Harrah's Philadelphia: Analysis for Sunday 7/5

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: Shartin N (Race 10)
Spot Play: Robbie Burns N (Race 13)

Race 1 - Claiming $12,500

6 - CLOSING BELL accounted for himself well at large odds in local starter allowances. Morgan opts to stay on over two others; healthy roughie chance. 8 - WORKIN THEM ANGELS was worn down amid a heavy speed duel last week. The slightest semblance of relief can aid on arrival, and he picks up Tetrick. 3 - CANDELL never threatened from the outside last week. A closer starting spot can help him work into a small share at least.

Race 2 - Claiming Handicap $20,000-$25,000

5 - ROYAL HEART raced respectably on debut for Taneyhill last week, and figures to build on a solid outing on arrival here. He cleared from post 7, yielded, and chased persistently from the pocket to just miss last week. There's no reason he can't be sharper yet today. 8 - LACHIE MAGUIRE N was the winner of that same race, holding sway under sustained pressure despite having to clear from post 9. The 31-time winner gets another wide draw, and while he's not lacking for gate speed, how much will it take out of him to get involved from yet another tough spot? 3 - ABNER THE GREAT was one-paced from a cosy pocket in his return outing. Now he crosses over to the claiming ranks, but he should be able to land closer to the pace than his inside foes given leaving ability. Minor option.

Race 3 - Winners Over $25,000 Handicap
I'm going to try for a potential price with 4 - BECHERS BROOK A. Simply put, I love his Meadowlands lines so far this summer - a second-over win over Dealt A Winner, a chasing effort behind champion Dancin Lou, and most recently a gritty first-over push to force stout late fractions before fading behind Geez Joe. Those were some mighty tough horses, and he stayed right with all of them. 8 - DORSODURO HANOVER makes his second start of the year after simply not being able to work into the Roll With Joe from astern. He's got a clear class edge, but that may well cause his value to tank despite the outside draw. 5 - SAN DOMINO A was a minor player in top-level Yonkers and Dover races this winter, and he stayed even in the Roll With Joe two weeks ago. He can absolutely share with similar.

Race 4 - Claiming $15,000

4 - COUSIN BRUCIE sustained three-wide gains into third against $20k starter allowance company at Harrington in his return outing. Wide gains around rivals deserve credit to begin with, and all the more so at Harrington given the tight turns. He's capable. 1 - LUCKY LEVIS is another one who turned in a stout closing effort fresh off a spell, circling similar into third at 29-1. Pole keeps him closer, and he comes right back. 6 - ER ROCK MY WORLD is David's choice in this field, and he showed some ability with tougher claimers at Yonkers through the winter. His Magical Acres qualifier was mildly promising given progress up the far side, at least enough for exotic consideration.

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

3 - PASSA-GRILLE BEACH rose to this level last Sunday, and he turned in a solid first-over grind from post 8 to force a :26 4/5 third quarter and hold second behind Fullback. Similar await coming right back. 5 - FATHER SARDUCCI lifted off cover to win at Pocono last week after an even outing and a game first-over try with similar at the Big M. He's come back more than fine. 7 - SEEING EYE SINGLE rises off a strong enough third-level win. Forgive his June 20 line on account of his being caught uncovered for six furlongs. 4 - TIGER THOMPSON N and 6 - BLAZING BOBBY SOX are honourable mentions for Hi-5 consideration owing to their back class.

Race 6 - Winners Over $25,000

8 - MUSCLE M UP made strong late gains in his first start since December, and that was against a top group of Preferred trotters at the Big M. His form from last fall indicates he can contend at this level, and he figures to be sharper second out. 2 - TIGHT LINES didn't miss by much at Yonkers last week, and that was after chasing out of midfield off the home turn. Expect him to be closer to the action this time. 7 - LEAN HANOVER just missed from the pocket in the same race Tight Lines exits. Wider draw may prove a bit more taxing, but the 19-time winner is reunited with Tetrick.

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

2 - PADUKA N improved last week to take second behind a stout Seeing Eye Single at this level. He's trending positively, by all counts. 3 - PENZANCE HANOVER steps down a level after flattening on arrival last week. Winter lines at Dover showed success at this level of competition. 6 - STENDAHL HANOVER passed tired foes for minors in both his M1 starts since returning to action. Similar await; closer cover can aid.

