Harrah's Philadelphia: Analysis for Thursday 9/24

Through Sept. 13 - 50 days - Top Selections - Overall
Win %: 272 for 702 (38.7%)
ITM: 497 for 702 (70.8%)
Win Dividends: $1,191.50
$2 ROI: $1.70

Pick-4: 1,2,8/2,7/1,2,5/1,2 ($18)
Best Bet: Hell Patrol (Race 9)
Spot Play: Mississippi Storm (Race 8)

Race 1 - Claiming $15,000

5 - SEVENS HOPE A dropped to this level last week and nearly lasted on an earned lead. Former success in $20k events encourages; expect sharper coming back. Nap's choice. 4 - MIKE'S POWERHOUSE debuts for Tsipouras off the claim after floating, being shuffled mildly, and improving to save fourth at 14-1 on arrival from Ocean. Midpack draw yields a much kinder task this time. 8 - DUCKIES DYNASTY is a convincing value choice in exotics owing to his chasing efforts from pocket rides against tougher in mid-summer. Another wide draw is a definite obstacle, but he should be able to capitalise at least some on class relief.

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

4 - SYRINX MINX fought gamely to the end at Pocono last week, but was just collared in a N2L event after brushing. Her effort three back was a near carbon copy. Form edge can carry on arrival. 2 - DEVINE EQUINE rallied late to nab Syrinx Minx on Sept. 1, but since gave way to pressure on the far turn locally. This group does seem more manageable. 5 - ROSE RUN VINCENT narrowly held sway in his local debut after sprinting away up the far side. Tougher await, but he did manage a fast first six furlongs on arrival three weeks ago. Mind value.

Race 3 - Non-Winners $7,000 Last 5 Starts

3 - CASINO CUTIE IT improved mildly out of mid-division to take third one level tougher than this last week. Relief is a plus, and so is the addition of Napolitano. 8 - GINGER TREE SKYR sustained a first-over strike to win at this level seven back, and since has been a consistent minor player as high as two levels above this one. Looks to rebound after a break last Thursday. 5 - MR HOUDINI was fourth or better in five of his last six, including three of four at this level or higher. Credible minor player regardless of trip.

Race 4 - 2YO Non-Winners 2 Races

2 - BET MINE won at this level last week after an extended overland journey cost him any chance the week before. Brennan takes over the lines on this proven and fast colt. 6 - SOUTH BEACH STAR won powerfully two back and since worked three-wide around Bet Mine to take third in his last. He's capable of doing a lot of work and maintaining his ground; be mindful of value. 5 - GINGER TREE FINNY stayed on well to hit the board in two tries at this level, both after landing close to the pace and stalking quickening fractions. Minor option again with similar.

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

6 - SYLVESTERAMERICAIT got back on the winning track in a third-level race a fortnight ago. Early-summer lines proved ample ability with tougher groups; Brennan will assuredly place him aggressively in the early stages. 5 - BROADWAY ATHENA looks to rebound from an uncharacteristic break in her last and, like Sylvesteramericait, has fared well in tougher assignments. Nap opts to stay on for Garcia. 3 - AMADOR has been fourth or better in his last four starts at this level, all from stalking and pressing bids; 4 - OBERTO improved belatedly to take fourth in two starts at this level after sweeping to a third-level win; and 8 - PRESIDENTE ZETTE rises after spurning sustained pressure a level below this one.

Race 6 - Non-Winners 1 Race

1 - APOCALYPSE failed to hit the board in four tries this season, but earned minor cheques on each occasion. Pole keeps him close; raw speed is ample for this more manageable group. 7 - MIDNIGHT CITY was no worse than fourth in any of four starts this season, all at this level. He figures to be involved pretty easily in a largely paceless race despite his outside draw. 5 - GHETTO BOY broke last time, but improved steadily to just miss in his career debut. He faces older, but he shows promise provided he can stay flat early.

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

Today's Pick-4 starts with a difficult fifth-level event which sees five horses seeking back-to-back wins and three others who hit the board at this level in their most recent tries. 2 - PAPPY GO GO is my tissue-thin call in this event by virtue of recent pressing and stalking performances. Four back, he circled three-wide to take second behind the tough Scirocco Rob, who pressed to a top-level win last week. Most recently, he rode cover to narrowly miss at 26-1 at M1. Strong and versatile. 1 - BLUEBIRD JESSE comes back from Harrington, where he pushed clear of upper-level types there off the home turn. He's fared well locally at this level from a variety of trips just the same. 8 - CAVILL HANOVER sustained a first-over push to just win his last at fives-on, and he's risen steadily to hit the exacta in all three of his U.S. starts. Form encourages; demand a fair price from the wide draw.

