Harrah's Philadelphia: Analysis for Wednesday 7/1

Best Bet: New Year (Race 5)
Spot Play: Shes Pukka N (Race 8)

Race 1 - Starter Allowance $10,000

Over half of this field is comprised of competitors in last week's $10k starter allowance, yielding easier and more direct comparisons between horses this time. Veteran 8 - CHEYENNE JEFFREY did some serious lifting in his return outing, and gets the nod from me as such today. He sustained a first-over push into an individually-timed :27 3/5 third quarter, and the only horse that beat him did so with the aid of his cover. 6 - WE THINK ALIKE was that second-over winner who proved extremely sharp off the shelf in his own right, but he had things entirely his own way before he vaulted clear at the eighth pole. 2 - ROLL WITH FRED hasn't raced since March, but he stayed even with $10k types at Dover before being geared down. Clearer sailing can help him lift exotic value.

Race 2 - Pennsylvania Stallion Series

6 - GABBY'S GIRL qualified evenly last week, but is David's choice in this field comprised mainly of firsters. Campbell's winning at 20% so far this season. 3 - BEACH CRAZY proved amply fast in qualifiers, and while she regressed in her June 23 qualifier, it was into the fastest last quarter over three turns on the page. Gains Dunn. 1 - LOVE GAME has the fastest mile on the page by virtue of her last Gaitway qualifier. Pole keeps her close with ease.

Race 3 - Pennsylvania Stallion Series

1 - PODIUM GIRL lifted wide of rivals for a sharp conclusion in her lone qualifier. She's out of a $500k earner who campaigned against top-level mares throughout the Mid-Atlantic. 2 - ARTISAN BET chased well for third on debut at Pocono last week after a respectable qualifier. A similar tracking trip should be possible from this cosy draw. 4 - SUMMER SQUALL - 30 years detached from another by the same name but a different breed - makes her debut after ceding to head-stretch pressure in her qualifier. Week-over-week improvement noted, though.

Race 4 - F&M Non-Winners 3 Races or $30,000

4 - GOING GONE HANOVER hit the exacta in all four of her starts as a rookie, and her June 23 qualifier at Magical Acres indicates fitness all round. Raw speed, battling ability and late kick were all present, and McCarthy opts on. Lots to like. 3 - SHOTGUN PERSUASION enjoyed mild stakes success at 2, and she closed well from astern in her lone qualifier after 10 months off. I don't doubt her ability, but will she be in prime shape after so much time off? 6 - AVAYA HANOVER broke maiden in her second start back, 10 days after rallying into a no-match second at 41-1 behind a 1:50 2/5 runaway off the shelf. She's starting to ramp up, it appears.

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

The race most likely goes through 7 - NEW YEAR, who used a first-over attack to just collar JK First Lady in the International Stallion at Lexington. Three weeks later, she just missed off a similar uncovered grind in the Breeders Crown. Those lines give the daughter of two millionaires a clear class edge. 4 - CRAZY CUTE turned in a solid performance at 13-1 last week, clearing and yielding to third before being locked in and ultimately surging through up the pegs to win going away. Expect sharper still coming back. Two others look to rise off wins in their last starts, including 3 - SHOULDABEENATD, who reached from the pocket at Pocono off a long spell, and 6 - NEW TWIST, who cleared from post 8, yielded, and then won an extended duel at 18-1. Both warrant Hi-5 inclusion.

Race 6 - Pennsylvania Sire Stakes

1 - BLUE DIAMOND EYES sprinted off willingly to cap her 1:54 3/5 qualifier last Monday. Her dam, Aria Hanover, had a great rookie season on the PASS circuit in 2014 before her racing career was cut short. Plenty to like. 2 - OCEAN'S APART made three lengths in the final quarter of her second qualifier, and she boasts similar closing kick as her stablemate. 3 - CONTINUALOU chased home in :26 2/5 on June 15, but into a much slower early pace than the top pair. Week-over-week improvement noted.

