 4 outing indicates, but mind value. 7 - BAKERSFIELD drops again for Garcia on arrival from Pocono, but has been plagued by wide draws and rearward trips since returning to action. Nap chooses over two others; minor option with stronger placement.

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

Today's feature goes through 3 - DEALT A WINNER who makes the most pronounced class drop in this group by a long margin. He swept wide to pass tired rivals in the Haughton Consolation at M1 last week, using a :26 last quarter to gain belatedly down the grandstand side. Nap opts on after teaming up with him for two Pocono wins earlier in the month. 2 - IN SPADES pushed clear and held sway at Pocono two back before mustering an even finish in local winners-over company last week. Splits the difference here. 6 - SLICK TONY invades from Harrington after recent pressing efforts came up just short. Ability to take significant air encourages immensely, but tougher await on arrival.

Race 10 - Non-Winners $14,000 Last 5 Starts, 7 Races, or $70,000

1 - IMAROCNROLLEGEND N posted a :25 3/5 third quarter to clear up the far side at Pocono last week, so it's definitely excusable that he gave way in mid-stretch. Class relief and a high likelihood of a kinder pace welcome him here. 2 - BETTOR MEMORIES drops as well after doing a fair bit of work in his last, too. He circled wide off the home turn into a no-match third behind a tough Shnitzledosomethin. 4 - TWIN B TUFFENUFF comes in from M1 after a :26 1/5 last quarter wasn't enough to chase down Western Joe off cover. Easier await this solid stayer; he wired similar at Pocono back in February.

Race 11 - Non-Winners 3 Races or $30,000

2 - PATRIOT NATION is Nap's choice of three on arrival from The Meadows, where he mustered a minor in Sire Stakes company last weekend. He nearly held his ground with similar here earlier in the month after brushing. Plenty to like. 4 - WARRAWEE VELOCE made late inroads for minors in Stallion Series events after two third-place finishes off cover at this course and class. Improvement is noted. 3 - MAJOR RISKY rode an earned pocket to second at this level behind Genius Man last week. Stakes droppers make for a tougher task.

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

4 - LOVE THE ACTION was one-paced from the pocket on the step down last week, but still held third. Far kinder company awaits today, and he's improving. 5 - MOTOR CITY MARCO finished with broken equipment last week after chasing evenly for fourth. He was too far away to threaten in previous outings but still had enough late pace to earn minors. 2 - HERE COMES SWIFTY gains Nap on the drop after missing last week due to sickness. Kind draw in a paceless race can land him close with ease.

Race 13 - Non-Winners $14,000 Last 5 Starts, 7 Races, or $70,000

3 - LYONS STEEL won't have to work nearly as hard in the early stages this time after blasting clear from wide draws in his last two at this level. Staying power isn't in doubt at all; Nap opts to remain aboard. 1 - ROBBIE BURNS N is an extremely credible roughie option in this group. When we last saw him three weeks ago, he pushed hard to clear from post 7 in a :26 2/5 first quarter before tiring in pursuit of Captain Mulzac. In today's group, four rivals step up, and the cosy inside draw can help him save energy for the stretch drive. 2 - REDBANK BLAZE A just missed at 14-1 two back and was aided by a cosy pocket on the step up last week to again just miss. Another mild class hike awaits; mind value.

Race 14 - Non-Winners 5 Races or $50,000

3 - FORCE N FURY was carried wide in his last Sire Stakes outing and worked hard to maintain fifth behind The Greek Freak. Easier await on arrival, and a kinder trip here can help him lift from his first-over grind to a N3L score off the shelf on July 3. 4 - STONE HANOVER nearly lasted at Pocono with slightly tougher two back and chased strongly from astern into a no-match third since. The big plus today: no post 8. The downside: expected value. 1 - RANDOM HANOVER was a game second on the point two weeks ago and lifted into second the week before. Similar foes await this versatile individual who has hit the board in over half his starts this year.