PARX PICKS AND HORSES TO WATCH: SEPT. 22

Street Band
Street Band upset the 2019 Grade 1 Cotillion Stakes at Parx Racing . Photo by Allison Janezic.

Parx Racing has a 10-race card on tap for this Tuesday afternoon. Post time for the opener is 12:55 p.m., and we’ve got Parx picks.

How’d we do last Tuesday at Parx?

RACE NUMBERHORSESCOMMENTS
Race 71, 2, 4, 5, 10Lot of ways to go in this turf starter. The favorite in here is the entry, with #1 Weather Wiz (3-1) the only half drawing in the main body of this race. This one has been keeping better company on the main track than this, and though he hasn’t tried the turf yet, there’s at least some cause for optimism: though his two sibs to try the turf are a combined 0-for-9, both were better on turf than dirt, with one being stakes-placed on the green. Plus, though sire Tiznow is much more known for dirt horses, one of his best was the multiple Grade 1-winning turfer Tourist. With two allowance wins in the bank, this one can be tough if he takes to the turf… Don’t laugh: we kinda like longshot #2 Smart and Tough (20-1) in this one. Yes, he has a not-so-great record, and yes, trainer Trevor Gallimore has been a 5% trainer the last five years. But this one’s last two on turf are encouraging, and two back he gave a good account of himself at this trip when third behind the stakes winner Buy Land and See…Multiple allowance winner #4 Free Dancer (6-1) was as good on the turf as the dirt earlier this year, has improved since… Six of eight to run back from last of #5 Market Bubble (7-2) have finished in the triple, with two winners… Long sprint trip might hit #10 Where You Was (4-1) right between the eyes, and he won a PEN allowance three back…
Race 83, 4, 6Solid rally on the inside came up less than a length short last time for #3 Irish Cork (5-2), who’s been beaten favorite in four of five and gets morning line nod here.. But note that rider Frankie Pennington jumps ship to Butch Reid-trained #4 Mr Thrifty (7-2), who graduated by 13 lengths last time and looks to have figured this racing thing out… In fact, Pennington also jumped ship from #6 Jerusalem Gates (3-1), who like Irish Cork is trained by John Servis. This one has been first or second in all three career starts and last time out dueled with Mr Thrifty before taking over late…
Race 91, 3, 4When last seen sprinting on the dirt — back in March — #1 Admiral Abe (9-2) absolutely obliterated an a-other-than field; recent turf tries are OK, and now he gets back to best game while drawing inside post… Late-running #3 Spirit Special (7-2) was a good second last out behind talented Word on a Wing (winner of five of eight dirt starts), might get the lively pace he wants to run at… Kind of hoping for a better price on #4 Buddy’s Run (4-1) than the morning line off a middling last-out third behind Cozy Lover, who’s also here. This one was running wide and from the rear on a day where inside speed was holding; can move up on fairer track…
WAGERING…A P3 will set you back $22.50 for 50 cents, and keep your eyes peeled; there ought to be some value in the win spots…

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