Race 7 - Pennsylvania Sire Stakes

2 - GRACE HILL arrives ready to go after two Toronto qualifiers. In her more recent one, she sprinted clear willingly. Her mom, Western Silk, won the Jugette, Fan Hanover, and numerous OSS events in 2010. 1 - DARBY HANOVER's stretch speed to this point is the strongest on this page. Pole should land her close to the action with considerable ease. 5 - MARSALA HANOVER had room to spare in her June 23 qualifier after lifting to narrowly miss the week before. Versatility is a definite plus.

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

1 - SHES PUKKA N charged home in :25 2/5 in her return outing, but never threatened Bettor Joy N after being caught astern early. Both the pole and this significant step down can make her a serious contender second out. 2 - SIDEWALK DANCER lifts mildly after winning her return effort. In an upper-level race at Harrington, she circled three-wide through the far turn - a tough task on those tight turns - to just reach. 6 - MADAME LEZA A also exits the Bettor Joy N race, where she turned in an even but non-threatening effort. Does the key race angle apply here, possibly?

Race 9 - Pennsylvania Sire Stakes

3 - SNIPER HANOVER demonstrated a solid turn of foot in both her local qualifiers leading up to this debut effort. Last Tuesday, she sprinted off at will in a :27 1/5 closing split — late speed rivalled by only one in this field over three turns. That one is 7 - JK ALWAYSBALADY, who was one-paced from a cosy pocket ride in her career debut, but to her credit, it was into a :54 4/5 back half. I'm optimistic that this filly can live up to the expectations her parents present. 5 - WICKED WAYS won her second Gaitway qualifier after storming home in :26 1/5 and figures well in some capacity here, while 6 - DANCETHENIGHTAWAY proves a logical roughie in exotics after her steady first-over ascent into a quickening pace before levelling off and protecting third on debut.

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

8 - CHARLOTTE ROYAL N retains Callahan after showing week-over-week improvement in her June 19 Meadowlands start. Ability to sustain progress wide of rivals and not cede ground late goes a long way. I'd be surprised to get 15-1 on her, honestly. 7 - QUEEN LOSTRIS N toiled late last week, but held even with the bulk of the field. Easier await second out. 6 - CRISP MANE was overmatched in two tries since returning to action, but her pressing and stalking lines against N6L types at Yonkers in February indicate ample ability for this group.

Race 11 - Pennsylvania Sire Stakes

6 - LET 'ER BUCK closed to just miss on debut at Pocono on June 23. She's the only one here with a race under her harness; staying power encouraged. 5 - LYONS SOFTASSILK won her June 23 qualifier by way of a sustained late push. Her closing quarters are the fastest on the page over three turns. 4 - REALIZATION pulled pocket and duelled to a Gaitway qualifying win on June 15. Another one with ample late pace in a field full of question marks.

Race 12 - Pennsylvania Stallion Series

Captaintreacherous fillies 2 - HIGH MINDED and 1 - TEMPURA HANOVER posted matching 1:56 qualifying miles, but the former gets the edge for two reasons: Her mile was over three turns instead of two, and she sprinted clear from the pocket at first asking. Plenty to like about both these fillies, but High Minded gets a slight nod. 4 - FIRE START HANOVER may have only managed an even qualifier at Magical Acres last week, but Miller opts on over Ginger Tree Liz. Minor option off the shelf.

Race 13 - Pennsylvania Stallion Series

3 - SASSY SOPHIA wired her Meadows foes in a June 25 qualifier and demonstrated the right blend of pace control and finishing ability for my liking in another race full of unknowns. 4 - SEABREEZE HANOVER was overpowered at the end of her June 23 qualifier, but closed well in :27 3/5 the week before. Gains Miller; likely factor. 5 - BRIAR gave way in mid-stretch at Magical Acres last week, but her raw speed improved by nearly four seconds over her first outing. Minor option with similar.

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

5 - AMANDEROSA lifted from astern into third against tougher foes at Yonkers first out. She faces easier coming back from a respectable debut, and Tim opts on over three others. 1 - CORNER TABLE is a credible value option, especially after she split foes to overcome excess cover for fourth at 73-1 in a fourth-level race last week. Easier competition awaits, and an easier trip can go a long way. 4 - PETAL TO THE METAL rises off a hard-earned win, one in which she was relegated to third at the bell before her extended first-over grind to victory. Expect sharper coming right back.