Harrah's Philadelphia: Analysis for Wednesday 8/19

Win %: 185 for 463 (40.0%)
ITM: 328 for 463 (70.8%)
Win Dividends: $751.70 $2 ROI: $1.62
Best Bets: 24/32, $69.10 (+$5.10)
Spot Plays: 4/32, $21.80 (-$42.20)
Pick-4: 1,3,4/1,6/1,2,4/2,4 ($18)
Best Bet: Isette Hanover (Race 7)
Spot Play: Laughing Emoji N (Race 8)

Race 1 - Claiming $12,500
1 - LOOKINFORADVENTURE hit the board in his last five races, all from a variety of trips. Extreme post relief can help him immensely, and Simon's hit the exacta at 33% over the last two weeks. 6 - POP'S ROMEO pushed clear with three furlongs to go in his debut for Addison last week. Similar await the improving presser-stalker today; mind value. 2 - MATT MAJOR lost Pop's Romeo's cover on the backstretch last week but sustained his ascent to duel into a no-match second. Nap's back aboard the 29-time winner.

Race 2 - Claiming $10,000

8 - CHARGER BLUE CHIP lifted steadily to win last week after a pair of minor placings from nearer the early action. Nap opts to remain aboard; form is as good as any here. 3 - SOUTHERN ALLIE gave way in upper stretch last time after being forced to a :27 2/5 third quarter, but wired similar two back. Mind value on the millionaire. 4 - SUTTON SEELSTER invades from M1 after respectable outings in lower-level conditioned races. He figures to be close to the pace with ease, and proved he can press effectively in his July 10 win.

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

5 - JEWELS FORREAL turned aside two separate challengers in her second-level win at 1-20 last week. This step up in class does not concern me for two reasons: 1.) half the field is stepping up, and 2.) she more than held her own for minors at Pocono at both this level and one above. 1 - PIRAEUS lifted well at healthy odds in two tries at this class. Last week, she surged up the pegs from astern to just miss at 31-1. Pole can land the value player closer to the pace with ease. 6 - LOVERS COVE rose from a narrow win three back to put in good closing bids for minors from wide draws in his last two. Capable of doing enough to hit the ticket under the right circumstances.

Race 4 - F&M Claiming $12,500

6 - HOW ABOUT MURPH fought gamely in a narrow defeat at eights on arrival last week after sweeping to victory at Pocono. The main likelihood for pace pressure here comes from The Lady Sheriff, but she's been just a ways away in terms of raw speed and staying power lately. 3 - MELANIE'S FILLY won out of post 9 two back, and since left, landed close, and was trapped at the pegs on the final turn. Post relief on arrival can yield clear sailing, and Mosher's winning at 23%. 8 - SHE'S A BILLIONAIR chased well for third off a sustained overland journey in her first start back in five months. Similar await coming back; expect a stronger effort.

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

3 - TALL POPPY N cleared from post 8 before yielding and just missing Valuable Art in a stout stretch duel. She gets another crack at a similar field, and the closer draw makes for an easier task. Also of note: her consistent sub-:28 closing splits are as a whole the strongest in the field. 4 - SCUOLA HANOVER can benefit from class and post relief after respectable but no-threat tries from astern, and 8 - DONGAL RUNDLSCRK N gains Tetrick on the step down from an even but traffic-troubled line. 2 - ENGLISH ROSE and 1 - CARDIFF are honourable mentions in the Hi-5 on account of staying power and their respective drivers opting aboard.

Race 6 - Non-Winners 1 Race

6 - SWEET TEA hasn't hit the board in three starts to date, but she is far and away the fastest trotter in this field so far. 4 - ANDELA won her Harrington qualifier last Wednesday after breaking and being eased the week before. Staying ability for minors early in the season duly noted; mind value given the Aug. 6 misstep. 5 - LUV U BYE CLICK failed to fire from astern in her last three, but her closing splits and ability to pass horses late encourage in this softer assignment. Midpack draw can serve to land her closer.

Race 7 - F&M Non-Winners 3 Races or $30,000

1 - ISETTE HANOVER vaulted clear and edged away to win at this level last week after enjoying success in pacesetting, pocket and deep closing trips alike. Form and versatility unite. 3 - FASHION HILL was an even fourth in her New York Sire Stakes race at Vernon four weeks ago, and gets an easier group here. Excuse her July 10 outing given early exertion from post 8, but note the strength of her N2L win the week before. 4 - ACROBATTA dominated Excelsior company two weeks ago, and her 1:53 2/5 mile at Yonkers is strong considering the tight turns. Very capable, just the same.

