by Joe Quillen
Parx Race 10 –Crowd Pleaser Stakes
We head to Parx to start the new week of Quills Picks Winners, where we have Pennsylvania-bred three-year-olds on the turf going a mile and a sixteenth in the Crowd Pleaser Stakes. Post time for this race is set for 4:47 pm Eastern time.
There have been some pop-up thunderstorms here in the Philadelphia area the last two afternoons, so we do have to question some if this race will stay on the turf. Remember, since this is a state bred stakes race, Parx management doesn’t have to keep this race on the turf. But it has been so dry and so hot here, that I would not be surprised if there is little to no effect to the turf condition for the Monday feature.
If this race ends up off the turf, I will try to give an alternate pick for this race, so check out my X (@JoeQuills) during the afternoon. The late afternoon post time at Parx gives me a window to give any changes.
This is a tough race to handicap because many of these horses have not run on the turf yet, so you have to make an educated guess on whether they will take to the turf or not. But that’s what I like about horse racing. Even if there was no wagering involved, this is one giant puzzle to solve.
Favored in this race is the 3 Maximus Meridius (7/2 morning line) who has never run on the turf but was last seen at Saratoga on Belmont Day in the Grade 1 Woody Stevens going seven furlongs. He would probably be odds on to win on the dirt if this does not stay on the turf. Trainer “Butch” Reid did say to the Daily Racing Form that if this race stays on the turf at Parx, he will be scratched.
Reid said in the DRF that the 2 Carcharoth (8/1 ML) would be the horse from his stable that would stay in the field since he’s been trying to get him on the turf. He finished second in an off the turf race last month. He would have the running style that could benefit a closer on the turf, but he does not look like a horse that is bred for the green.
The 1 Trevesso (8/1 ML) is bred for the turf as his sire is Kitten’s Joy, one of the top turf sires out there. He ran okay in his debut on the turf in the Jersey Derby, but the concern is that so far, the horses that have come back to race have not faired well. But Trevesso would have quite a few inexperienced races on this surface here at Parx.
The 4 Heavy Pour (6/1 ML) will go two turns for the first time here as he also will make his turf debut. He closed well to show last month at Presque Isle Downs. His running style in his 2024 debut could bode well. Both sides of the family tree look to like turf as well, so that could help him as well.
The 8 King Mendelssohn (5/1 ML) defeated maidens last time out going this distance on a good turf course. I’m guessing we could have a good course today if this stays on the turf today at Parx. He’s faced tougher at the Fair Grounds and was able to pass everyone in the stretch at Penn National. The races in New Orleans don’t look that bad.
The 12 Pretorian Gold (10/1ML) could steal this on the front end as he may have to gun for the lead from the outside. He went gate to wire at Penn National 11 days ago and could do it again. He has rated on dirt, and if he can behind some of these inexperienced horses in the turf who may go, he could be a candidate to rate and take over in the stretch.
If we this race at Parx goes off the turf, I lean towards Maximus Meridius, but I will need to see who stays in the race if there’s a surface chance. If this is still on the turf, I’m talking King Mendelssohn who appears to have faced tougher here. I’ll call his 8-1-12-4 and my play is $20 to win on the 8. Good luck everyone!
Check out my show “Also Eligible” on Saturday mornings at 10 am Eastern/7 am Pacific as AJ Johnson and I discuss the big races, the latest news in horse racing and much more!