Harrah's Philadelphia: Analysis for Thursday 9/3

Best Bet: Monterey Jack (Race 6)

Spot Play: Spee Club (Race 5)

Pick-4: 2,4,5,6,7/1,2/1,2,5/2 ($15)

Race 1 - Claiming $15,000

3 - SEELEY MAN brushed and held at this level at Pocono in his last. He goes right back to Temming and seeks a fourth straight. As strong as any here. 5 - PREPPY ART was just ground down at evens in a similar race last week. His July 31 line encourages on account of how well he rallied out of traffic to save third. 1 - DON'TCALLMEFRANCIS is Nap's choice on arrival from Ocean. Four back, he chased to preserve a no-match second at this level. Pole keeps him close.

Race 2 - Claiming $12,500

7 - BOSS DU FOSSE rode an earned pocket to a second straight score at this level two weeks ago. Before that, he ground away in the breeze to upset at 12-1. A similar effort is more than enough here. 6 - SKEEZIX pushed clear powerfully into the far turn last week after giving futile chase to Boss Du Fosse. The presser-stalker is rounding back into peak form after an extremely long spell. 2 - HIGGS BOSON failed to fire last week, but chased for minors at this level two, three and five back. Gains Tetrick; kind draw keeps him close.

Race 3 - 2YO Fillies, Non-Winners 2 Races

1 - NATCHEZ BELLE put it together with a two-move win at Pocono on Aug. 25. Before that, she chased for minors pretty consistently in minor stakes. Primed to repeat; Corey's choice. 4 - ITALIA SEELSTER brushed and held at odds-on locally a couple weeks ago after being outmatched from astern in stakes assignments. Capable, but mind underlay potential. 3 - PEAKS CRUISER has been no worse than fourth in her last three tries, all at this level or above. Last week, she toiled to hold fourth as Kiss The Captain was taken in hand. A kinder early pace is likely this time; minor option.

Race 4 - Non-Winners $7,000 Last 5 Starts

4 - NOMO VOLO drops back to a competitive level after earning minors in fourth-level races. On July 17, she rallied well to save a no-match second behind a rising Carrick. Pressing and chasing ability noted. 2 - ABBIE'S CELTICLASS drops in class as well after a failed first-over try into the tough Filled Donut last week. A general lack of pace on paper can help her land close. 3 - CELEBRITY MASERATI drops to his last winning level after weakening late in his last two at Pocono. The 10-year-old's at his best when on the point - both of his wins this year came in that fashion.

Race 5 - Winners of 5-7 Races

5 - GRAPPLE HANOVER broke on the far turn in his last, but demonstrated good sustained form at this level earlier in the meet. Looks to rebound; raw speed is consistently strong. 1 - CHIPLOSIVE pressed and held second behind MacMorris Hanover on the step up to this level a couple weeks ago. Pole can keep the presser-stalker within striking range. 6 - SPEE CLUB was a victim of traffic in his return outing, but stayed even at long odds once able to work free. Expect better second out; solid value option in all exotics. Honourable mentions in this Hi-5 race go to 8 - YANKEES BEAST, who just needs better cover to threaten, and 4 - SVF CASH DEPOSIT, who chased well off cover to take third at 77-1 in a similar race last week.

Race 6 - 2YO Non-Winners 2 Races

5 - MONTEREY JACK exits stakes company for the first time in his career after a decisive All-Stars win on debut and a respectable third in the Home Grown series at M1. Raw speed and closing edges encourage just the same. The one to beat. 3 - CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN dug deep to win at 7-2 two weeks ago after gait issues troubled him earlier this summer. Every chance for a stronger outing coming right back; Morgan stays on. 7 - SOUTH BEACH STAR chased well from the pocket to just miss last week after making mild late gains in a Stallion Series event the start before. Keeps McCarthy; can share with similar.

Race 7 - Non-Winners $20,000 Last 4 Starts, 9 Races or $90,000

Another wide-open feature awaits to kick off a tough Pick-4 sequence. 5 - GOES DOWN SMOOTH inherited the lead last week when Eurobond broke, only to get duelled down by 58-1 roughie Broadway Athena. Before last week's narrow defeat, he threw down a 1:52 2/5 mile to trounce fourth-level foes. Rises off a defeat, but carries extremely strong form. 2 - VIC'S WINNER seeks a third straight after emerging from traffic at 23-1 two back and lifting out of an earned pocket at 30-1 since. Cosy draw works in the favour of this one's preferred racing style. Strong value option. 4 - ARABELLA'S CADET pressed and edged clear on debut for Bongiorno. This 16-time winner has proven quite well she can take an inordinate amount of air and still be a factor to the end.

