PARX PICKS AND HORSES TO WATCH: Oct. 20
Frank Vespe- October 20, 2021
Parx Racing has a 10-race card on tap for this afternoon. Post time for the opener is 12:55p.m., and we’ve got Parx picks.
Carryovers: Jackpot Pick 5, $123,950
- Im the Director solid fave in WV FuturityIt’s last call for state-bred 2-year-olds, and Im the Director will look to add a second stakes win to his resume.
| RACE NUMBER | CONTENDERS | COMMENTS |
| Race 8 | 3-2-4-8 | A sluggish break left #3 Smarten Up (9-2) plenty to do in his debut, and the American Freedom colt managed to do most of it, rallying down the center of the course to earn second. He gets a little more ground to play with today, and a better break and/or any improvement at all will probably make him a graduate… #2 Supreme Being (6-1) went with Smarten Up in that event, finishing just a head behind him in third. He had perhaps a slightly better trip, and that was his third career start — both factors that push us towards Smarten Up — but as a betting matter, if you like the one, you kinda have to acknowledge the other… Morning line favorite #4 Nostalgic Run (5-2) is a son of Upstart out of an Unbridled’s Song mare set to make his debut. Though he cost $155,000 at auction, his work tab is inconclusive, and the connections have handled this one like he’s a member of trainer Todd Pletcher’s “B team,” starting him with their Monmouth string and now shipping him from New York to Philly for his debut. Feels like a wait-and-see proposition to us… #8 Onlygodcanjudgeme (15-1) comes out of the same race as our top pair and might have had the worst trip of the trio before running on a bit late… |
| Race 9 | 3-10-5-8 | Top choice #3 Mean Machine (4-1) has run a pair of good ones on the lawn, and in his start two back led late before being outfinished. Here he makes his third try following a two-month break and might be able to seal the deal… #10 Lease (5-1) ran in that same contest, finishing just ahead of our top choice, but what amounts to an exchange of post positions may play to the former’s benefit… #5 Bellarmine Hall (6-1) also ran in that contest, sticking with it to be a close-up fifth, and he followed that with a good try on the main track when second to Why Why Paul Why, who won again yesterday… Trainer Phil Aristone has tried twice unsuccessfully to get #8 Know It Now (10-1) on the grass. The American Pharoah colt has been reasonably productive on the main track, and there’s sufficient turf in his background to think this move could work… |
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