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

This race figures evenly on paper, so pace and trip will end up playing a big factor with so many here separated by so little. 6 - TROJAN BANNER N gets the nod from me for a couple reasons: He lifted into victory over similar three back, and since then, he chased off cover into Geez Joe and Sintra for two straight weeks. Relief is welcome on arrival. 7 - LARRY KARR moves the other way on the class ladder after protecting the lead for a twos-on score last week. He's only one of a few to likely contest the early pace; that can play to his favour. 4 - WESTERN JOE won two back at the Big M from an earned pocket, but only mustered an even finish since then on the step back to this level. Gains Nap; can share with an ideal journey.

Race 9 - Non-Winners 5 Races or $50,000

3 - CATTLEWASH only missed the board twice in his career, and he did well to hold third in his first 2020 start after blasting from post 9 to secure the pocket. Slightly easier await on arrival, and the draw is far kinder for this proven stakes colt. 7 - ACTOR HANOVER pushed hard through the far turn after sustaining long overland gains up the far side. He performed far better than 12-1 might otherwise indicate, and he's comes back to a nearly identical situation. 1 - ODDS ON BOCA RATON was stung to a :26 4/5 quarter on arrival last week, and then ground down further on the far turn. Still, he was only beaten by a length. Pole can keep him sharper longer; mind value.

Race 10 - F&M Winners Over $25,000 Handicap

8 - SHARTIN N is back. After being caught wide from post 8 early, she steamrolled to a measured win in her return effort at Yonkers on Tuesday. We've truly run out of things to say about this once-in-a-lifetime mare ... she's that dominant. 6 - STONEBRIDGE SOUL only managed an even chasing effort in her qualifier, but her stakes success and closing ability at 3 are worth noting. She could take advantage of a collapsing second flight if clear off the home turn. 7 - JK AMERICAN BEAUTY reached from an earned pocket to win here last week, and she looks to carry unabated momentum into this race. She's pretty clearly ramping up.

Race 11 - Winners of 5-7 Races

4 - BLOOD MONEY almost lasted on an earned lead last week after blasting, yielding and chasing twice before at M1. The upside this week: he won't have to deal with fellow stakes colt Aflame Hanover. 3 - SEAFARER landed in third after leaving from post 8, and stayed on steadily the whole way around. He made amends for the previous week with aplomb. Kinder draw lifts him a bit more. 1 - MONTEFALCO N invades from The Meadowlands after pressing and stalking efforts yielded minor cheques with consistency. He has proven he can take a lot of air, and his mid-:26 closing splits impress.

Race 12 - Non-Winners 3 Races or $30,000

8 - NO LOU ZING made two moves en route to his maiden-breaking win at M1 two weeks ago. A fortnight before that, he sustained wide gains into second. Very capable. 1 - TELL THEM LOU circled stalled cover before making belated gains into third in his return effort. Better cover or clearer sailing can help him bounce from that failed - through no fault of his own - odds-on try. 4 - WARRAWEE VELOCE improved belatedly for third at 11-1 on arrival last week, and he's right back with similar after chasing a front-end duel to just claim third. Logical minor player.

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

4 - CAPTAIN MULZAC scooted clear of pressure to win stoutly on arrival last Friday. Tougher await third out, but he's trending upward by all indications. 7 - ROBBIE BURNS N charged gamely at 70-1 on the jump to this level two weeks ago - and that was after a 3-1/2 month spell! There's no reason he can't be stronger yet coming back. Logical roughie if ever one existed. 2 - SUGAR FACTORY levelled off in the breeze in his return outing, but gets another crack at similar. Miller opts aboard the 6-time winner who enjoyed a good run with similar at Dover this winter. Best when close up early.

Race 14 - Non-Winners $4,000 Last 5 Starts

3 - ODDS ON DELRAY pressed and levelled off on the step down to similar company at M1 last week. Before that, he circled cover to take third one level above. McCarthy opts on. 5 - PEPPER GUY was hampered by traffic trouble at Pocono in his return effort. Tetrick opts on over two others; clear sailing will assuredly aid. 2 - BRALEY HANOVER powerfully wired first-level company two weeks ago after 3-1/2 months of time away. While tougher await today, he was surely strong enough on debut.