Harrah's Philadelphia: Analysis for Sunday 8/9

Win %: 108 for 294 (36.7%) ITM: 202 for 294 (68.7%)
Win Dividends: $428.20 $2 ROI: $1.46
BB: 12/16, $35.00 (+$3.00) SP: 1/17, $4.20 (-$29.80)
Pick-4: 3,4/1,2,3,4,6/2,3,6/2,3 ($30)
Best Bet: Royal Heart (Race 1)
Spot Play: Western Beachboy (Race 6)

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

8 - ROYAL HEART seeks a third straight win after wiring $20k foes last Saturday and sprinting off at will in the final furlong. Others have proven capable at this level, but none match the 36-time winner's current sharpness. 6 - BARBADOS successfully rose to this level two weeks ago, edging away on the home turn to a fourth straight widening score. Nap opts on; mind value. Given the great amount of early speed on paper in the race, 1 - KOKANEE SEELSTER could benefit from early commotion to boost exotic dividends in a big way. The stalker-closer lifted onto the board in three of his last four races, all against comparable company.

Race 2 - Claiming $15,000

1 - TORRID BROMAC N arrived las week and sprinted off willingly up the far side. Nap stays aboard; every chance to repeat. 6 - MORE DRAGON lifted from mid-division or worse into four straight minors. Live flow can only improve that kind of late kick, and his outside foes could logically provide that cover. 8 - SIR BRADFORD rose from a $10k win to chase Torrid Bromac N last week and only narrowly miss second. Wide draw presents another obstacle, but he stands a good chance to outperform his odds yet again.

Race 3 - Non-Winners $14,000 Last 5 Starts, 7 Races, or $70,000

2 - CRIMSON AND CHROME drops a level and draws inside on arrival from The Meadowlands. He charged home to upset tougher at 11-1 two back, and no one here matches his sub-:26 closing speed. 1 - FATHER SARDUCCI wired just easier two back, but since failed to fire off stalled cover from astern on arrival. Class and post relief should both aid; he can factor from on the point or off a live helmet. 3 - LUCAN HANOVER saved ground and stayed even in a tougher assignment at Pocono last Saturday, and on arrival returns to a level where he was a two-move winner just last month. Kinder draw keeps him prominent.

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

5 - RECORD MACHINE is Tetrick's last drive on the card. He hit the board at this level in both starts since returning to action. He can set or press the pace alike. 3 - DREAM OUT LOUD N was a no-match second against similar at Pocono last weekend, and was a pocket winner three back. Capable with just a little help; Nap's choice. 8 - LETSCHASETHEDREAMN pushed clear boldly from the pocket on arrival two back, and he overcame some significant traffic trouble to just miss at Pocono since. Barring another severe shuffle, the wide draw is going to be his biggest obstacle today.

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

1 - SOMWHERENBROOKLN N toiled in his last three on account of rearward trips, wide draws and poor cover. Class relief, post relief, and the addition of Nap can all serve to lift him. 4 - SADIQ HANOVER looks to build off a decisive 1:52 win. Recent lines are indicative of versatility - he can set the pace or close into it alike. 7 - CALIFORNIA CRUISIN drops a level after failed chasing and pressing efforts with tougher, but he wired similar here six back. 6 - SENTENCING MEMO just missed off an extended late duel in his last, and 2 - HIGHLAND BEACH BOY steps down again after even finishes for minors.

Race 6 - Non-Winners $4,000 Last 5 Starts

3 - WESTERN BEACH BOY has a lot of room to improve and an optimal chance to demonstrate it here. Last week, in his first start off a brief spell, he advanced steadily out of the eight-hole at Yonkers to force a quickening pace before weakening. Not only should he improve second out, but the kinder draw and switch to three turns make for a much more manageable assignment. 2 - CHILLAXIN AWAY bumps up mildly after pressing and stalking his way to top-three finishes in both starts since returning to action. Form can continue to improve if Kirby can keep him close and clear. 8 - BILBO HANOVER made a lot of ground to take second at sevens last week. The classy veteran is back with similar and Nap stays aboard.

