Harrah's Philadelphia: Analysis for Wednesday 7/22

Meet Stats: 25 - 70 (35.7%), $103.00 (-$37.00)

Best Bets: 4 - 5, $10.20 (+$0.20)

Spot Plays: 0 - 5, $0.00 (-$10.00)

Best Bet: Bombshell Hanover (Race 9)
Spot Play: Norman's Madeline (Race 14)

Race 1 - Claiming $10,000

5 - SOUTHERN ALLIE shouldn't have to work as hard to clear from this midpack draw, and week-over-week improvement in recent $10k starts is encouraging. The 78-time winner gains Brennan. 2 - LETSMAKEAWISH fared better on July 13 when he had a way into the race after being too far away to threaten twice before at Harrington. Inside draw keeps the improving stalker-closer near the action. 7 - SPORTS CHARM is Nap's choice on the drop from conditioned company. On debut for Garcia, he weakened on the home turn, but it was against tougher N4L foes.

Race 2 - F&M Claiming $12,500

6 - SHES SPORTY A seeks back-to-back scores after wiring her Yonkers foes in a June 30 return outing. She moves laterally on arrival and gains Nap. 5 - ALWAYS ARTISTIC is a credible mid-price player who is perfectly drawn for Berry to apply any number of tactics. In both starts since returning, she improved late in the mile to hit the board with similar - at 15-1 and 9-1 respectively. 2 - DANGEROUSPRECEDENT worked hard to achieve the lead at the half-mile pole in her last and was only narrowly outkicked after said exertion. Note however she circled and pressed to victory three back. She's got the tools; she just needs to put them all together.

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

2 - OCEANIA was compromised by pace pressure two back and traffic trouble more recently, but she didn't lack for ability on either occasion. Gains Brennan on arrival; a threat if clear against a field that's largely moving up. 6 - PASS LINE BLUECHIP pressed hard in her last and still held third after flattening. She's hit the board in three of four since returning; trip relief can aid on the mild step up. 8 - BETABCOOL N rises after sweeping off cover to win at Harrington two weeks ago. The longer run to the first turn should make this eight-hole draw easier to manage.

Race 4 - Claiming $10,000

6 - BILLION DOLLAR DAY adds Lasix after pressing into the lead at 15-1 last week but giving way in mid-stretch. He's hit the board in four of his last tries for $10k or more; that's enough of a form edge in this manageable group. 3 - WHIRL MONROE can benefit from a kinder draw after leaving for the pocket and being shuffled a touch last out. Even finishes for minors encourage. 1 - BOBBIES POWER PLAY tried to steal soft fractions in his return outing a couple weeks ago, but gave way to Billion Dollar Day at the quarter pole. He won at this tag solidly in September before a long shutdown; expect some improvement second out.

Race 5 - F&M Non-Winners 3 Races or $30,000

4 - DISCOFORADOLLAR wired Excelsior company at Yonkers earlier in the month before giving way to heavy pressure on the far turn at Tioga. She's reunited with Brennan, and she shouldn't have to deal with as strenuous of fractions today. 1 - ISEETTE HANOVER rises to face winners after stoutly drawing off in a :56 2/5 final half on July 8. Pole gives Kirby tactical freedom. 5 - SWEETEST ANGEL closed all the way from the Centre Ice Rink to hit the board in two Harrington tries. While tougher await, she should be able to situate herself closer to the pace from this kinder draw.

Race 6 - F&M Non-Winners $2,500 Last 5 Starts

1 - HEAVENLY BET bottoms out after failing to fire from astern last out and being swallowed up after leaving hard to clear from post 8 two back. Post relief should sharpen her up in the late stages. 8 - SKATEBOARD CHIC accounted for herself better in her last few tries at Harrington, but the wide draw yields a mighty task. I don't have her rated that much below Heavenly Bet given form, but be mindful of value. 5 - ELLA IS AWESOME passed tired foes at Pocono in her last, and chased decently for minors two and three back as well. Similar await; Nap's back on.

