Parx Racing: Sense of Reality dangerous first off of claim in Monday allowance

Few bettors realized a potent trainer that was in play last Thursday when the 3-year-old filly Just Got In made her first start off a $30,000 claim by Maryland-based trainer Mary Eppler on behalf of Triple Tree Stables. Switching from dirt to turf in an allowance, Just Got In paid $115 to win at Delaware Park.

For those who missed that opportunity, there may be another in Monday’s $50,000 feature at Parx Racing.

The 3-year-old filly Sense of Reality, claimed last month for $25,000 by Eppler for Triple Tree Stables, switches from dirt to turf and moves into second-level allowance company for Monday’s eighth race at 7 1/2 furlongs. The race for fillies and mares also is open to $25,000 claimers.

Eppler doesn’t claim many horses, but over the past five years, she is 5 for 13 (35 percent) first time off the claim with a healthy $12.30 return on investment.

Sense of Reality, third in the off-the-turf Stormy Blues at Pimlico in April, will be making her grass debut. She is a half-sister to Kettle Rapids, a gelding who won the 2008 running of the Puss N Boots on Fort Erie’s turf course.

At 12-1 on the morning line, Sense of Reality figures to be overlooked against a group that includes several proven turf performers, notably Raro and Nasty Noozie.

The 4-year-old Raro, 4 for 18 lifetime on turf, has not been worse than second in her last four starts, including a pair of wins at Monmouth Park.

Nasty Noozie, a 4-year-old with a 4-for-10 record on turf, takes a class drop two weeks after getting used up in a duel in the Mrs. Penny Stakes for Pennsylvania-breds. She is 4 for 9 returning in 21 days or less in a turf route.

The other intriguing first-time turf runner is the Steve Asmussen-trained 3-year-old Alli Leigh, who plunges in class following two off-the-board finishes in graded stakes. From a small sampling, Asmussen is 2 for 10 (20 percent) with first-time turf runners switching from routes to sprints.