Harrah's Philadelphia: Analysis for Thursday 12/10

Pick-4: 1,2,5/3,5/2,3/2,5 ($12)

Best Bet: Pappy Go Go (Race 6)

Spot Play: Marion Gondolier (Race 14)

Race 1 - Non-Winners 3 Races or $30,000

6 - BEAUTIFUL MRS A won at this level three back and now finds an easier spot after a wide draw limited her to an even but non-threatening fifth-place finish in her last. Slight relief can aid; Lachance is warming up. 1 - HALL IT OFF won his last two at this level, most recently drawing off by four lengths after stealing a soft middle half. Be most mindful of value offered. 3 - GINGERTREE STAKIAS toiled in pursuit of Heat Wave Hanover in his last two, but showed better staying power from mid-division trips in his first two tries at this level. Can chase for a share again.

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

1 - ALMIGHTY JOHNSON N and Tetrick have gotten along extraordinarily well, teaming up for a decisive win last week and a well-earned second the start before. Similar await today; pole gives Tetrick tactical options galore with the 13-time winner. 3 - BOSS DU FOSSE sustained his gains after losing cover last week and dueled into a no-match second over a game Leap Year Lucky. Capability of sustained wide progress makes him a solid value player. 5 - LEAP YEAR LUCKY was softened up under sustained late pressure, but held third after that and a three-wide push to the fore in his last. He's been fourth or better in his last three tries at the level. Reunited with Nap.

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Race 3 - Non-Winners 5 Races or $50,000

6 - ROSALIE SWAN adds Lasix after a failed pressing effort through the far turn two weeks ago. Before that, she showed a win and a game third at this level. Every chance for this talented filly to rebound -- and she's hit the board in 80% of her career starts to date. 1 - MEANTTOBE DE VIE respectably made amends for a break two back with a good chasing third last week. Pole can help the presser-stalker land closer to the action with ease. 2 - SWEET HEART AS passed tired foes at this level in her last, but she's been off for nearly a month since. Gains Tetrick and a kinder draw, but fitness is a big variable.

Race 4 - Non-Winners $2,650 Last 5 Starts

1 - LINDY'S BIG BANG bottoms out on the class ladder after posing no threat from too far off the pace in recent M1 outings. That being said, he was even or better in all three of his starts there. Gains the pole and Nap on arrival. 6 - PHANTOM RUSTY also drops down after improving mildly for minors in three local tries. Mild late progress can count for more on this drop. 3 - TROLLER was shuffled severely up the far side at M1 last out but finished evenly to miss by less than four lengths. Minor option if clear; gains McCarthy.

Race 5 - Non-Winners 3 Races or $30,000

4 - GINGER TREE BREN sprinted off at will at this level last week after being tasked with the impossible behind Context the start before. Definitely the one to beat; seek value in exotics. 6 - CATWALK AS invades from Yonkers, where she just missed from the pocket two back and chased evenly more recently. Switch to three turns can get her back on track in terms of raw speed; Tetrick takes over. 2 - BOUNTIFUL BRITTNEY charged home to just miss at 9-1 on debut for Cabot a week and a half ago. Stone-cold closer can boost Hi-5 value immensely with similar. 1 - WORTHY OF HONOR hit the board in his last four at the level and figures to be near the action again, and 3 - CHURCH SOUT improved mildly into third at 24-1 in his first try at this level after finally breaking maiden on Nov. 25.

Race 6 - Non-Winners $10,001 Last 5 Starts

4 - PAPPY GO GO just missed top-level foes two back and was just nabbed after setting the pace in his last. Further class relief off those two rock-solid efforts against tougher can lift him. Absolutely the one to beat. 3 - INFINITI AS reached just easier from the pocket three back, but was too far out of position to pose any real threat in two tries at this level since. Closer early position can help him improve; a lack of speed on paper can help his cause. 1 - MACMORRIS HANOVER broke two back and was hindered severely by traffic trouble in his last. He returns to a winning course, gains the pole, and is reunited with Nap.; plenty to like on that account.

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

This race marks the Harrah's Philadelphia return of 5 - NEED LUCK N, a stone cold closer who arrived from Down Under this summer and made an immediate splash. In his signature style, he lifted late for a dead-heat win against similar two back at Dover, but levelled off facing the breeze since. Gains McCarthy, who seems a truly perfect fit for this guy. 2 - NEXTROUNDSONME is the other McCarthy's choice following his powerful two-move win over second-level company. He's working back up the class ladder into ranks that aren't unfamiliar, but the possibility of him taking a little too much play is one worth considering. 1 - COMMON PARLANCE makes the same step up that Nextroundsonme does after pressing and edging clear of second-level types two back. He's got the pole and the benefit of a sustained first-over attack proving his mettle. Consistent stayer, to say the least.

