Harrah's Philadelphia: Analysis for Wednesday 8/26

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: 3,5,8/1,6/1,3,7/4,7 = $18
Best Bet: A Crafty Lady (Race 5)
Spot Play: Brunhilda (Race 12)

Race 1 - Claiming $12,500

2 - MYIDEALSON N made inroads in the stretch consistently for minors in $15k company this summer. Class relief and an inside draw can lift him; raw speed edge noted. 5 - DONT JUDGE A BOOK gains Nap this week after failing to fire in two tries against conditioned company. Midpack draw can help him get involved a little bit easier; lack of speed on paper helps his cause, too. 7 - ARTACHE HANOVER hit the board in five of his last six, all at this level. The 37-time winner does his best from mid-division or closer; wide draw is his biggest hurdle. That said, he's chased after the likes of Seeley Man and IYQ YQR - who have been virtually unbeatable - in recent weeks.

Race 2 - Claiming $10,000

1 - CHARGER BLUE CHIP gains extreme post relief today after post 8 left him too tall a task at odds-on last Wednesday. He lifted late and pushed clear two back after a pair of respectable narrow defeats. Nap's choice of three. 7 - OWN IT debuts for Moffitt after success at the $7.5k level at Pocono and a solid second behind Charger Blue Chip on the rise to this level. Wide draw is his biggest obstacle today. 3 - RUFO held sway to wire similar at fives on Aug. 3 at Pocono and was since softened up by sustained early pressure. A less taxing first half can help him stay on better.

Race 3 - F&M Non-Winners 1 Race

1 - MISS TANGO pressed and stayed on well against maidens two back. Since then, she was an in-touch eighth with tougher Stallion Series foes after a rearward dispatch. Class and post relief make her a player again. 3 - LITTLE DARE DEVIL chased evenly at big odds last out after a failed bid at Pocono. While she's been off for a month, her 1:54 2/5 mile last out is indicative of improvement over prior outings. 4 - ROLL WITH AMY won her qualifier last week in 1:54 3/5, and with ample in reserve. If she can leave her gait issues in New York, she figures well with a repeat of her morning effort. Mind value.

Race 4 - F&M Claiming $12,500

3 - ALWAYS ARTISTIC seeks a repeat win at the level after lifting from the pocket last week. She won similarly four back as well, and she's well drawn to land close to the pace with ease. 4 - SHE'S A BILLIONAIR rallied from worse than mid-division to take third at healthy odds in both of her starts since returning to action this month. Strong staying power encourages, and she's still ramping up. 1 - WHITEHAVEN BEACH made a lot of ground to push the pace before fading on the far turn last out, but stalked and chased to hit the board in three of four before that. Forgive the two-move uncovered outing. Gains Simon and draws inside; serious value player.

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

1 - A CRAFTY LADY won well on arrival last Wednesday, circling boldly three-wide into the far turn and kicking away powerfully off the corner. She's shown good staying power off cover at this level in recent weeks, as well. As strong as any here - especially noting that she's one of seven to rise in class. 3 - KEENE OLIVIA saved third after being boxed last week, and chased well to hold third the start before. Class hike is minimal, if any. 7 - AMERICAN EMPRESS N has consistently demonstrated pressing and closing ability a level below this one, hitting the board in five of six since returning to action. Her lone miss came after blasting clear from post 10 at M1 on June 26. Wide draw is her biggest obstacle here, but she's proven she can remain a factor late. 4 - SLICK ARTIST A faces a host of mares rising in class and gains a kinder midpack draw, and 8 - TEAM KIWI N makes her U.S. debut after leaving New Zealand with three straight wins.

Race 6 - Non-Winners 1 Race

7 - TEST MATCH cleared from post 9, yielded, and kept up well for second at 92-1 in a similar race at Pocono a fortnight ago. Despite another wide draw, this group shapes up as easier and she gains Nap. 6 - SEBASTIEN DUHARAS toiled after clearing and giving way in Stallion Series company in his last, but almost held on at this level the week before. He's hit the board in both local tries at this level since Gannon took over his training duties. 5 - KLASSEN HANOVER chased evenly for minors at 19-1 or longer in three of his last five starts. Serious value player in deeper exotics with a similar journey, but he'll have to kick his overall speed up a notch.

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

Today's feature stacks up as a tougher heat than most fifth-level events, given the success a number of these mares have had at this level and just above. 5 - ECLIPSE ME N lifted off cover to win on debut for Peña three back and was just collared under pressure and amid fast paces in her last two. Consistency and versatility encourage. 3 - DIBABA N is the likely catalyst for pace pressure after her last two outings against tougher yielded top-three finishes against tougher. A bigger threat still if she can gain cover. 8 - SWEET LUCY LOU charged home to hit the board in two of her last three, including a solid debut for Cleary at Pocono last week. Wide draw is this stalker-closer's biggest obstacle, but this field presents as the easiest she's seen in a good while.