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

7 - MISSISSIPPI STORM gets another crack at this level after being eclipsed by Scirocco Rob. Still, he rallied stoutly up the open stretch after being boxed on the far turn. If he gets clear, watch out! 2 - MAX comes out of a similar race a fortnight ago, in which he gave futile chase to a track record performance from Arabella's Cadet. Inside draw gets along well with his preferred close-up racing style. 8 - SOUTHWIND AVENGER is worthy of consideration as well, but the outside draw proves as a hefty obstacle for the eight-time winner after he was engulfed at the furlong pole last week. Wins before that proved versatility and strength; demand value from this assignment.

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

1 - HELL PATROL circled wide and edged clear at this level five starts back before a string of minor placings in PA Sire Stakes events. He's proven at this class, and he held his own with far tougher, including the likes of Amigo Volo. 5 - ARCLIGHT HANOVER also comes in from a recent run of minors in stakes company, having chased for minors in recent Stallion Series tries. He won an early-season Stallion split at Pocono in July after clearing from post 8. There's ability; he just needs his 'A' game against these. 2 - LOYAL FOX HANOVER kicked on boldly from the pocket at Goshen earlier in the month after pressing and holding for minors in Stallion Series events. Ability to sustain uncovered gains encourages.

Race 10 - Non-Winners $4,000 Last 5 Starts

1 - ZLATAN pressed hard at M1 two back before weakening, and since overcame the 10-hole to take fourth in a similar event. Looking back in July, he emerged out of traffic for a good second at 26-1 against one level tougher than this. Relief all round is enough to lift him. 2 - POWERFUL YIELD dropped to this last time out, and he chased from astern to claim fourth. Post relief can help him land closer early on in this kinder group; July form encourages. 6 - STENHOUSE HANOVER rises after making up a ton of ground and edging clear, but be cautioned he did the bulk of his work into the slowest quarter of the race. Trending upward.

Race 11 - 2YO Fillies, Non-Winners 2 Races

4 - SHANIA BLUE CHIP failed to fire at M1 in her last, but used a first-over strike to prevail against older company in her lone local start on Sept. 2. Raw speed and finishing ability are both there; enough to like in this spot. 7 - MILIEU HANOVER likewise used a first-over attack to win, having done so at Pocono four starts back. Since then, she's demonstrated pressing, stalking and deep closing ability to be fourth or better in three starts since. Versatility will suit her well. 2 - SWEET BRITCHES has enough versatility to factor into this race any way she needs to and, save for her break three back, has demonstrated ample staying power to contend for at least a minor. She's been fourth or better in all of her eastern PA starts. Logical inclusion in deeper exotics once again.

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

7 - BOLD GODDESS bottoms out after toiling late last out, but it's worth noting she won at this level six starts back by way of a two-move effort. This group shapes up as manageable enough, and her glimmers of ability make her worth a shot at long odds. 6 - PITTSBURGH HANOVER sustained a wide bid at twos-on before weakening late in his last. Trip relief is a near certainty, but his mistake two back is enough to put me on edge. Demand value. 2 - FASHION WINNER chased respectably for second on the drop to this level two back, but only mustered fifth after floating forward from the outside since. Post relief can and should aid.

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

4 - BANG BANG BOINGA pressed into a near miss at 20-1 last week, and has fared consistently well all season. Extra credit due for the amount of work he does week in and week out. 1 - SWEET HEART AS tries three turns after gait issues marred her last at Yonkers. Excelsior wins encourage; inside draw gets her close - where she likes to be - with ease. Mind value. 6 - ZOE F rallied well from the clouds to be third at 97-1 last week. Forgive the line before on account of the extended wide bid.

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

5 - MAX'S BEAST won well from the pocket at this level four back and gave respectable accounts of himself after leaving from the eight-hole in each of his last two tries. Similar await; kinder midpack draw gets along better with his preferred racing style. 8 - SWANS HONEY hit the board in six of her last seven, including a solid second-place finish after circling wide last week and a pair of narrow misses in fourth-level company in late August. She can leave if need be or lift late if need be; post is not a concern. 1 - MAGICAL WINNER K broke at Flamboro in his last, but didn't have the same gait issues at Woodbine Mohawk Park, where he won from the pocket on Aug. 27. Debuts for new connections; inside draw keeps him close with ease.