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Race 8 - Non-Winners $14,500 Last 5 Starts, 7 Races or $70,000

5 - ROCK OF CASHEL has warmed back up in recent weeks, as is evident by a pair of November wins and a narrow defeat in his second start back at this level last week. Before that, he was hemmed in up the far side in pursuit of Max. The 10-year-old's hitting his best again. 3 - FASHION CREDITOR rises from a pillar-to-post score in his local return, and Nap opts on over three others. Raw speed is more than ample for this group; narrow misses with like foes at Pocono encourage. 4 - SVF CASH DEPOSIT sustained a first-over push to beat fourth-level foes going away two weeks ago. Ignore the Nov. 12 line -- he was simply out of contention from the start. Minor placings in upper-winners events earlier in the fall indicate he fits with these. Good value player in exotics.

Race 9 - Non-Winners $2,650 Last 5 Starts

2 - CAJOLE HANOVER broke amid early involvement a couple weeks ago, and now bottoms out on the class ladder after his efforts to work back into contention stung him. Even chasing efforts with markedly tougher indicate he's capable in this far kinder spot. 3 - MOSCONI HANOVER likewise made strong gains through the middle half to try to overcome a break in his last, but weakened off the home turn. He stayed on far better in prior tries. A clean start makes the 16-time winner a player. 5 - WONDER BUNS improved steadily into minor checks at double digits in her last two tries. Kinder mid-pack draw can help that staying power count for a lot more.

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

5 - CONTEXT graduated from N3L company on account of career earnings, but the strength of her two wins since arriving east indicates that she should have no trouble on this step up. Lots to like about current trajectory. 2 - BANG BANG BOINGA rose to this level last week and chased well from the pocket for second behind Andela. Consistently strong stayer possesses pressing and stalking ability, too. Live long shot. 1 - HEAT WAVE HANOVER won two of her last three, and she now rises off a 1:54 4/5 score in her last. Pole can aid; mind value on this considerably class hike.

Race 11 - Non-Winners 1 Race

5 - VINCENTI hit the board in four of his last five, and his current form and raw speed are better than those he's slated to face. Plenty to like in this spot. 8 - DOMINIC DE VIE broke last out, but was a good second at this level both three and five back. Seeks to rebound; wide draw is his biggest obstacle. 1 - SKATE TRIX can benefit from extreme post relief in his second career start after being roughed up from the outside on debut. Pole will assuredly yield a kinder journey.

Race 12 - Non-Winners $10,001 Last 5 Starts

6 - MVP LUKE rode the pocket to a good second behind Fashion Creditor at this level last week, and before that gained into third a level above. Solid stayer retains Miller. 1 - MAX'S BEAST drops to his last winning level after a rearward trip hindered him in his last. Reunited with Morgan; pole lands him close. 2 - WINNERESS wired third-level foes four back, and results against tougher fields since have largely been dependent on the draw. Inside post can work to his benefit, given he does his best work when close up or from off cover.

Race 13 - Non-Winners $2,650 Last 5 Starts

5 - NICE STUFF was a good second on the drop to this level last week. After a solid pressing effort against slightly tougher two back, her most recent outing indicated improved form. Can continue to lift. 3 - LANDONFITZ nearly lasted on the point on the drop to this level last week, only to get nabbed by Major Impact in the final yards. Simon opts off; gains Nap. 2 - TW LAUXMONT was troubled by a wide draw last week, and now drops and draws inside. Can share for a minor if even or better.

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

6 - MARION GONDOLIER raced quite well in fourth-level company two weeks ago, all things considered. He cleared from post 8, yielded, got locked in, and rallied up the pegs for third at 21-1. This step down in class and somewhat kinder draw makes him a far more potent threat. Solid mid-price offering. 1 - IZOH pressed hard through the final half at this level last out before being nabbed up the open stretch by pocket rival Odd Ball. Give him a lot of credit for the amount of work he did; rising form noted too. 5 - SYLVESTERAMERICAIT earned minors in tougher races in his last three starts, and now he drops in class again. The 20-time winner now steps below his most recent winning level. Mind value given the strength of this field.