Well-bred On Tap looks to pair wins in sprint allowance

Parx Racing has carded three consecutive first-level allowance races on its Sunday program. The seventh and ninth races are for 3-year-olds, and the eighth is for 4-year-olds and up.

The forecast calls for a few inches of snow for the Bensalem, Pa., area Saturday, but temperatures are predicted to climb into the 40s on Sunday. Showers are possible in the morning.

The sequence starts with the most interesting of the races, as Linda Rice sends in the well-bred Aqueduct maiden winner On Tap, who will be making his third start.

On Tap, a $200,000 yearling buy at the 2013 Keeneland September sale, is by Tapit out of Fantastic Shirl, a winner of 4 of 19 starts and more than $250,000. Fantastic Shirl has had four starters, including On Tap, and they are all winners.

On Tap finished third in his debut at Aqueduct on Cigar Mile Day, Nov. 29, then came back to win his maiden Jan. 3. He has come from just off the pace in both of his races.

Flagndini, trained by Ramon Preciado, disappointed in a Laurel Park optional-claiming race Feb. 8 but might have more to give than he showed in that effort. He is back at his home track Sunday and appears to be quicker than On Tap. An upset may be within his reach in this 6 1/2-furlong sprint.

In the eighth race at a mile and 70 yards, Abigail Adsit sends Old Upstart in from New York. A repeat of his Dec. 12 starter-allowance win would make him a top contender.

A local to consider is Grasshoppin, who returns from a nine-week freshening for Mario Serey Jr. Grasshoppin raced 12 times in 2014 and may benefit from his short vacation. He has been second-best in allowance company in his last two starts.

In race 9, Love Came to Town should be favored for trainer Kevin Sleeter in this seven-furlong sprint. She has three bullet works since scoring a four-length maiden victory Dec. 16.