Parx Racing: Reid has strong hand for pair of Pennsylvania-bred stakes

Trainer Butch Reid is well positioned in the two $75,000 stakes, both at seven furlongs, for 3-year-old Pennsylvania-breds on Saturday at Parx Racing.

Reid sends out Bibblesman, the 8-5 morning-line favorite, in the Peppy Addy. He has two strong contenders in the Caught in the Rain for fillies.

Bibblesman heads into the Peppy Addy in fine form, with two dominant wins and a neck loss in his last three outings, all on off tracks.

The colt scored his maiden win at Parx in an open $40,000 claimer on March 16 in the slop. His next two outings were first-level allowance races against statebreds. He just missed in the slop at Penn National, before logging a resounding 4 3/4-length win in the mud at Parx on May 23.

He faces only four rivals in the Peppy Addy, his stakes debut. It will be interesting to see how he handles a dry track and the distance. This will be the first trip beyond six furlongs.

Trade Secret, Der Meister, and Harbor Kid, the second, third, and fourth finishers, respectively, in the Danzig statebred stakes at Penn National, all return for the Peppy Addy.

Der Meister is the only one of the trio having run since the Danzig on May 27, and he took a big swing – briefly setting the pace before fading to last in the $400,000 Red Legend Stakes at Charles Town.

Flybird completes the field.

Oh So Bella and Ann’s Smart Dancer, Reid’s fillies in the Caught in the Rain, race uncoupled in the betting. It’s hard to separate the two.

Oh So Bella gets class relief after two races in open company, including a third most recently in the Go For Wand Stakes at Delaware Park. She will be shortening up for this spot after two routes.

Ann’s Smart Dancer is the least experienced runner in the field, with two wins and a second in three starts. After launching her career with consecutive wins, including a first-level score against open company, Ann’s Smart Dancer ran second last time out in a statebred stakes at Penn National.

Argentine Dispute stands at the opposite end of the experience scale with 12 starts, all at Parx. She is 2-4-1 and has been competing in open starter allowances.

Lenape Rim, Prize Winner, and Ventaja complete the field.