It’s the last day of 2024, and like many tracks have done over the last few days, you have seen carryover wagers have mandatory payouts since we are now mere hours away from the new year depending on when you are reading this. Today, it is Parx’s turn to have a mandatory payout as everything must go today to end 2024. Their jackpot pick-5 wager, the Philly Big 5 must be paid out today. I’ll take a look at those five races here today and see if we can make some money to end the year.
Note that there has been rain in the Philadelphia area over the last few days. But the sun did come out yesterday, but the track was still sloppy throughout the day. I’m thinking we will have a drying track as long as the next batch of rain does not hit until the races are over today.
Also note that we have three stakes races to close out the year at Parx. They are races seven through nine on the card, and the middle three legs of the Big 5 wager.
Parx Race 6 – Claiming $7,500
We begin with a full field of 12 going a mile and 70 yards. The 5 Ron Don Scorese (7/2 morning line) is favored in this race. He won a $5,000 claiming race last time out going gate to wire in the slop two weeks ago and looks to add another win to end his seven-year-old season. But she could be a candidate to bounce here today as that performance did come out of nowhere.
The 6 Rackataptap (8/1 ML) rallied to finish third three weeks ago here at Parx. He is a horse that will be closing in this race if everything sets up for him.
The 10 Last Romance (9/2 ML) made a move but appears to tire last time out three weeks ago. If the track is wet that should not be a problem having won two of four tries on the off going.
The 1 Speightster Red (6/1 ML) could not stay with the favorite when he was last seen on the track two weeks ago. He also had a nice run in the mud last month here at Parx. Don’t be surprised if this gelding steals this race here today. He was claimed last time out, and his new trainer wins at 28% sending horses out first time after the claim.
Joe’s Race 6 Pick
I’m going to let the favorite beat me here. I just get the feeling he will bounce after that big performance by Ron Don Scorese last time out. I’m going to beat him with Speightster Red who will get an opportunity to take over in the stretch. I’ll call this race 1-10-6-5 with a $20 win play in the 1.
Parx Race 7 – Kris Kringle Stakes
We have our first stakes race here in the Kris Kringle Stakes as we have nine entered here today. The field will be going a mile and a sixteenth around the Bensalem oval.
Favored in the Kris Kringle is the 8 Repo Rocks (3/1 ML). He will have a class edge here today having faced graded stakes company at Aqueduct in the Forty Niner and most recently in the Cigar Mile. This gelding returns home to Parx where he almost stole the Dirt Mile here on PA Derby Day. He should find this field more to his liking here today.
The 2 Surface to Air (4/1 ML) is four for seven this year. He would be five for seven if he didn’t lug in last month at Churchill Downs which led to his disqualification. He shortens up here after that Churchill race to today’s distance where he’s won two of four with a third. I expect him to be not that far off the pace but looking to close in the stretch.
The 7 Irish Cork (6/1 ML) lost the jockey at the start of the Turkey Trot last time out here at Parx. He has run well here and will look to close again here today.
The 6 Market Maven (6/1 ML) closed well despite being very wide in the Chocolate Town at Penn National. He shouldn’t be far off the pace and if he isn’t as wide as he was at Penn, he might have a shot here.
Joe’s Race 7 Pick
Repo Rocks has the class edge in this race but Surface to Air has been consistent this year. Look for him to take over in the stretch and hold off Repo Rocks here. I’ll call this 2-8-7-6 and my play is $20 to win on the 2.
Parx Race 8 – Blitzen Stakes
Up next is the Blitzen Stakes as this race will go seven furlongs on the main track. Nine are entered, but at the most eight horses will run. That is because the 6 Maximus Meridius (3/1 ML) will be scratched since he raced in New York on Saturday and won the Gravesend Stakes at Aqueduct.
The 1 Nelson Avenue (5/2 ML) is the favorite in this stakes race. He has taken the same path to Parx as Repo Rocks who races in the previous race. Nelson ran in the Forty Niner and just missed there and then showed nothing in the Cigar Mile just like Repo. If Repo Rocks runs well in the previous race, this horse could end up a heavy favorite here today.
