Harrah's Philadelphia: Analysis for Wednesday 10/28

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: 3,4/2,4/7/1,3,4,5,6,8 ($12)
Best Bet: Machnhope (Race 9)
Spot Play: Hottieonthehorizon (Race 5)

Race 1 - Claiming $10,000

1 - CATCH MY SHADOW brushed and held sway in his return outing last week. He's hit the board in four of five at this level; versatility a plus. 5 - DONT JUDGE A BOOK stayed right with Catch My Shadow after clearing and yielding. I'm not expecting 7-1 again, but I am expecting another solid effort from him given recent pocket tries amid sensible paces. 6 - OWN IT has been no worse than fourth in his last seven, and consistently shows respectable staying power. Credible minor option.

Race 2 - Claiming $12,500

4 - AMRCANBOOTSCOOTA A won three of four at this level at Yonkers over the past five weeks, with his only defeat coming by a scant nose. Nap opts on the Garcia trainee over two others; the 25-time winner could very possibly seize sole control of the pace. 3 - MYIDEALSON N pressed to victory four back and has hit the board in four of six from a variety of tactics. Adaptability makes him a strong mid-price option. 6 - STICK WITH CRAMER owns a win and a narrow defeat for $15k in his last two starts for Taneyhill, but failed to fire on debut for Mosher last week. Class relief can aid.

Race 3 - John Simpson Memorial (3yo colts and geldings)

6 - PAULIE WALNUTS was overhauled by Overserved in the closing yards of a 1:53 1/5 mile in the Liberty Bell, but he's fared well on the whole against pretty tough company lately. Slight edge owing to the amount of work he's done in recent tries. 5 - LOYAL FOX HANOVER is looking for a second straight win, but he had the benefit of a cosy tracking trip in his narrow Liberty Bell score. Capable, but mind value. 1 - TOWN VICTOR makes his second start back from a brief spell following a runner-up effort in the same Liberty Bell division that Paulie Walnuts exits. He's had a good past couple months; inside draw keeps him close - right where he likes to be.

Race 4 - John Simpson Memorial (3yo colts and geldings)

6 - TRU LOU made two moves to defeat Allywag Hanover and Manticore - two pretty tough customers - in the Liberty Bell two weeks ago. The stronger half of Burke's representation in this split boasts a strong raw speed edge. 1 - CHEERIO HILL makes his second start back after nearly a year off. While he was short in his bid forward behind the tough Nicholas Beach, he figures to be closer to the action from the pole and a bit tighter. 5 - JK LUCKY CHARMS did well in Freehold stakes last month before lifting belatedly from astern in his Liberty Bell split. Minor option regardless of trip.

Race 5 - F&M Non-Winners $10,100 Last 5 Starts

8 - QUEEN LOSTRIS N held her ground at this level three starts back and just missed from the pocket most recently. Proven to be able to lead, press and stalk successfully at this level; good finishes for minors against tougher encourage as well. 5 - HOTTIEONTHEHORIZON just missed at 40-1 in her local debut, surging up the open stretch at first asking once room availed. Likely key to Hi-5 value. 6 - ATTENTION HANOVER pressed into second with three furlongs to go last out before fading, but also lifted from stalking trips to hit the board in previous outings with tougher. Steps down now. 3 - VH PRINCESS BREA pressed hard for three furlongs and battled gamely to the line on the rise to this level, and 1 - MAY BRIDE HANOVER figures to stay on for at least a little share from this cosy inside draw.

Race 6 - John Simpson Memorial (3yo colts and geldings)

4 - COVENTRY HALL never got involved in the Futurity at nearly 200-1, but closed well to just miss by a length in the Bluegrass. Easier stakes foes await on arrival. 3 - OVERSERVED swept through the Stallion Series after dropping out of PASS company, and most recently made two moves to score in the Liberty Bell. Similar await here. 5 - BARLEY was a clear second behind Beads in the Kentucky series all summer. He won't have to tackle nearly as tough of competition here, nor chase nearly as fast of a mile.

Race 7 - John Simpson Memorial (3yo colts and geldings)

4 - PATRIOT NATION will try to get revenge on Tito Rocks after being just upended in the Liberty Bell two weeks ago. In their Oct. 14 meeting, Patriot Nation circled three-wide to clear for the lead at the bell and absorbed pressure through the far turn. He gets the nod from me here on account of all the work he did. 3 - TITO ROCKS won that meeting at sevens, but had the benefit of a pocket trip - albeit earned - to score a narrow decision. Post relief can help him today, but beware underlay potential after his stakes score given the path he took. 6 - SWEET TRUTH has demonstrated steady improvement in terms of closing kick in recent weeks. In his last, he lifted out of traffic to save second behind a very strong Scootnroll at Pocono. Credible minor option in exotics.

