Streaking Chub Wagon heads into Garofalo Memorial with new trainer

Chub Wagon hopes to avenge her only loss in last year’s Dr. Teresa Garofalo Memorial when she returns to Parx Racing for the 2022 renewal of the $100,000 event for fillies and mares at six furlongs.

The Garofalo Memorial is one of seven $100,000 stakes for registered Pennsylvania-breds on Monday’s program with the Mrs. Penny for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on turf, the Marshall Jenney for 3-year-olds and up at about five furlongs on turf, the Miss Blue Tye Dye for 2-year-olds fillies at 5 1/2 furlongs, the Whistle Pig for 2-year-olds at 5 1/2 furlongs, the Banjo Picker Sprint for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs, and the Storm Cat for 3-year-olds and up at a mile and 70 yards.

One of the region’s top female sprinters, Chub Wagon has won 12 of 13 starts. She enters on a four-race win streak that culminated in the Alma North on July 16 at Laurel, but has since been transferred from Guadalupe Preciado’s barn to trainer Regina Brennan.

Preciado said Friday that a difference of opinion concerning Chub Wagon’s summer racing schedule was the reason for the change, although he did want to run in the Garofalo Memorial.

Neither Brennan nor Chub Wagon’s owners, Daniel J. Lopez and George Chestnut, could be reached for comment.

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Despite Chub Wagon’s gaudy record, she is far from a cinch.

Cinnabunny earned a 92 Beyer Speed Figure over a sloppy track in Delaware’s Dashing Beauty on July 9. There is a strong chance of rain in the forecast.

Remain Anonymous, claimed for $32,000 by trainer Robert Falcone Jr. out of a 92 Beyer win at Saratoga, enters in fine form as does Hey Mamaluke, who was beaten less than a length by Chub Wagon in the Power By Far June 27 at Parx.

Banjo Picker Sprint

Beren handled open company in Laurel’s Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash on July 16. The eight-time winner is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the Banjo Picker Sprint.

Trainer Butch Reid admits Beren might have benefited from a recency advantage facing layoff horses Wondrwherecraigis and Special Reserve in the De Francis.

“We caught them at the right time, but I can’t knock any effort Beren gives us,” Reid said.

His tactical speed should have him close to the pace under Frankie Pennington.

Claimed for $50,000 in 2020, Fortheluvofbourbon returned from a condylar fracture suffered during the summer of that year as good as new. He won this race in 2021 over sloppy going and defeated Beren three back in Parx’s Page McKenney.

“Beren’s the horse to beat, and I wish I was drawn outside of him because he’s pretty fast,” said Michael Pino, who trains Fortheluvofbourbon.

Pino was impressed with Fortheluvofbourbon’s last race, an allowance win July 19 at Parx.

“He was down inside and lost position a little bit, but once he [Paco Lopez] swung him out, he picked it up,” Pino said.

Nimitz Class deserves consideration. The Munnings colt had a three-race win streak snapped when second in Laurel’s Concern on July 2. He likely didn’t handle the Tapeta surface when seventh in a two-turn heat July 26 at Presque Isle.

Mrs. Penny

Rain or shine, trainer John Servis has a strong hand in the Mrs. Penny.

Love in the Air finished third in the Dr. James Penny Memorial at Parx behind Princess Grace, who returned last week to place in the Beverly D. at Churchill.

Still, Servis won’t mind if this race is washed off the turf.

“To be honest with you, I’m hoping we get rain,” Servis said. “I think she’s just as good on the dirt. I think she struggled with that turf course just a bit.”

Servis also has Midnight Obsession returning to turf following a runner-up effort in the Princess of Sylmar at Presque Isle. The Overanalyze filly has only raced once on turf and finished last.

While Servis believes that Midnight Obsession is better on the main track, he wants to excuse that turf run.

“I threw that race out,” Servis said. “It was off a long layoff due to major throat surgery.”

Maldives Model won the Lyphard at Penn National over boggy ground three back.

Miss Blue Tye Dye

Preciado might not train Chub Wagon any longer, but he has a promising 2-year-old filly in Flor de Sombra.

The Social Inclusion filly won her debut on July 26 by 7 3/4 lengths with a 67 Beyer.

“That’s a very nice filly. She’s fast. I trained her mom, too, and the mom could only run on the grass,” Preciado chuckled.

Titoschangedmyluck won her maiden in the restricted Keswick going five furlongs on dirt at Colonial Downs 12 days ago for Chuck Lawrence. She looks like a solid contender along with debut winners Uptown Amanda and Simply Stated.

Marshall Jenney Handicap

The Critical Way is cross-entered in Tuesday’s Parx Dash against open competition, and trainer Jose Delgado said a decision won’t be made until Sunday whether to run the gelding there or in the Marshall Jenney.

If he does start against fellow statebreds, he’ll carry top weight of 127 pounds and spot between 5 to 11 pounds to his eight rivals.

The Critical Way won last year’s Parx Dash and recently finished fifth in Monmouth’s Wolf Hill. Usually up close to the pace, The Critical Way rallied from midpack.

“We made a mistake there,” Delgado said. “I should have just sent him.”

Delgado says The Critical Way will use his speed more in either the Marshall Jenney or Parx Dash.

Wolf Hill third-place finisher Admiral Abe and Hollywood Talent, winner of last fall’s Grade 3 Turf Monster over a Parx course softer than the official good designation, look like contenders.

Whistle Pig

Reid is excited about Ninetyprcentmaddie’s chances in the Whistle Pig.

The 2-year-old made a nice impression when a rallying debut winner at 4 1/2 furlongs on July 9.

“He was fooling around for the first half-mile,” Reid said. “Then he finally got serious and finished well. As the distances get longer, the better it will be for him.”

Fellow debut winners Deacon Dougie and Legend of Charlie look interesting, as does Todd Pletcher-trained first-time starter Lecter.

◗ Pletcher might have the goods with Too Boss in the Storm Cat. A 6 1/4-length winner of an allowance here June 20 with a 92 Beyer, Grade 3-placed Too Boss faces statebreds for the first time.

Far Mo Power exploded to win his last two sprint starts for trainer Louis Linder Jr.