Race 7 - F&M Non-Winners $10,000 Last 5 Starts

This race is tough - there are no fewer than six mares with a credible chance to take it all. 4 - JOSSIE JAMES A tries three turns for the first time in the States, and figures very well to manage this gentle step up. Two weeks ago at Harrington, she charged first-over into the lead amid a :27 1/5 third quarter before struggling on the final turn. Looking back to February, she showed pressing and closing ability in much tougher groups at Yonkers. There are too many variables elsewhere in the race to take a hard stand, but she's very capable given the tools she brings to the race. 5 - SHEZALLAPPLES A steps up off a hard-earned Pocono win, 1 - SHEZZA GNP N drops and draws inside after posing no threat from the eighth-hole in her return outing, and 8 - BRONZE OVER N retains Brennan after a stout tens-on win at Yonkers in her last maintained her improving form. Honourable mentions go to 6 - IRON MISTRESS, who has chased well for minors at big odds at this level, and 7 - DOROTHY'S LEGACY, who withstood brutal trips to just miss twice in her last three.

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

2 - DONT THINK TWICE A earned every bit of her runner-up finish at Yonkers on June 30 by way of her stout first-over push. Two back, she used similar uncovered gains to win at M1 in 1:50 1/5. She splits the difference and gains Nap on arrival. 5 - SHES PUKKA N chased stoutly from a hard-earned pocket at Pocono last week. She won't have to work so hard to gain early position this time around. 1 - MY LAST BET has been strong at Harrington since returning to action, and there's no doubting her versatility. She can control the pace, grind into it, or brush hard from astern.

Race 9 - Non-Winners 1 Race

8 - BOMBSHELL HANOVER has a clear raw speed edge in this group, and he held his own for third in a Stallion Series event just a couple weeks ago. Minor stakes player is the only horse to drop in class here, and he proved his outside leaving ability two starts back. The one to beat. 1 - TECHTOPIA HANOVER gave stout chase a fortnight ago to just miss at this level after passing horses from astern in his seasonal debut. Cosy draw keeps him near the action with ease once again. 7 - KENTUCKY PROUD added Lasix in his last start and didn't regress as badly from a cosy pocket. He's had to chase some strong paces, and despite his regression, he's held up better late than a lot of others here have.

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

2 - TOPVILLE ANGELINA was no match for Bye Bye Felicia in her last, but she held up well after early exertion to only miss by a length at Pocono the start before. Similar await; Nap opts on. 6 - AMANDEROSA is rising steadily up thee class ladder by way of strong local wins. Another step up awaits, but her 1:51.1 win from last Wednesday is one of the strongest miles on the page. Credible mid-price option. 1 - ECLIPSE ME N has the ability to contend with tougher fields, but question marks abound in this debut outing for Peña. Draw is kind, but she might need a start after being off since November.

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

3 - MALNIFICENT pushed clear from post 7 on the drop to bottom-level company at Pocono, only to be beaten by a length. The week before, she rallied out of traffic to just miss tougher. Post relief helps; so does the reunion with Dubé. 7 - ENGLISH ROSE N charged off cover to just miss Brunhilda at odds-on last week. Improvement can continue third out. 6 - PIRAEUS figures well to boost exotic value, provided she can enjoy a clear trip. She didn't lack for pace at M1 in her last, but was hemmed in badly through the far turn.

Race 12 - F&M Non-Winners 3 Races or $30,000

8 - SHE'S NUN BETTOR N added Lasix last week and charged out of post 9 and off cover to win at Pocono. Another outside draw awaits, but she's proven strong since arriving Stateside. Plenty to like from this strong finisher. 4 - WINDFALL PROFITS pushed the pace up the far side at this level last week before being turned aside, and rallied to win three weeks prior. Brennan opts to remain on. 1 - ROMANCE BLUE CHIP seeks a third straight win after brushing and holding sway at odds-on twice at Harrington since returning. Tougher await on arrival.

Race 13 - Non-Winners 1 Race

2 - SVF BLUSHINGBRIDE toiled in pursuit of Hannah in their Stallion Series race last week, but her 1:55.4 mile is the strongest over three turns on this page. Expect stronger coming back. 7 - KHEDIVE gave improved chase to Tuis Shadow in their July 9 meeting after a respectable debut outing. Week-over-week improvement is a big plus. 4 - PAYTON'S A CANE broke before the start in his last, but before that demonstrated stalking and mild closing ability at this level. Minor consideration from any variety of trips, provided he stays flat.

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

2 - BRUNHILDA stepped up to this level last week, cleared from post 7, yielded, was locked in, and chased once free to just miss. She's turned a mighty corner since coming back to action; this kinder draw can give her that last little bit of oomph. 8 - NORMAN'S MADELINE pressed hard to just miss fourth-level company two weeks ago after toiling against tougher. Further relief can surely aid, especially as strong as she was last time. Solid value option. 5 - I'M DONE TALKING invades from Harrington after near misses from first-over and off cover. Switch to three turns can ease her journey, and Nap takes over.