Harrah's Philadelphia: Analysis for Wednesday 10/21

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: 1,2,3,7/3,7,8/3,6/5,6 ($24)

Best Bet: Marloe Hanover (Race 6)
Spot Play: Its Mesmerise N (Race 8)

Race 1 - Claiming $10,000

6 - NEAT won four of his last five tries at the $10k level, and he did so from a wide variety of trips. Tetrick's choice of three powered clear off the home turn in his last. 4 - CATCH MY SHADOW chased well to hit the board in his last three starts for this tag, and he's reunited with Nap after two solid chasing efforts at Pocono. Midpack draw yields tactical options. 2 - OWN IT set a solid enough pace last week and held second after Neat rolled past him at head-stretch. He's been fourth or better in six straight; Simon stays on. Minor option at a healthy price.

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

4 - WAYSIDE chased well from the pocket a fortnight ago after a strong pressing bid in her Liberty Bell split. Minor success in summer stakes carries well into this familiar spot. 3 - EXPRESSO MARTINI makes her second start back after rallying stoutly out of traffic to just miss similar. She won at this level in August; mind value as such. 7 - FIRESIDE hasn't won in her last six tries at the level since returning from Pocono, but she hasn't been worse than fourth, either. Versatility noted; can share once again.

Race 3 - John Simpson Memorial (3yo fillies)

1 - PRECIOUS ALEXIS rose to N5L company last week, cleared from the eight-hole, and edged away off the home turn. Plenty to like noting current momentum. 3 - BOLT OF BEAUTY was outmatched in her Jugette elim, but enjoyed minor stakes success in NY earlier this season. Excuse her last owing to early exertion. 5 - FIREFLY was outmatched in the KY Sire Stakes circuit, but she demonstrated good pressing ability in the middle half of her first two preliminaries. She won't need nearly as much speed here; belated gains from astern last out are encouraging.

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

6 - OOH REAL GOOD bottoms out amid what's actually pretty decent form. In her last three second-level races, she pressed, stalked and closed her way to third-place finishes. McCarthy's choice. 1 - CORNER TABLE pressed a :27 1/5 third quarter at this level in her last, and still had enough left to save third. Pole keeps her close again. 8 - SNAPPY DRESSER steadily advanced through the far turn last week and held third at long odds after doing so. Wide draw is her biggest obstacle.

Race 5 - F&M Non-Winners $10,000 Last 5 Starts

4 - QUEEN LOSTRIS N drops back to her last winning level after chasing into third amid a :26 3/5 third quarter and subsequently tiring in her last. She won't have to take on the likes of Eclipse Me N and Baron Remy this time around. 1 - INFINITE SYMBOL A pressed well in a kinder fifth-level race the week before Queen Lostris N's defeat, and similarly looks to rebound on this drop to a proven level after a failed bid. 6 - ABIGAIL DAWN beat tougher from the pocket three back, but didn't particularly impress in her two October tries. The plus side: Dunn opts on over three others. The downside: value is likely to take a hit on this second straight drop. 2 - HOTTIEONTHEHORIZON and 7 - SCUOLA HANOVER both proved themselves in pressing roles in recent outings, and their staying power can help them contend in the Hi-5.

Race 6 - John Simpson Memorial (3yo fillies)

5 - MARLOE HANOVER endured road trouble in the Garnsey, but still charged home in :26 1/5 in pursuit of Lyons Sentinel. Before that, she gave futile chase to Party Girl Hill and still managed third. Class edge is clear as day in this group. 6 - WINGDING HANOVER didn't threaten from astern in the Liberty Bell, but she still made ground belatedly. Since then, she closed out of severe traffic and from a cosy enough stalking trip to hit the board in her last two N5L tries. Staying power is more than ample. 1 - WINNING WORDS battled gamely on the far turn last week after being headed briefly in a :26 4/5 third quarter. Despite the class edge she cedes, give extra consideration to the amount of work she has proven that she can withstand during recent miles.

