Harrah's Philadelphia: Analysis for Thursday 11/5

Witherite - PHL (through Oct. 11 – 66 days)
Top Selections – Overall - Win %: 351 for 927
ITM: 648 for 927 - Win Dividends: $1,542.00 - $2 ROI: $1.66
Pick-4: 1,5,7,8/3,6,7/6,8/3,5 ($24)
Best Bet: Rome Pays Off (Race 9)
Spot Play: Pittsburgh Hanover (Race 5)

Race 1 - Claiming $15,000

7 - MYIDEALSON N pressed to a $12.5k victory last week and has now hit the board in four of five from pressing and closing trips. He carries the best form of any up a very mild class ascent. 5 - JUST PLAIN LOCO makes his second start back off a sick scratch, and he seeks to improve off a mild chasing bid out of midfield at this level. Gains Tetrick. 4 - GIVEN UP TERROR lifted mildly off cover in the slop at this level on debut for Sheridan last week after similar gains from astern in past outings. Closer cover can aid.

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Race 2 - Claiming $10,000-$12,500

3 - LE REVEUR N was forced three-wide into the far turn at Pocono last week and still held third after losing some ground off the corner. He's at his best when able to control the terms; raw speed is among the best in the field. 2 - INNER PEACE didn't get involved in the same race Le Reveur N exits, but stayed on better despite being hemmed in the start before. Draws well; gains Tetrick. 4 - VICKI ALL passed tired foes to save fourth last week and stayed on well from an earned pocket the start before. Similar await on arrival; value option in exotics with a kinder journey.

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Race 3 - Non-Winners 1 Race

8 - MIDNIGHT CITY reached the board in two-thirds of his starts this season, and all of his last three. He has a clear form edge in this group. 1 - HAVANA MOON has been troubled by rearward trips in two starts to date. Pole can help the rookie land closer in a pretty manageable group. 3 - QUEENS N BEES debuts for Engblom off a few local qualifiers. She didn't fare all that well on the fair circuit, but there are enough variables in play here. Tetrick's choice.

Race 4 - Non-Winners $2,500 Last 5 Starts

2 - SMOOTH ACELERATION kept on well from the pocket in a second-level race last week after mixed results with tougher at Pocono. He steps down amid improved outings; kind draw puts him right in striking range. 5 - ALLINDOTIME gains Miller after a 1:55 mile at M1, one that saw him press forward and be involved in a fast six furlongs before weakening. Before that, he fanned wide off the home turn and closed well for third. Similar await today. 8 - SPEED IT didn't toil that badly from the pocket behind Valley Of Sin at 14-1 in a race just tougher than this one last out. Morgan opts aboard the 33-time winner on this step down.

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

5 - WINNERESS almost lasted on the lead at this level, only to be collared by pocket rival Guard Your Hearts - who was a strong choice in that race. This group shapes up as a touch easier; Nap remains on. 6 - PITTSBURGH HANOVER may well be the key to Hi-5 value noting improved staying efforts. He was just better than even from astern in a Rosecroft Open, and before that, he closed mightily from last to only miss at this level by 1-1/2 lengths - and was blocked in traffic with still more trot. If he's clear, watch out! 2 - SWANS HONEY was forced four-wide off the home turn last week before making mild late ground. A more direct trip helps her this time. 4 - MEADOWBRANCH RICKY rises after pushing the pace out of post 8 in his last, and 8 - GINGER TREE SKYR will have to contend with the outside draw this week after just missing from the pocket on a double jump.

Race 6 - Non-Winners 3 Races or $30,000

1 - TUIS SHADOW has done well locally, pressing and stalking his way into top-four finishes in his last five starts at this level here. Consistent value player in exotics of late gets a break in terms of the competition, for once. Can pounce. 4 - MEANTTOBE DE VIE was shuffled out of contention last out, but just missed similar three back. He's come the closest to winning at this level of anyone in the group; mind value. 6 - FATHER FIGURE recovered well from a break to stay in touch with the field, but posed no threat from there. His stalking and chasing effort on Oct. 8 is more truly indicative of ability.

