By Joe Quillen
Tuesday 1/9/24 – Parx Race 6
We stay at Parx for the Tuesday edition of Quills Picks Winners as we will take a look at the sixth race once again, and with the predictability of the sun rising in the east, the Daily Racing Form chose the sixth race. What is the fascination with the DRF’s obsession with the sixth race at Parx? Maybe it is because it’s the start of the late Philly Big 5 (also known generically as the jackpot pick five. That’s what I am guessing here.
I got the feeling as I started to handicap this race that this race will either be on a very sloppy track, or this race or card will be cancelled. That is because we have another “winter” storm coming. Blame the El Nino in the Pacific as things are starting to get very active in North America and the Northeast. Philly still hasn’t had an inch of measurable snow in almost two years, but we may be lining up two by two on Noah’s Ark if it continues to rain like it has been.
I’m going to handicap this as a race that will be run on a (very) sloppy main track, and Parx proceeds with the card as planned. One good thing about my home track being the featured race is that I already know what the weather is going to be, especially if I’ve been keeping up with the local news.
The storm will be passing the Philly area to the west to give you the reason why the temps will rise, or at least I turn into a weather nerd. Now, let’s get to me being a horse racing nerd, or a horse racing handicapper!
We have 8 horses entered for this race for fillies and mares four year olds and up going seven furlongs. Both the 4 Dancing On My Own (6/1 morning line) and the 6 Denali Rae (7/2 ML) appear to be the ones who will contest the lead. But Dancing On My Own is shortening up to seven furlongs from a two turn race last time out. She hasn’t been able to rate in the past, so why start now?
The 1 Lookinatlightning (6/1 ML) will be on the rail, but she’s shortening up as well. She could be adding to the speed as well, but she did rate some last time out. She had trouble in the stretch having steadied, so she could have a great chance in this same class of race.
The 7 Sonador (3/1 ML) is favored here, but she is off the board in all four starts. On a dry track, this would be my pick, but this is going to be a wet race, and I won’t be surprised if she is scratched.
The 8 So Fully Sure (4/1 ML) looks like a stalker here off the hip of the leaders here. I wouldn’t be surprised if she wins here but has never run on a wet dirt surface.
If there’s a hose that can close into the speed from further back, it will be Shetalkstomuch (6/1 ML). She’s been on the board in 4 of 5 times on wet tracks and could benefit the most from a group of fillies and mares going too fast for the conditions of the race and the weather conditions.
My pick here is the 2 Shetalkstomuch, and since I think it will be 2-1-4 here, I’ll have two plays here. I’ll do what has become my usual $20 win wager on the 2, and I will do a 50 cent superfecta box of 1,2,4 and 8. The box is a $12 total wager. If any of the horses are scratched, we will call this race a wash (no pun intended) and head for drier grounds on Wednesday for another Quills Picks Winners. Have a great day everyone and good luck!
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