Morning Fire and Bird of Trey rematched in Pennsylvania Nursery
Morning Fire and Bird of Trey, both coming off runner-up finishes when favored at less than even money, head a full field of 12 Pennsylvania-bred 2-year-old colts and geldings in Saturday’s $100,000 Pennsylvania Nursery at Parx Racing.
Bird of Trey will be making his first start in the seven-furlong Nursery since he finished 2 3/4 lengths behind Morning Fire as the 4-5 choice in a first-level allowance for open-company 2-year-olds on Oct. 26. On the basis of that win, which was worth an 86 Beyer Speed Figure, Morning Fire was sent off as the 2-5 favorite in the restricted Chris Elser Memorial on Nov. 15, but had to settle for second, beaten 4 1/2 lengths.
Saturday’s lineup also includes last-out maiden winners Purcell, Tale of E Dubai, and Half Ton of Fun, along with Balk, a two-time stakes winner on Tapeta at Presque Isle Downs. Purcell is wheeling back just six days after crushing open maiden special weight opponents.
Pennsylvania Nursery, Race 8
KEY CONTENDERS
Bird of Trey (Last 3 Beyers: 80-79-77)
◗ He’s listed as the 7-2 second choice on the track’s morning line, but perhaps is the most likely winner. Two starts ago, he was beaten just a length by Full Salute, who came back to win a stakes at Gulfstream Park West last weekend. His only previous start against statebreds produced an 11-length romp.
Morning Fire (Last 3 Beyers: 72-86-61)
◗ He regressed after his career-best performance in late October and was no match for Balk when they met going six furlongs on Tapeta in early September, so at 5-2 on the morning line he may be a favorite you want to take a stand against.
Purcell (Beyers: 46-67)
◗ Improved dramatically in his second start to cruise by 6 3/4 lengths. Trainer Ramon Preciado is winning at a 32 percent clip this meet, but wheeling back maiden winners in seven days or less is not part of his usual pattern.
Tale of E Dubai (Beyers: 37-72)
◗ Ran lights-out when in for a claiming tag while making his first start in six months. John Salzman’s record with last-out 2-year-old maiden winners back in less than 30 days is 1 for 11.
◗ Cross-entered in the $100,000 Marylander at his home track, Laurel Park.
Half Ton of Fun (Beyers 66-39)
◗ He cuts back from a mile to seven furlongs after beating maiden claimers at Churchill Downs a month ago. Did not run well as the favorite sprinting against Pennsylvania-breds at Parx in late September.
Balk (Last 3 Beyers: 70-61-70)
◗ Finished a distant third in his first two starts on dirt after beginning his career 3 for 5 on Tapeta. Could be the value play at 6-1 on the morning line.