Race 8 - F&M Non-Winners 5 Races or $50,000

4 - DANCE CLUB returns to a proven course and class after being outmatched in the Courageous Lady at Northfield last weekend. Three weeks ago, she brushed and sprinted clear on the far turn for a comfortable tens-on win. 2 - FIREFLY is ramping up, having closed ground well from astern two weeks ago and lifting steadily off cover to take second in the final sixteenth against stakes company since. 3 - WINGDING HANOVER chased better than evenly to hit the board in all three of her starts at this level. She's proven that she can chase from just about any trip she's dealt.

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

7 - MACHNHOPE is in search of a third straight top-level win over this course. Two weeks ago, she made easy work of similar after making two moves to reach the lead out of post 8. The ease of her wins is what I find most encouraging. 6 - ECLIPSE ME N also won her last two local starts, but she saw Baron Remy close in nearing the line. She proved four back that she can sustain pressure just the same. 1 - SUNNY DEE debuts for new connections after some strong showings just outside Toronto. The 14-time winner only missed by 2-1/2 lengths in the Milton, and most recently chased Philly Hanover behind an earned pocket. Pole keeps her close; Tetrick's up.

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

5 - CAVIART CHERIE stalked and stayed pretty evenly for minors in four tries against tougher. Today, she drops back to her last winning level. Raw speed and staying power are ample; slim call in a wide open race. 8 - CRAZY CUTE hit the board in her last six, and did so from a variety of trip and pace scenarios. Wide draw is her biggest obstacle. 6 - ABIGAIL DAWN battled stoutly to fend off Queen Lostris N in a fourth-level event last week, and she reached from the pocket at this level four back. This race shapes up as a fair bit tougher, though.

Race 11 - John Simpson Memorial (3yo colts and geldings)

6 - PATRIARCH HANOVER has been caught in Amigo Volo's shadow much of the season, but proved his staying power well in recent restricted events. Easier foes await on arrival. 5 - ARCLIGHT HANOVER was a one-paced third in the Liberty Bell after a pair of good closing efforts for second in N5L events. Improving stayer. 2 - ROME PAYS OFF had some breaking issues in August, but returns to action off a smooth qualifier behind stablemate Gimpanzee. Hit-or-miss, honestly, but the "hit" can be a big one.

Race 12 - John Simpson Memorial (3yo colts and geldings)

5 - DIAMOND HEAD lifted from a N3L win two back into a tough Pocono event that saw him push hard before flattening behind the razor-sharp Scootnroll. Minor stakes player is warming up. 1 - IDEAL PERCEPTION never got involved in his last, but should be able to benefit from the pole in this kinder-by-comparison race. When near the action, he's held his own even in tough NY Sire Stakes events. 3 - ROLLING WITH SAM sustained wide bids for minors in recent conditioned efforts, and his mid-:27 closing quarters of late fit in well with this group. Can share with similar.

Race 13 - F&M Non-Winners $4,000 Last 5 Starts

2 - TOPVILLE ANGELINA drops again after failing to fire - but staying more or less even - in her last. Class edge is clear. 1 - BLACKWELL RUBY IR is Miller's choice. She drops in class and draws inside after struggling to get involved until too late in recent tries. 7 - OOH REEAL GOOD moves up after pressing to just miss Sweet Camille in a bottom-level event. Past tries at this class yielded minor cheques from all sorts of trips.

Race 14 - F&M Non-Winners 3 Races or $30,000

7 - WAYSIDE almost converted on the lead last week after solid chasing and pressing efforts against tougher. Form uptick noted. 6 - SWEET TALKER circled boldly to just miss in her last after parrying pressure to beat N2L foes two back. Versatility a plus; keeps Nap. 2 - JAZZ FEST is a rising stalker-closer type who invades from M1 off a pair of solid efforts off cover.

Race 15 - F&M Non-Winners $7,000 Last 5 Starts

8 - I'M VERY SPECIAL was eligible for this drop in class at the time entries for this race closed, but a mere 11 hours after that time, she pressed and edged clear of tougher at Yonkers. Nap's choice looks to drop and pop off a stout win. 1 - ANNIE HILL likewise drops in class, and she also draws far more kindly on this return to a winning level. Staying power off cover noted, as is pacesetting ability. David's got options galore. 2 - D GS ELSA stayed on well from cosy pocket rides in her last two, both at this level and one above. Draw figures to help her land close with ease yet again.