Harrah's Philadelphia: Analysis for Thursday 11/12

Pick-4: 1,6 / 1,5,7 / 2,3 / 4,5,8 ($18)

Best Bet: Rosalie Swan (Race 5)

Spot Play: Magic MVP (Race 8)

Race 1 - Claiming $15,000

5 - GUNSLINGER HILL makes a second straight step up in class, but he does so on debut for Taneyhill and off the heels of a dominant $12.5k score last week. Gains Tetrick as well amid arguably the strongest form of anyone in this race. 3 - MYIDEALSON N was a good second at this level last Thursday, and while he was upended by Just Plain Loco in upper stretch, he did significantly more work through the first seven furlongs. Kinder draw should aid. 2 - JUST PLAIN LOCO vaulted clear from an earned pocket at this level last week after similarly rallying out of deeper traffic for third the start before. Loses Tetrick, but is reunited with McCarthy. Draw keeps him close; mind value.

[DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card]

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

6 - LAZER JET advanced multiple positions up the backstretch last week due to breaking rivals, and kept closing ground without aid through the far turn. Improving closer gains Miller and a just kinder starting spot. 1 - MEANTTOBE DE VIE rode a cosy pocket to a clear win at this level last week after being outmatched by the ultra-sharp Rosalie Swan the week before. Pole can help him land close to the action -- right where he likes to be. 5 - BEAUTIFUL MRS A worked her way to a clear win on debut for Lachance in the slop, and followed it up with a gritty pressing effort. Likely catalyst for pace pressure is clearly improving, and her raw speed is ample for this group. I'm inclined to forgive her levelling off last week on account of the :28 third quarter she trotted without cover to nearly take the lead.

[DRF BETS: Wager on today's Harrah's Philadelphia card at DRF Bets.com!]

Race 3 - Non-Winners $7,300 Last 5 Starts

2 - SIR JOHN F invaded from Yonkers last week and won comfortably at twenties-on. Nap stays with the 19-time winner who showed some staying power with similar foes at Yonkers in his time there. 6 - SWANS HONEY improved mildly for minor checks in both tries at this level after an even fourth against tougher. This group shapes up as a bit more manageable owing to those rising in class. 3 - GINGER TREE SKYR adds Lasix after exerting early and weakening late last out. The start before, he just missed Skyway Cobra from a pretty cozy pocket. Can factor with best; mind value.

Race 4 - Non-Winners 1 Race

1 - YEAR OF THE BRIDE gains Tetrick this week after an early break cost her all chance. Gait issues aside, she's finally starting to come into her own -- pressing and stalking ability indicate potential. 2 - DIVAINTHEREDDRESS hit the board in five of her last seven, including two of three here from pressing and stalking journeys. Solid value player in this group, provided she stays flat. 4 - BARCIA HANOVER gains Lachance this week after what was, on all accounts, a good recovery to save fifth after breaking last out. That effort minus the break is enough to contend.

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

1 - ROSALIE SWAN seeks her fifth consecutive win today after pressing and edging clear at twos-on in her first try at this level. It's going to take a lot to topple her given her current form. 2 - SWAN LEGACY broke at Yonkers on debut for DiDomenico, but fared well at Hoosier in ISS-eligible events (a cut below the true Indiana Sires Stakes program, but still). Switch to three turns can alleviate last week's breaking issues. 6 - BALDAQUIN adds Lasix after circling up to a N3L win in his last. Time off due to sickness is the big unknown here, but if he brings his 'A' game, he figures well at a healthy price. 3 - ROCK PARTY steps down after being outmatched in recent stakes outings, and 4 - LUCY MAE HANOVER chased from cosy trips to hit the board but not pose much of a threat in recent tries. They both present as minor options in this field as such.

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

Both 8 - WISENHEIMER and 1 - ABBIE'S CELTICLASS drop into this field from third-place finishes against tougher, but Wisenheimer gets the nod from me despite the eight-hole on account of the work he did to force a faster pace. The 36-time winner gains McCarthy on arrival; glimmers of ability two and three levels above this one encourage mightily. Abbie's Celticlass has greater likelihood to work out a cozier trip from the pole, but hasn't won in two months. Will this further class relief cause price to take an undue hit? That's my biggest concern. 3 - ANOTHER BREATH moves the other direction on the class ladder, pushing out of third with three furlongs to go and widening his lead steadily in the stretch in his last. He was hit-or-miss before that, but he redeemed himself well.

