Pontus need only repeat last effort to win allowance feature

Ordinarily, the performance Pontus gave on Aug. 19 at Parx Racing would have easily been good enough to win a second-level allowance race. Making his third start since joining Keith Lebarron’s barn, the 4-year-old Pontus finished 6 1/2 lengths clear of his closest pursuer going a mile and 70 yards and earned a career-best 93 Beyer Speed Figure.

Unfortunately for Pontus, he caught an extremely tough opponent in Yougotthatgoinforu, who finished seven lengths in front of Pontus while recording an exceptional 105 Beyer.

A repeat of his last effort should be good enough for Pontus to clear his second allowance condition in Tuesday’s $46,000 feature at Parx. The one-mile eighth races is also open to $25,000 claimers, but all nine horses, including the stakes-winning mare Where’s Rosie B, are eligible for the allowance condition.

The same connections of Pontus – Lebarron, owner Vince Campanella, and jockey Inoel Beato – combined to win Saturday’s Dr. Teresa Garofalo Memorial with Aunt Ellipsis.

Pontus, who prefers to stalk, should get sufficient early pace, thanks to the presence of stretch-out sprinters Zipped Code, Revocation, and A Fleet Attitude. The most dangerous of that trio may be Revocation, who ships in from Monmouth Park. As a 3-year-old last fall, Revocation finished second as the odds-on favorite in the $100,000 Barbara going 1 1/16 miles at Delaware Park.

Race 8

KEY CONTENDERS

Pontus (Last 3 Beyers: 93-81-84)

Last-race Beyer of 93 exceeds par of 89 for this class level.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Lebarron’s horses who finished in the money last time out while posting a Beyer top are 5 for 16 (31 percent) with a $2.56 return on investment when they return in a dirt route within 30 days.

Revocation (Last 3 Beyers: 77-83-41)

Stretches out to a mile after three sprints to begin his 4-year-old campaign. At 3, he recorded a 100 Beyer winning a seven-furlong race in New York and an 84 for his second-place finish in a two-two stakes at Delaware.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: In dirt races at precisely one mile, Kelly Breen’s horses are 9 for 22 (41 percent) stretching out from a sprint while returning in less than 30 days.

Zipped Code (Last 3 Beyers: 85-74-91)

Five of his last 10 Beyers since February exceed par of 89 for this class level, although all of those races were sprints.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Trainer Patricia Farro is 11 for 53 (21 percent) with an ROI of $2.46 with horses back in 14 days or less switching from sprints to routes.

A Fleet Attitude (Last 3 Beyers: 84-82-79)

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Stretches out to a mile for third start of current form cycle. Trainer Phil Aristone is 4 for 20 (20 percent) with a $3.41 ROI using that angle.

Where’s Rosie B (Last 3 Beyers: 21-74-82)

Pennsylvania-bred mare is 4 for 6 at Parx, including a $75,000 restricted stakes going seven furlongs in May. Needs to improve after two lackluster performances going two turns since returning from a two-month freshening.