Race 7 - John Simpson Memorial (3yo fillies)
This Simpson division is extremely wide open, at least on paper. 3 - DIP ME HANOVER has endured one of the toughest schedules of this field and turned in a 1:51 mile at Lexington last week despite only managing futile chase, but she is only 1-for-14 on the season. That being said, her class edge and current trajectory encourage in this spot. 1 - MOLTO BENE swept through the Commonwealth series, and did so via a mix of pressing and stalking trips. Most recently, she just missed older foes in an upper-winners event. As strong a stayer as you'll find in this field. 2 - NO MAS DRAMA hit the board in her last six starts, including a no-match second to Hypnotic AM in the NY Sire Stakes final. Very capable from tracking and stalking spots; draw suits her skill set well.

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

8 - ITS MESMERISE N enjoyed a string of success against comparable company late in the summer, and still showed promise while absorbing and delivering pressure against tougher at Pocono two and three back. She drops from top-level company, in which she gave futile chase to the tough Machnhope from astern. 3 - APPLE HANOVER wired similar a fortnight ago, and since stayed even amid top-level company after being shuffled up the far side. Before last week, she hit the board in six straight. At her best when close and clear. 7 - BETTOR JOY N and Tetrick are back together on this step up from a pillar-to-post win at Yonkers. Staying ability with tougher despite results is noted.

Race 9 - F&M Non-Winners $20,000 Last 5 Starts, 9 Races or $90,000

3 - BRUNHILDA was in the unenviable spot of chasing Machnhope through her last two starts, but hit the board from pressing and pocket trips on both occasions. Of the three here who took on top-level company in their last try, she's had the best results. 6 - ECLIPSE ME N pulled away decisively last week after pushing into and opening up through a :26 3/5 third quarter. She pressed well to just miss three back, as well. 1 - CAVIART CHERIE stalked cosily and was a one-paced fourth last week, and held a no-match second from a hard-earned pocket the week before. Pole can help her stay close without too much exertion.

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

5 - ANNE BONNEY N is in search of her sixth straight win after controlling the terms and parrying pressure at both Pocono and Yonkers. Likely pacesetter is drawn perfectly to control it all once again. 6 - CAVIART HEATHER enjoyed some success in minor stakes, and demonstrated versatility in recent outings. Arguably the strongest presser-stalker here. 3 - SHOTGUN PERSUASON toiled from the pocket behind Princess Alexis last week, but still held third after getting caught in traffic the week before. Tim stays aboard over two others; watch for continued improvement.

Race 11 - John Simpson Memorial (3yo fillies)

1 - FIFTY CENT PIECE had some gait issues in recent weeks, but qualified smoothly last Thursday. Her early-season success in PA Sire Stakes events via some pretty tough trips sets her apart. She stays flat, she's far and away the one to beat. 6 - DUNE HILL redeemed herself well with a late-closing fourth in the Bluegrass after similarly breaking on a couple occasions. Burke trainee looks to regain her winning ways; mind value. 5 - ELECTRAPEDIA has come into her own of late, as evident by improved stalking journeys for minors in stakes company. Improving.

Race 12 - John Simpson Memorial (3yo fillies)

4 - GOING GONE HANOVER was too far out of contention to threaten older foes last week. That said, she earned every bit of her summer stakes success. She can deliver or absorb pressure and remain in contention to the end. 6 - GALLERIA GAL seeks a third straight win after pressing and circling her way to N4L wins at Pocono and Yonkers alike. Strong stayer. 2 - MOANING LISA was worn down by Galleria Gal at Yonkers last week, but she won pretty well at odds-on locally before that. Reunited with Nap.

Race 13 - Non-Winners 1 Race

4 - FRANKLY MY DEAR improved steadily in her recent outings to press and stalk her way into stakes minors. Far easier await this rising filly today. 5 - ANNA BOLENA pressed steadily to make a bid for the lead at Pocono last out, and held second after being rebuffed. Improving filly just the same only needs a little more staying power to truly contend. 2 - LAVANTE was fourth or better in five of his last six, and this inside draw can help him land close early with ease. Value player in exotics with similar.

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

1 - ROCKN PHILLY looks to rebound from a break at Harrington in her last, and the switch to three turns should help in that respect. Late summer success against far tougher encourages immensely. 4 - JUSLIKEAQUEEN moves laterally on arrival from Pocono, where she led and rode the pocket to two second-place finishes in her last three. Gains Nap. 7 - AMANDEROSA was troubled by traffic and rearward trips in her last two tries at this class. Clear sailing or closer cover can help her regain summer form.