Happy Saturday everyone! We have a monster card on tap at Parx with 14 races on the card, with 11 of them being stakes races. We have an early start today to accommodate all the races that will take place in Bensalem today.
I’m breaking these races up in groups of three except for the final part, which will be races 10 through 14. Those final five races consist of the Turf Monster, Gallant Bob, Cotillion and Pennsylvania Derby, which are all graded stakes races. That article will end with the final race of the day, the Parx Sprint.
Race 1
We begin the day with a doozy of a race. We have an overflow field of 18 maiden two-year-olds going seven furlongs on the main track, with a maximum of 14 horses in the gate. The biggest question in Bucks County other than “who do you like in the Derby” is probably does Parx have a 17 or 18 saddle cloth available. We may never know.
Favored in the opener is the 11 Analog Jones (3/1 morning line). He was a step slow at the start last month here at Parx and had a wide trip. He has the potential of another wide trip here today with the wide post here today. Jose Lezcano rides today which is a positive rider change.
Drawing the outside is the 14 Happily Delusional who draws Florent Giroux to ride this colt’s debut. He is showing some nice works for his debut, and his trainer Lou Linder, who has a chance at a big day today wins 19% of the time with first time starters.
The 6 My Military Hero (5/1 ML) showed little in the Smoke Glacken at Monmouth but has a chance to bounce back after getting bumped around at the start of that race.
Keep an eye to see if the 18 Friday Surprise (6/1 ML) draws into this race. Though he was on the lead, he was wide and could not keep up with the winner last time at Saratoga. He might be on the far outside if he draws in, but he can win this if he gets in somehow.
I’ll call this race 18-11-14-6 in the opener with a $20 win bet on the 18 to win, and if he does get scratched, make it the 11.
Race 2
The second race of the day is the same race as the first, but it is for the juvenile fillies. In this race, we only have 12 fillies entered in the race.
Favored is the 1 Bee Bluff (5/2 ML) who draws the rail here today. She will take advantage of the shortest distance from gate to wire by riding the rail today looking to break her maiden. She went for the lead at Monmouth last time out, only to be passed in deep stretch.
The 5 Five a Side (7/2 ML) has the experience of going today’s distance and was slowly catching up to the winner last time out at Parx. The winner of that race did win at Laurel Park this past Sunday.
Teller to Win (#2, 6/1 ML) has been training at Belmont and Saratoga for this race and could be worth a play today in her debut.
I’ll throw in the 10 Cantafio (6/1 ML) who had to steady at the half mile pole. A cleaner trip down the backstretch will help.
I think Five a Side having faced a winner that won again this past Sunday is enough to make me put my money on her today. Let’s call this 5-1-10-2 and my play is $20 to win on the 5.
Race 3 – Alphabet Soup Handicap
We head to the turf for the first of two races on the green today. We have 13 horses entered for this turf test, but it looks like we will have up to nine Pennsylvania breds running today.
Entered for the main track only are the 3 In Spades (7/2 ML), the 6 Irish Cork (9/5 ML), the 9 Wild Vine (6/1 ML) and the 13 Keithsendshelloooo (6/1 ML). There has not been much if any rain in the area over the last week, so it just matters how good of a condition the turf is today after Parx had to cease turf racing last month.
Favored amongst the turf entrants is the 11 Fierce and Strong (3/1 ML). Don’t worry about the cross-entry with Presque Isle Downs. He was scratched from the Presque Isle Mile to run here today. This gelding has won on the lead as in the state bred With Anticipation at Penn National or can be off the pace as well. He won an optional claimer at PID 18 days ago on the front end as well.
Also cross entered is the 10 Twilight Dancer who ran on Friday at Presque and will be scratched.
The 7 Crisper (7/2 ML) is a closer who won his last two races, winning the Summer Fun at Penn National over a yielding turf three weeks ago. Then at the beginning of the month, he won an optional claimer at Laurel Park.
Also forwardly placed will be the 2 Margin of Air (6/1 ML). But those races were on the main track. He is 0 for 3 on the turf.
Capo (#5, 8/1 ML) closed to finish three races back, but needs a jockey.
I’ll call this race 7-11-2-5 with a $20 to win on the 7.
That’s it for part one here. Keep checking my Twitter as well as this site for the races today at Parx!
Check out my stream “The Joe Quills Show” on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9 pm Eastern on my Twitch, X and YouTube talking about the latest sports news and whatever comes up; and catch my horse racing show every Saturday at 10 am Eastern on the Bleacher Brothers platforms.