Harrah's Philadelphia: Analysis for Thursday 7/9

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: Next Level Stuff (Race 8)
Spot Play: Filled Donut (Race 10)

Race 1 - Non-Winners $10,000 Last 5 Starts

1 - WISENHEIMER benefits from as significant of class relief as thee conditions allow after a narrow defeat at Pocono two back and a respectable chasing effort for fourth behind tough foes in Pat Matters and Two AM since. Great rebound chance for the 34-time winner. 6 - IZOH worked to a going-away win after his cover broke on the far turn last week. Solid return effort gives him plenty to build on. 3 - APLOMB HANOVER never got involved in his last two races, but lifted mildly for a good third at 20-1 in his last start prior to the shutdown. This group shapes up as comparable to those trotters. Minor option.

Race 2 - 2 Year Olds, Non-Winners 2 Races

8 - EXPLOIT lifted powerfully to circle is qualifying foes on June 29 after using similar tactics to just miss on debut. Stone cold closer is Dunn's choice. 6 - GRAND CAYMAN was no threat in his PA Sire Stakes debut a week ago. His 1:54 1/5 raw speed edge doesn't hold up as well considering he gapped cover and had a direct target the entire mile. Mind value. 2 - AQUAMAN HANOVER made a mild bid to save fourth in his Stallion Series race last Thursday, and he can benefit from a kind draw in this much easier group.

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

7 - CREATURE OF HABIT won a pair of Kindergarten prelims last year, and has worked pretty quickly back into form at The Meadowlands since returning to competition. She demonstrated strong closing ability in her June 26 outing to be a strong second at 16-1. Class edge noted. 3 - EXPLOSIVE MOTION was driven out to evade mild pressure in his return outing, and now he faces local winners for the first time. Tetrick stays aboard despite the new connections. 5 - DEVIOUS HANOVER chased similar amid traffic last week, and used mild late trot to save fourth. She gains Napolitano; expect stronger second out.

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

2 - DD'S COMET invades from Pocono after failing to convert from first-over on debut for Lare. Similar foes await on arrival, and now Tetrick gains the lines. 1 - PARAGLIDER passed tired foes from astern a fortnight ago at this same level. The shift to the inside can help him work out a more favourable journey. 8 - KNIGHT OF VICTORY saved third out of traffic in his return effort - at 40-1, no less! This group shapes up as almost identical. Solid value option in deeper exotics.

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

Lots of viable options present themselves in this co-featured event, and it makes for a solid Hi-5 contest. 1 - TOP FLIGHT ANGEL is a slim call from me, owing to the fact that she was only outdone by a driven P L Ketchup - who had the aid of a cosy pocket ride. A repeat of last week's effort is enough to win today. 4 - CLIVE BIGSBY chased out of traffic to save third in his first start in 3-1/2 months, and that fifth-level race was a full second faster than Top Flight Angel's. Good springboard mile. 5 - ROCK OF CASHEL disappointed a bit last week after only ending up one-paced off second-over cover. Still, the 10-year-old can stay enough for a minor. 7 - HENDERSON SEELSTER can improve off a class drop, and 2 - CRAZYCAT should be closer to the pace from a kinder draw and the addition of Napolitano.

Race 6 - 2 Year Old Fillies, Non-Winners 2 Races

2 - AP BLAZE OF GLORY qualified well on two occasions at Magical Acres. She held under pressure on June 16, and then chased respectably from just off the front flight since. 1 - SUMMER RAE turned in a 1:55 3/5 qualifying mile at Gaitway to take speed honours in this group, but more impressively than that was her ability to sustain some pressure after exerting early. Pole gives her an easy-ish task. 5 - ADELIA HANOVER didn't show much in her lone qualifier until she chased home in :28 4/5. Miller opts aboard for Norman; minor option.

Race 7 - Non-Winners 1 Race

3 - TUIS SHADOW and 1 - KHEDIVE were second and third respectively in the same maiden race two weeks ago, and they meet again today. Tuis Shadow gets the nod from me on account of not only his better finish position, but also the fact that he did significantly more work (first-over vs. pocket). That said, Khedive has more room to grow, being this is only his second career start. 7 - BRUTALLY LUCKY was an even fourth in that race and can figure for another minor share here, but the outside draw is likely to prove his biggest obstacle.