[DRF BETS: Wager on today's Harrah's Philadelphia card at DRF Bets.com!]

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

1 - ROGER RABBIT passed tired foes at the end of his mile two weeks ago, and can benefit most from extreme post relief and what feels like a more manageable group. Tetrick stays aboard; minor placings from like circumstances earlier in the season encourage. 6 - GINGERTREE STAKIAS rose to face winners for the first time last week, and did well, all things considering. Steady progress from well behind a blistering pace to take third made for the best outing of his career to date. Miller remains. 4 - FATHER FIGURE tired after being eclipsed up the far side last week, but had to endure the most strenuous early pace of any in this field on that occasion. Minor option with any relief.

Race 8 - Non-Winners $14,000 Last 5 Starts, 7 Races or $70,000

1 - LION SAFARI AS cleared to the lead before yielding and ultimately losing a duel for second behind Goes Down Smooth on the drop to this level last week. Five back, he overcame a break and pressed to an odds-on win over similar. Pole sharpens him up the rest of the way, conceivably. 7 - MAGIC MVP won that duel for runner-up honours at 17-1 in his local debut. Similar await him after his strong first-over try; price potential is great. 5 - ROCK OF CASHEL vaulted from the pocket to trounce fourth-level foes in his most recent try, and he held on to hit the board in his last two local starts with similar. Worth considering in some capacity at least on the rise off such a solid victory.

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

2 - CONTEPARTIRO DEO won stoutly on debut for Daley with the addition of Lasix two weeks ago. The strength of that win -- especially her push clear off the home turn. Expect sharper yet coming back. 3 - TEST MY NAUGHTY B never got involved from astern behind Rosalie Swan last week, but fared much better in past N3L events. Post relief can definitely aid. 5 - SWIPE RIGHT hit the board in two of four starts since rising to this level, and he's been more or less even on each occasion. Can share in exotics with live flow.

Race 10 - Non-Winners $10,201 Last 5 Starts

8 - CAVILL HANOVER parried pressure to wire fifth-level foes two back, and despite the wide draw today, shouldn't have much inside speed to contend with on the step down in class. Marcus's choice. 4 - MAX'S BEAST has hit the board in six straight outings, including three at this level. Morgan stays aboard the likely speed in this race. 5 - PRESIDENTE ZETTE drops back to his most recent winning level after toiling in his last two. Three back, he pressed steadily to just defeat Filled Donut.

Race 11 - Non-Winners 1 Race

5 - DD'S DIAMOND makes her second start back from a fall layoff after failing to fire in the Matron. Far easier competition awaits today; Nap opts on. 4 - MIDNIGHT CITY hit the board in five of his last six at the level, and he most recently endured two moves out of the eight-hole to suffer a game, narrow defeat. 2 - JEAN JEANIE gave way after sprinting out to control the terms in her last, but she held second after rating a 1:00 2/5 middle half in the slop the week before. Inside draw can help her stay close to a relatively uncontested pace without too much trouble.

[DRF BETS: Wager on today's Harrah's Philadelphia card at DRF Bets.com!]

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

5 - BOSS DU FOSSE enjoys significant class relief after staying on for minors in recent $12.5k tries. The step down paired with a favorable starting spot can lift him. 3 - FASHION WINNER was elevated to a no-match second last week after being availed a cozier -- albeit distant -- stalking trip. Forgive his Oct. 29 line on account of his sustained uncovered push from the outside. 4 - RAP SHEET hit the board at double digits in his last two. Staying power is ample for another minor share; solid price inclusion in deeper exotics.

Race 13 - Non-Winners $7,300 Last 5 Starts

5 - MACMORRIS HANOVER was a good second in upper-winners company last out, and he's been fourth or better in all of his last six starts -- all against significantly tougher competition. Nap's choice of three is far and away the one to beat in this far kinder spot. 1 - RIVER OTTER moves laterally on arrival from Pocono after blasting from post 9 for the pocket and giving one-paced pursuit. Forgive two back owing to significant traffic trouble. That start aside, he's earned cheques in six straight. 6 - CAJOLE HANOVER is as logical a long shot inclusion as any on the drop back to this competitive level. Even against a class tougher last week, he improved belatedly from astern to get within 3-1/4 lengths of second behind a dominant Rock Of Cashel. Good exotic candidate given staying power in past tries at this level.