Race 8 - F&M Non-Winners $7,000 Last 5 Starts

6 - A CRAFTY LADY lifted into third at big odds against tougher at Pocono last week, and she hit the board in four of six against tougher since returning to action. Consistent stalker-closer gets a welcome step down to strike. 1 - LAUGHING EMOJI N makes her U.S. debut. Here's a closer look at her last three efforts in Australia: June 26, Albion Park (2138m): Circled three-wide to push the pace with a mile remaining, sustained first-over pressure up the far side, led narrowly a quarter from home, flattened off the corner, finished fifth of 10. June 13, Albion (1660m): Chased for the second-over trail on the first turn, launched three-wide with five-sixteenths to go and worked level with the leader on the far turn, but was outkicked up the pegs by 1-1/4 lengths in a :27 7/10 final quarter, finished third of nine. June 6, Albion (2138m): Assumed third-over position on the first turn, charged three-wide and cleared the lead with just under a mile to go, shrugged off mild pressure at the bell, was driven out to evade her pocket foe to the line in a :28 3/10 final quarter, finished first of nine. 4 - KAY'S DELIGHT makes a second straight drop in class after even chasing efforts for minors with tougher in her last two. Another midpack draw should help her stay close to the early action.

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

2 - ITS MESMERISE N has hit the exacta in all four of her U.S. outings — all at this level, too. She's proven effective from pocket and cover trips alike. Given that five of her rivals are stepping up, this field shapes up as markedly kinder. 1 - ANYTIME N is Corey's choice on the drop from significantly tougher fields. She was simply outmatched by the likes of Warrawee Ubeaut and Soho Burning Love two back. This group is a hefty step down from those rivals; beware underlay potential. 4 - VORST rises half a level after winning on the point at Pocono. I'm inclined to forgive the break two back on account of the tighter turns at Yonkers. Nap stays on; the three-turn trip suits.

Race 10 - Non-Winners 1 Race

4 - GALVESTON started this season with four straight top-three finishes, and his consistent stalking and closing ability encourages. Very credible mid-price option given form, speed and staying power. 2 - DEVIL OR ANGEL tired in pursuit last week but either just missed or was just collared in three straight tries before that. Be wary of underlay potential, though. 7 - WARRAWEE VICTOR has shown improvement in recent weeks after a bit of a slow start to the season. His last three miles are amply fast to contend; he'll just need a way into the race.

Race 11 - F&M Non-Winners 3 Races or $30,000

1 - ROLL WITH ANGEL broke maiden at Vernon three back and rose to stakes company with aplomb. Earlier this month, she cleared from post 7 at Yonkers for yielding to the pocket and chasing to hold third behind Acrobatta - she only missed second by a length. Pole can sharpen her; Nap opts aboard. 2 - COURTING MARIE can benefit from the drop from stakes company and an inside draw. At this level on June 24, she lifted late to just miss at odds-on. 4 - SPRECKLES chased evenly for third in her last at Yonkers after traffic trouble got in her way at Vernon and Tioga. Needs clear sailing for best; easier await on arrival.

Race 12 - F&M Non-Winners $4,000 Last 5 Starts

2 - ROLLING GOING GONE improved a great deal on arrival from Pocono last week, sustaining a long first-over grind out of sixth and only just giving way for second in the last yards. Class and post relief off that encouraging outing can lift her the rest of the way. 3 - DANGEROUSPRECEDENT moves laterally from a $12.5k claiming event in which she closed a ton of late ground up the pegs after being well astern of a hot first six furlongs. Gains Napolitano. 7 - NARCIAN JEWEL chased respectably for minors in her last couple M1 outings after floating into close stalking spots. She's one of five to step down here; good minor option again from nearly identical circumstances.

Race 13 - F&M Non-Winners 1 Race

7 - MACKIE HANOVER took on Stallion Series company in her career debut, and she lifted late for second at odds-on. Promising filly finds an easier group today. 6 - SATOMIE HANOVER is the most promising of the three 3-year-olds in this group, but sustained pressure did her in on debut. Expect sharper coming back. 8 - WESTMONT Z TAM's 1:52 4/5 mile at Pocono last week is the fastest on the page, but she was not in contention at any point. Before that, she only missed at this level by two lengths after a severe shuffle. Can share if clear.

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

2 - ROCKLINDAROCK tired from the pocket in a second-level race two weeks ago, but circled boldly to just miss at 15-1 before that. The 12-time winner returns to a competitive level and Montrell's back aboard. 8 - SWEET MARTHA LOU gave way to sustained pressure in her last after chasing evenly for minors in prior outings. Gains Tetrick on arrival. 1 - OUIJA dropped to this level last week and improved on the far turn to save third after early exertion and a mild mid-race shuffle. Kinder draw can aid.