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

4 - THE MOONSHADOW N ground his way to a N8L win at Yonkers two weeks ago - and that was on the step up from N4L company there. Consistently strong finishes impress, as does his current form. 3 - BLOOD LINE steps up after pushing hard to clear and parrying pressure in a 1:49 4/5 win at Pocono. A little class relief helped him regain his form; he's back on the upswing. 5 - ITALIAN DELIGHT N was even but no threat in his last two, yet before that he chased well to just miss at 44-1 from an earned pocket. Easier await on arrival.

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

Today's feature is absolutely wide open, with seven horses rising into this event off wins. 2 - LYONS STEEL gets the nod from me by way of his open-length fives-on score on July 26. He is well drawn to be part of the pace from the outset, and he had plenty left in reserve after sprinting away boldly on the final turn in his last. 6 - THE FIRST STEP had to tough it out first-over in victory last week, but he fought on to reach in the last yards. He's won two of three and can press, pounce from the pocket, or close from deeper back. Pace pressure afore can do him loads of good. 3 - ROCK THE DEVIL invades from Pocono after pressing and holding his ground last Saturday. The likely catalyst for pace pressure broke 1:50 in three of his last four tries, and he's hit the board in five of seven this year.

Race 9 - Non-Winners $10,000 Last 5 Starts

6 - JACK'S SHADOW N gains Lasix and finds his way into a kinder group on his return from Pocono. Prominent placement will help his cause greatly; strong late kick is an almost certainty. 2 - TIGER THOMPSON N returns to his last winning level after early exertion from the outside left him just even to the line last out. Cosy draw can aid. 3 - LITTLE BEN parried pressure stoutly to win his last at Harrington after chasing the tougher Proper One into a no-match second on debut. Versatility and grit under pressure can help him negotiate class hike.

Race 10 - Non-Winners $7,000 Last 5 Starts

3 - SONNY AT THE BEACH drops after respectable but non-threatening fourth-level lines to start his season. Note that, despite only mustering fifth, he gained ground late on each occasion. 2 - MAJOR DECEPTION rises on arrival from Scioto after pushing forward in the breeze and widening to the line in his last. Morgan shippers from Ohio tend to perform well; I was burned by enough of them at M1 to know. 8 - NORTHWEST YANKEE dominated at tens-on in his last at Ocean. Rising form is no concern; wide draw on arrival may well be his biggest hurdle.

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

3 - DA DELIGHTFUL hit the board in four of five, with his lone miss coming after a hefty first-over grind two back. Versatility and proven ability to sustain multiple moves in a race both encourage. 4 - BILLY BADGER N almost lasted under mild pressure last out. While he moves up in class on paper, it's worth noting that everybody in the field is making that step up. 8 - WARRAWEE UNIQUE lifted out of traffic to just miss at sixes in his last. That performance was a marked improvement over the one five days prior, when he cleared from post 7, yielded, and toiled amid his pursuit. He's ramping up.

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

5 - HERE COMES SWIFTY didn't lack for pace in two tries since dropping to this level. Reunited with Nap in a more manageable group. 4 - MEADOWBROOK TIGER was no threat to tougher from astern last out, but he's not lacked either in his last couple. Easier await on arrival. 2 - OOH BAD BOY chased for a no-match second at healthy odds last week after passing horses out of traffic two back. Forward motion late is a plus despite relative lack of form otherwise.

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

6 - BUCKWELL hasn't missed the board in four starts this year, and finally broke maiden last Friday after working hard to clear from post 8. This N3L group feels fairly manageable, and post relief is enough to ease the task even more. 1 - PIRATES ALLEY invades from Chicago after winning at sevens in his last. Form and versatility are apparent; demand value noting variables. 4 - OREO DREAM XTREME never got involved in his last Excelsior event at Yonkers, but he lifted well to just miss N2L foes by a length at Pocono two back. Staying power is crystal clear; can share off cover yet again.

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

5 - JK WILDFIRE drops for the fourth straight race after a convincing Meadowlands outing - he cleared from post 10, yielded, got shuffled some, and lunged late to just miss. This task and starting spot are far kinder despite five others dropping as well. 3 - THE BETTORMACK N chased into second at sixes a level above this one last Sunday. Further relief can boost results even with a like effort this time. 6 - ROCKABILLY CHARM debuts for Bongiorno on arrival from Ontario. He lifted to win at Kawartha in his last, and he's hit the board in four of six so far this year. Tougher await, but he figures to perform much better than 15-1 would indicate.