If course is fair, give Divine Oath a look

Turf courses in the rain-starved Northeast have been leaning toward speed in recent weeks, and the grass at Parx Racing last weekend was no exception. On Saturday, three turf races precede the Parx feature, the $200,000 Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association President’s Cup, and it will be worth noting how the course is playing before arriving at a final handicapping decision.

The pace of the 1 1/8-mile President’s Cup should be realistic, as Inchcape, Heart to Heart, and Chamois all like to be forwardly placed. Heart to Heart may have a bit more speed than Inchcape and is the one to beat.

If the course is playing fair, the three speeds could set up the race for a closer like Divine Oath, who will be making his debut for trainer Graham Motion and West Point Thoroughbreds. Divine Oath won the Grade 3 McKnight at Gulfstream Park last December but has been a bit one-paced in his most recent starts while facing Grade 1 and Grade 2 company. This is a decidedly easier spot.

Divine Oath, a 4-year-old who previously raced for Let’s Go Stable and Todd Pletcher, has worked four times at the Fair Hill Training Center since changing hands, twice on turf and twice on Tapeta. He is a winner of 5 of 14 starts and $464,000.

PTHA President’s Cup, race 8

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Key contenders

Divine Oath (Last 3 Beyers: 88-95-95)

◗ Jockey Frankie Pennington knows his way around the Parx turf course better than most and is 12 for 58 on the grass at this meet, with a return on investment of $1.78. No other rider has more than six turf wins at Parx this year. Motion and Pennington are 3 for 6 together at Parx this year.

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Heart to Heart (Last 3 Beyers: 101-87-100)

◗ Trained by Brian Lynch, he won the Grade 3 Oceanport on the lead over the Monmouth turf in his last start on Haskell Day, Aug. 2.

◗ His last four victories have all been on the lead. He is the most likely entrant to commit to the front end.

Inchcape (Last 3 Beyers: 93-94-96)

◗ He set the pace in the Grade 3 Cliff Hanger at Monmouth on Aug. 23 before ending up fourth, beaten 1 1/4 lengths.

◗ He may stalk Inchcape here.

◗ He is a major player if speed is faring well over the course Saturday.

Cage Fighter (Last 3 Beyers: 93-93-92)

◗ He finished third to Heart to Heart last out in the Oceanport after tracking him early. Heart to Heart raced on an open lead that day, and Cage Fighter could benefit if Inchcape keeps Heart to Heart more honest on the front end.

◗ Offers value in the exotics.

Margano (Last 3 Beyers: 75-82-90)

◗ He hasn’t won in five starts since upsetting the President’s Cup by a nose last year at 7-1.

◗ He returned from a 6 1/2-month layoff in August with a better-than-it-looks third-place finish on dirt at Delaware Park. He may move forward with that race under his belt.