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

This race, quite frankly, is wide open. 1 - ROSALIE SWAN rides a three-race winning streak into this tougher event, and her ability to sustain uncovered gains and convert encourages on this rise into tougher. 5 - CUPID HANOVER stays at this level, where he pressed and levelled off a couple weeks ago. He was amply fast for minors in Commonwealth splits at The Red Mile; trip relief is a must. 8 - TEST MY NAUGHTY B won twice in N3L company before a narrow defeat to the closing Willing Hanover last Thursday. She can control or press the pace, and like Rosalie Swan, she carries strong form up this mild step.

Race 8 - Non-Winners $14,000 Last 5 Starts

3 - GOES DOWN SMOOTH pressed hard out of post 8 at M1 in a similar race last out and stuck around enough to save third. Before that, he turned in a strong 1:52 4/5 win at Pocono. Class and form unite, but he's up against some tough customers in this group. 6 - LION SAFARI AS was fourth or better in three top-level starts since he recovered from a break to win at this level on Aug. 278. While lightly raced of late, he's proven he can contend at this level - and take a lot of air to do so. 7 - ALL CHAMPY won going away at this level in his last at M1, but he's been off a couple weeks since. Stone-cold closer is pretty clearly ramping up.

Race 9 - Winners 5-7 Races

6 - ROME PAYS OFF makes his second start back from a layoff, and he drops out of stakes company to do so. Last week, the Melander trainee pressed steadily to just miss in the Simpson. Solid rebound effort. 8 - PATRIARCH HANOVER was gathered in after setting the pace in the same race Rome Pays Off exits. Early-season stakes success encourages. 5 - YANKEES BEAST moves laterally after pressing to just miss in a fifth-level race. He's closed off cover to do well in prior events of this calibre; can share with similar.

Race 10 - Non-Winners 5 Races or $50,000

5 - BEYOND ORDINARY was a good third behind Coventry Hall's 1:52 4/5 Simpson mile last week. Tougher await him today compared to past overnight tries, but he's got the raw speed and ability to control the pace to handle the step up. 3 - BUXTON gave way in upper stretch at Hoosier in his last, but enjoyed some stakes success in Ohio before that. Debuts for Lachance, who's been ramping up of late. 4 - VINNY DE VIE wired just kinder at Yonkers four back, closed belatedly into them again two back, and stayed on OK for third in his Simpson split. Stayer can figure well for a minor.

Race 11 - Non-Winners 1 Race

2 - VINCENTI gains Napolitano after chasing for minors in five straight outings. Speed and staying power are enough for this manageable group. 7 - TRANQUILITY K did OK in early NY Sire Stakes events, and that can carry into this field. Her qualifier last week was a respectable one; should be fine off the spell. 3 - KLASSEN HANOVER was too far back to contend last week, but he chased well for minor shares out of mid-division earlier in the fall. I'm hesitant to accept a short price on a 25-start maiden, but he makes sense in all exotics regardless.

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

4 - SIR JOHN F drops in class after showing closing ability for minors at Yonkers last month. He steps below his most recent winning level here, and he's reunited with Napolitano. 1 - HAMMER CREEK tired after a long overland trip against tougher in his last, but chased well from the pocket two and three back. Drops and draws inside. 5 - WORTH THE MONEY AS just missed two back and circled wide for a no-match second in his last. Form uptick can help him handle the step up.

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

Three of these horses are in search of back-to-back wins at this level, and they happen to be my top three selections. 6 - MIZZY BRENDA K brushed and opened up stoutly through the far turn to win comfortably on Oct. 22. Before that, she broke maiden by a widening six lengths. Today, she'll look to stay undefeated for Engblom. 3 - BEAUTIFUL MRS A returned here last week and ascended steadily to a 6-1 win on debut for Lachance. She too won handily, but did so after sustaining uncovered gains. 5 - LEVATOR opened up in the stretch and was kept to task to the end of his 1:56 2/5 score last week, but he was uncontested the whole way. He's rising, yes, but how will he fare when tested?

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

4 - ROCK OF CASHEL isn't lacking for back class at all, and he held his own a level above this one when able to land near the early action. Forgive his last outright; relief all round can get him back in the win column. 3 - SUMATRA likewise drops a level after a one-paced pocket ride for third behind Cavill Hanover. Before that, he nearly lasted on the point at his level. 5 - MAX'S BEAST hit the board in five straight, and handled jumps to this level pretty well one and three back. Value player figures even better if he can control the terms.