Parx Racing: Harbor Fox stretches out on short rest

Harbor Fox has spent 2013 as the equine equivalent of Harry “Suitcase” Simpson, a baseball player who was frequently traded from one American League team to another during the 1950s. A 5-year-old mare, Harbor Fox has been claimed seven times since January, mostly for the bottom tag of $5,000, and raced at five different tracks in the Mid-Atlantic region.

None of her trainers has gotten as much out of Harbor Fox, however, as her current conditioner, John Rodriguez. Harbor Fox handled the significant class jump from $5,000 to win back-to-back starts for Rodriguez for a $12,500 tag.

Less than a week after her most recent victory, Harbor Fox will be asked to make another sizeable rise in class and stretch out from six furlongs to a mile for Monday’s $47,000 feature at Parx Racing. Harbor Fox is among four fillies and mares entered for the optional $25,000 claiming price in a race that also is open to second-level allowance runners.

The bulk of Harbor Fox’s races during a career in which she has gone 10 for 33, including four wins this year, have come sprinting. The last time she tried two turns, in July 2012 at Delaware Park, Harbor Fox set the pace before weakening to finish third in a first-level allowance. A year earlier, Harbor Fox romped by nearly 15 lengths going a mile at Delaware while running for a $30,000 tag.

Over the past two years, Rodriguez is 2 for 7 (29 percent) with horses returning in seven days or fewer. Harbor Fox is returning six days after a wire-to-wire win going six furlongs.

Among Harbor Fox’s rivals is It’s Kissin Time, who is seeking her third straight win. Claimed out of a win for $16,000 two starts ago by trainer Miguel Rodriguez, the 4-year-old filly It’s Kissin Time steps up in class again after a daylight score in a $16,000 starter allowance.

Coco’s Sweetie has been claimed out of each of her last three starts, all second-place finishes in which she was beaten by less than a length. She will be making her first start for Scott Lake, who shows a 3-for-13 record (23 percent) with new acquisitions returning in 10 days or fewer in a route.

What’smineismine won by 3 1/4 lengths at this level in May but was dull in three subsequent starts and will be running for the first time since October. She is 0 for 4 coming off similar layoffs.