August 10 racing highlights: Parx reaches break
Just Jack took a Laurel Park allowance on July 29. Photo by The Racing Biz.
From Staff Reports
YESTERDAY’S NEWS: Parx reaches break
Parx Racing ran its final card for a month, before the return of its fall festival of racing, yesterday with big numbers to prove it.
With full fields and an 11-race card, the track handled over $2.1 million — its biggest single day of handle since July 12. It also saw eight horses claimed.
When the track returns to kick off the Labor Day weekend, the card will feature 5 stakes as part of Pennsylvania’s Day at the races. Also featured will be the $150,000 Princess of Sylmar Stakes for three year-old fillies. The race will serve as a prep for the $1 million G1 Cotillion Stakes coming up on Saturday, September 24th. The race is expected to draw Cathryn Sophia. Trained by John Servis, she won the G1 Kentucky Oaks back in May, and if all goes well, will be tuning up for a possible match up with the undefeated Songbird.
Labor Day Monday, September 5th will feature 4 more stakes, including three G3 races, the $300,000 Smarty Jones, the $300,000 Turf Monster and the $200,000 Greenwood Cup.
Saturday, September 10th is Owner’s Appreciation Day and will be highlighted by the running of the $200,000 PTHA President’s Cup.
The track’s biggest day of the year is set for Saturday, September 24th. It’s Pennsylvania Derby Day. The card features the $1 million G2 Pennsylvania Derby, the aforementioned Cotillion Stakes, along with the G3 $300,000 Gallant Bob Stakes, the $150,000 Frosted Stakes and the $100,000 Alphabet Soup Handicap.
[su_divider top=”no” style=”double” size=”9″]BY THE NUMBERS
HANDLE
- Parx Racing: $2,115,543
CLAIMS
- Parx Racing: 8
MULTIPLE WINNERS
- Jockey Paco Lopez, 3 wins each at Parx
- Jockey Jorge Vargas, Jr., 2 wins at Parx
LOOK AHEAD: TODAY’S ACTION
- Tracks in action today: Delaware Park, Penn National
- Ten runners are scheduled to face the starter in today’s eighth race at Delaware Park, a $38,000 allowance turf sprint. Tom Morley trainee Aktabantay (5-2) is the morning line favorite off a third-place finish in a Parx Racing allowance; earlier this year, he made two unsuccessful starts in Grade 3 company. Forest Boyce will ride. Wild Woo Who (7-2), trained by Anthony Pecoraro, also figures to get plenty of action from the wagering public, as do a pair of lightly raced horses: Vittorioso (9-2), for trainer Larry Jones, and Big Louie D (6-1), a Stormy Atlantic gelding making his turf bow for John Servis.
- Entrancing (7-2), who made his first start on the turf — and first for trainer Michael Dickinson — a winning one to break his maiden last out returns to action this evening in the fourth race at Penn National, a $29,500 allowance going a route of ground on the lawn. The Ghostzapper colt will have Dana Whitney up and is the tepid favorite in here. Others who figure to take some wagering include Forest Rim (4-1), who just missed against similar at Penn National three back and has been third against Laurel and Parx allowance foes in his last two, and Painted Patchen (6-1), who’s won two of three turf starts against lesser.