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

6 - SHE'S ALLRIGHT gets another crack at this group after early exertion stung her out of post 8 last week. She lifted to beat tougher at Pocono just five starts back. Solid mid-price option. 1 - DANGEROUSPRECEDENT battled stoutly after being headed on the far turn to save victory in a second-level race last week. Rearward trips have been her biggest trouble of late more so than tougher groups. This step up won't be too daunting, and the pole can only help. 7 - ART LECTURE flattened after a first-over advance into the far turn in her last, but still held fourth. This group doesn't seem any tougher by comparison, and a kinder trip can likely yield a better outcome. Gains Callahan.

Race 9 - Non-Winners 1 Race

3 - BOLT OF LUCK brushed, yielded, and chased to hold second at Pocono last week after mild success on the Excelsior circuit. His Yonkers win came in a non-betting Excelsior event, thus allowing him to compete in this condition. Post relief can keep him sharper longer. 1 - A FEARSOME HANOVER was shuffled up the far side last out yet still rallied to save third. Clear sailing can help this third-time starter improve all the more; speed clearly suits. 7 - HOLY MOMENT has only missed the board once in his career, and that came after being parked from the start and trying to chase after a :26 4/5 third quarter. Solid finisher provided he can avoid the breeze.

Race 10 - F&M Non-Winners 3 Races or $30,000

4 - IT'S A SHORE THING reeled off three straight wins, including one out of post 9 at Pocono last week. She can leave and control the terms, brush, or lift from the pocket alike. Nap's sure to have her involved from the get-go barring a troubled dispatch. 7 - FIRESIDE never got involved at Pocono last week, but lifted to win in her first try at this level the start before. She's proven quite capable from off the pace. 3 - WINGDING HANOVER has been fourth or better in four straight tries, including a pair of Stallion Series events at The Meadows in July. Stalker-closer brings a class edge into this group, but can she find a way into the race? Mind value.

Race 11 - F&M Non-Winners $2,500 Last 5 Starts

4 - INDY ROSE gains Nap on arrival after a failed bid at Vernon last out. To her credit, she rallied off cover for second in a similar race at The Meadowlands two starts back. Room to improve and a logical spot to do so. 8 - HEAVENLY BET was thrown off stride on the far turn at Pocono last out. Before that, she chased for third at 21-1 in a $10k claimer and she held second at this course and class four back. 3 - QUEEN KENDALL lifted late to just miss at Ocean two weeks ago after second- and third-level fields here proved too tough. Bottoms out on her way back up US 13.

Race 12 - F&M Non-Winners $10,000 Last 5 Starts

3 - TANGO DANCER N steps down mildly after pressing and just missing at Pocono last out. She held off pressure to win a level above this one just four starts back, and rearward trips were her big stumbling block in top-level events between the aforementioned lines. Strong call. 5 - QUEEN LOSTRIS N drops back to her most recent winning level after chasing out of traffic to hold third at big odds last week. Every chance to control the terms again; mind value on the step down. 1 - BRUNHILDA chased well to hit the board at this level both two and three back. Class and post relief alike can help this dedicated presser rebound; Simon opts to stay on.

Race 13 - F&M Non-Winners 1 Race

1 - FLIRTY FORTY circled wide into the far turn and came up just short at Pocono last week. Before that, she chased well for minors in two of three Excelsior outings. Gains Napolitano and the pole. 3 - TEMPURA HANOVER only missed one cheque in four starts to date. Even chasing efforts in Stallion Series events translate well to this kinder spot. 5 - OK LETS ROCKNROLL was reeled in off the home turn two weeks ago, but still had enough to hold second. Before that, she pressed into the far turn and just missed at 20-1. Versatility is a plus; form is improving.

Race 14 - F&M Non-Winners $4,000 Last 5 Starts

5 - ROLLING GOING GONE dropped to this level last week, and she stayed on pretty well behind the stronger Dangerousprecedent after working to a narrow first-over lead in a :27 2/5 third quarter. The strength of recent efforts gives her the nod here, and Teague stays aboard. 3 - NARCIAN JEWEL cleared, yielded, and chased well to only miss by a length in the same race. Consistent minor player of late can benefit from a kinder draw. 7 - KAY'S DELIGHT drops for the third start in a row after enduring heavy traffic trouble in her last and only mustering fourth. Clear sailing can help her most of all, but a wide draw looms.