Race 8 - Winners of 5-7 Races

6 - NEXT LEVEL STUFF was a measured winner at this level on June 25 after stalking second-over cover and angling three-wide. This multiple stakes winner can figure to be even stronger coming right back. 2 - BULLY BOY sprinted clear at will on the Pocono backstretch last out to stay perfect as a 4-year-old. He can brush or rally off cover alike, and this group doesn't feel that much tougher than the field he beat on June 27 save for Next Level Stuff. 7 - GRAPPLE HANOVER was urged to give chase to No Drama Please from the pocket last week after edging clear in his return outing. He could show up as a credible mid-price option with just a little more late oomph.

Race 9 - Non-Winners $4,000 Last 5 Starts

4 - BROADWAY PROMISE improved into second out of midfield in his return effort. Progress late in the mile off the long spell is promising, to be sure, and he faces a similar group coming back. 7 - CELEBRITY MASERATI won at Vernon two back, and circled boldly into third at 8-1 against tougher at Pocono since. Speed is good for three turns; class relief can sharpen him all the more. Mind value. 6 - MARY'S A KEEPER makes her first start since March, when she made solid ground from astern to only miss tougher at Pocono by a length. Tetrick takes over.

Race 10 - Non-Winners $14,000 Last 5 Starts, 7 Races, or $70,000

8 - FILLED DONUT only needed mild encouragement to maintain his lead to the line in last week's fourth-level race. The strength he showed encourages as he takes on a field full of horses rising from their last start. 7 - SHOWMEYOURGUNS sustained wide gains to press at head-stretch and just miss by a length in his return effort. Switch to three turns can improve staying power; retains Brennan. 3 - IN SECRET kept gaining up to the line for third at Pocono against just lesser last out. Minor player with similar; post relief will aid.

Race 11 - 2 Year Olds, Non-Winners 2 Races

8 - FERNET ABOUT IT accounted well for himself in his Stallion Series race last week, in which he turned in a stout first-over pressing bid after being relegated to third at the bell. He only missed by a neck in the end! Lots to like from that debut outing. 7 - MANHOLMES was in a tougher Sire Stakes event, but failed to sustain a wide bid into sixth on the backstretch and ultimately tailed off. Far easier await, yet variables abound. 5 - DANCING JOE qualified respectably on two occasions leading up to this debut outing. Chasing and pressing ability are both apparent, and Morgan's back aboard after winning with this one in his June 18 qualifier.

Race 12 - Non-Winners 5 Races or $50,000

8 - SHERRY LYNS LADY was all alone in her Magical Acres qualifier, and she brings multiple Grand Circuit wins to this seasonal debut. Absolutely the strongest in the field provided she stays flat. 7 - CAPTAIN KRUPNIK won well two back and gave a game first-over effort in his second outing of the summer. Similar await on arrival; gate speed and pressing ability encourage. 2 - STARRYSTARRYNIGHT proved no threat in her NYSS debut this year, but more than held her own on the Excelsior circuit as a rookie. Raw speed over three turns is ample for these; Nap takes over.

Race 13 - 2 Year Old Fillies, Non-Winners 2 Races

2 - MILIEU HANOVER chased evenly in her Stallion Series race last Wednesday. That was a respectable debut outing; none in here fared better or faced tougher. 7 - LADY AKILA passed tired foes in her Stallion Series division, and while a full second faster, will have to contend with a wide draw this time. 5 - KATHY'S CHAMP qualified twice at Magical Acres and demonstrated improved staying power on the second occasion. While that progress encourages, variables remain.

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

3 - SIR JOHN F drops a level after landing in third and chasing steadily to maintain it in a fourth-level race two weeks ago. Kinder draw can aid as well, and Nap opts to stay aboard. 4 - BOOTS N CHAINS split foes in the stretch last week and showed good late trot when free. He drops again and can benefit from clearer sailing earlier. 1 - WORTH THE MONEY AS is not only Tetrick's choice here, but the 12-year-old finds all sorts of relief. Extreme post relief and a step down in class to just above his most recent winning level make for far kinder circumstances for the veteran.