Race 8 - Non-Winners $10,000 Last 5 Starts

2 - PHOTO BOMBER can benefit from further class relief and a cosy inside draw that can help him establish better position from the outset. Raw speed in Pocono and Yonkers lines is ample in this assignment. 1 - SYLVESTERAMERICAIT weakened late after early exertion last time, but fared well in prior tries at that tougher class. Steps down; draws more kindly. 5 - CARRICK proved a solid winner at this level three back, and after breaking amid a bid two back, he split tired foes from astern most recently. Relief all round can aid; mind value.

Race 9 - Non-Winners $14,000 Last 5 Starts, 7 Races or $70,000

1 - BLUEBIRD JESSE hit the board in four of five, and rallied late to do so at this level in his last two. Just last week, he was shuffled astern up the far side before circling three-wide off the home turn and gobbling up ground. Take the traffic issues away, and he wins that race at 5-1. 5 - TIGHT LINES was collared at odds-on on the step up to this level a fortnight ago, but he still boasts a raw speed edge in this group on the whole. Midpack draw gives Gregory prime early position. 2 - HIGHLAND DYNAMITE was a no-match second to Goes Down Smooth locally two back. Since, she pressed and protected second in a slightly tougher event. Another slight step up awaits the capable presser.

Race 10 - Non-Winners 1 Race

2 - GHOST PEPPER improved belatedly to take a no-match third at Pocono last out. Consistent minor player gains Tetrick on arrival; can continue to improve with a clean dispatch. 4 - GINGER TREE KNOX won at the York (Pa.) Fair last Thursday and, despite breaking issues in recent weeks, does own a second-place finish in Stallion Series company. Easier foes await today. 7 - BEAUTIFUL MRS A chased evenly for minors in her last few, but she owns some of thee fastest miles on the page. Wide draw is her prime obstacle today.

Race 11 - Non-Winners $4,000 Last 5 Starts

6 - SMOOTH ACCELERATION fought back once headed at Pocono last out, only to just be collared at twos-on. He demonstrated similar grit at this level here two back. Any semblance of relief is enough for him to lift. 3 - KAREN HANOVER drops in from a failed pressing bid in N4L company. Second-time Burke starter isn't lacking for raw speed. 4 - WORTH THE MONEY AS rises after a pair of narrow defeats in bottom-level company - from an earned lead and the pocket alike. Ramping up gradually.

Race 12 - 2YO Fillies, Non-Winners 2 Races

5 - SOUTHWIND MINA drops back to a winning level after lifting into third at 13-1 in her Stallion Series event at The Meadows. The presser-stalker is consistently one of the strongest finishers in this group. Tetrick's choice. 1 - ITZPAPALOTL broke maiden in a Saratoga Excelsior event, which is similar to the Stallion Series in Pennsylvania. Another capable presser makes her local debut, and the pole keeps her close. 3 - OFF THE RECORD made a ton of ground for second at 34-1 in her second start. Sub-:28 last quarters in both her purse starts to date make her a prime candidate to boost exotic value in a big way.

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

3 - TEST MY NAUGHTY B gave way in upper stretch at this level two weeks ago, and before that, chased for third at 68-1 in a 1:54 3/5 mile. This group shapes up as more manageable. 7 - PROTEAS has been fourth or better in all seven of his 2020 starts, primarily at this level. Pressing and stalking ability noted. 6 - EXPLOSIVE MOTION lifted to save third after being shuffled up the far side in his last. Prior outings show good pacesetting and closing ability off cover. Can share.

Race 14 - Non-Winners $2,500 Last 5 Starts

4 - COMMON PARLANCE improved well last week to push the pace into the far turn, but was outfought to the line by Sortie Hanover. Lot of good takeaways from that race. 8 - FRONT STREET was one-paced from the pocket on arrival two weeks ago. While this one draws poorly, Nap chooses on over two others. 5 - CHOCO CHARLIE endured a parked-and-pressing journey at Pocono last out and still had enough to hold third. Before that, he made two moves to push the pace a level above this one before toiling late. Kinder trip makes him even more of a player.