Nelson Avenue figures to go for the lead here, but at his hip will be the 2 One More Scoop (6/1 ML). He is a stalking type who did have issues in the stretch last time out last month at Parx. He has three seconds in his last four races ad looks to end the year with a win here.
The 5 Veeson (6/1 ML) was shuffled back last time out at Parx in what was a rare bad race. He will look to bounce back after a subpar performance last month.
The 4 Far Mo Power (6/1 ML) returns from a five-month layoff after running as a huge longhot at Monmouth in July. He returns to Parx today where he has shown that he can win off of a long layoff. The waters might be a little deep here, but he might be looking to close here today.
Joe’s Race 8 Pick
If there is a horse that can beat the favorite, it’s One More Scoop. But I think that Repo Rocks runs well which I think he will in the seventh, I think Nelson Avenue does the same here. I’ll call this 1-2-4-5 and my play is $20 to win on the 1.
Parx Race 9 – Mrs. Claus Stakes
Then we have the final stakes race of 2024 in the United States as we have ten entered in the Mrs. Claus Stakes. Fillies and mares will go seven furlongs in the ninth race here at Parx.
Favored is the 8 Irish Maxima (3/1 ML) who comes in after just missing in the Cheryl White Memorial at Mahoning Valley last month. She is the speed of this race, but the question is whether or not she will be lone speed.
The question of whether the fave will be lone speed is because the 5 Disco Ebo (5/1 ML) had a change of tactics and was mid-pack down the backstretch and closed well to finish third in the Mahoning Distaff at Mahoning Valley. If they both go for the lead, it could be either an epic speed duel or a face that will fall apart for the closers.
The 2 Confirmed Star (6/1 ML) won three of her last five races and finished second last time out at Parx last month. She was near the pace last time out but could be further back if need me.
The 10 Rachel’s Rock showed little in stakes company at Aqueduct last two times out and will look to stalk from the outside gate here today.
Joe’s Race 9 Pick
Irish Maxima returns home after that near miss at Mahoning Valley and looks like she will go gate to wire here in the Mrs. Claus. I’ll call this 8-2-5-10 and my play is $20 to win on the 8.
Parx Race 10 – Claiming $12,500
The 2024 finale is a claiming race going a mile and 70 yards. Favored is the 3 Le Vin (5/2 ML) who finished second at Laurel going longer. This gelding will go for the lead but has shown a tendency to tire. However, those races were not at this lower level today.
The 4 Ira the Icon (4/1 ML) tired last time out at Parx in the mud going today’s distance. He drops in for a tag here today looking to bounce back. He should be stalking the favorite here today.
The 12 Bobby the Tank (10/1 ML) has hit the board in three of his four races at Parx but has yet to win one. He finished third going seven furlongs two weeks ago and will go two turns here today. But with this outside post, he could be hung wide if he cannot get over towards the rail.
The 6 Noneedtoworry (15/1 ML) has not hit the board in nine tries this year. He has run some good numbers in the last two races despite finishing off the board. He showed late energy two back at Parx and might be a sneaky longshot here.
Joe’s Race 10 Pick
I think that Ira the Icon will be stalking the favorite and will take over on the final turn. Don’t toss that 6 in the pick-5. This horse could blow up a lot of tickets and dreams of a hit here. But Ira still wins.
I’m calling this race 4-3-6-12 and my play is $20 to win on the 4.
Joe’s Philly Big 5 Ticket
There are going to be some scratches today, and I will try to update as soon as possible. Follow me on Twitter for any updates. But here is my original stab at the mandatory payout which has a carryover of about $215,000.
Race 6: 1,6,10
Race 7: 2,8
Race 8: 1
Race 9: 2,8
Race 10: 3,4,6
This is an $18 ticket on a 50-cent increment.
Best of luck to everyone, and Happy New Year! I’ll see ya in the winner’s circle.