There’s no place like home! There’s no place like home! Dorothy may have said that in The Wizard of Oz, but I am saying that today after the steady diet of Assiniboia Downs on Mondays and then Parx having their annual summer break.
Today is Pennsylvania Day at the Races at Parx, and every race is a race for Pennsylvania breds as the track celebrates horses born in this great state. We will look at two races today. First, we will look at race 9 which is the Storm Cat Stakes on the main track, and then we’ll head to the turf for the Mrs. Penny Stakes, which is race 10.
Race 9 – Storm Cat Stakes
First race today with the QPW is the Storm Cat and this field will be going a mile and 70 yards on the main track. Post time is set for approximately 4:20 pm Eastern time.
Favored in this race is the 6 Movisitor (2/1 morning line) and he last raced at Delaware Park in the Battery Park Stakes in early July. He had a clear lead but drifted in the stretch and finished third. His best races have been on the front end, but he will have company on the front end today.
The 4 Windsor Gold (5/1 ML) will be going for the lead like he has done all year this year. He has a tendency to weaken in the stretch and that could be the scenario with this gelding here today with the front-end speed here.
The 3 Margin of Air (3/1 ML) pressed the leader at Penn National last month and took over in the stretch despite drifting out. He might be better suited stalking the other two horses, but the inside position might mean being a couple lengths further back or going for the lead.
The 1 Irish Cork (7/2 ML) did not do much in the Battery Park Stakes at Delaware Park when facing Movisitor but came back at Parx last month and closed well to finish second in an optional claiming race. The horse that won the race won the Mayor’s Mile at Parx on Saturday so if you believe in what I call “transitive properties” like this, this is your horse.
The 5 Loose Ends (6/1 ML) did not have his closing kick that he usually has in his return from a two-month break last month at Parx, but he needed that race and should be closing as well.
Even if I didn’t mention that Adero winning the Mayor’s Mile on Saturday, I still think Irish Cork can close into this speed duel. I’ll call this race 1-5-3-6 and my play is $20 to win on the 1.
Race 10 – Mrs. Penny Stakes
Then we head to the turf for the Mrs. Penny Stakes, where Pennsylvania-bred fillies and mares will go a mile and a sixteenth on the turf. Unless something unforeseen happens since it has not rained here the last few days, the 2 Morning Matcha, who would have an extreme advantage over this field of 12, was entered for the main track only.
The 1 Rosie’s Alibi (5/2 ML) is the favorite among the turf entrants and won last month on the Tapeta at Presque Isle Downs in the Princess of Sylmar Stakes. She has won three in a row including a turf win at Penn National in June. She will be a couple of lengths away from the lead and looking to take over in the stretch. But she could have an issue getting of the rail.
The 12 Princess Javoncia (4/1 ML) draws the outside post in the race but will have an opportunity to see what is going on in front of her today. She closed well last month at Delaware Park and also at Laurel Park in June. She is a turf pro winning 6 of 19 races with three seconds and three thirds. This also looks like her preferred distance as well.
The 7 Pleasant Dreams (8/1 ML) won her last two races on the turf at Parx. She shocked a field at the beginning of July at Parx and that same trip could lead her to another win today.
The 11 New Hire (5/1 ML) has never run on the turf, but she did run well in the Princess of Sylmar at Presque Isle Downs but could not catch Rosie’s Alibi that day. She gets a positive jockey change here today to Paco Lopez and could be tough if she likes the turf here today.
Personally, I want a horse that wants to close in a race like this. Princess Javoncia looks like the horse with the best chance to do so. I’ll call this 12-8-1-11 and my play is $20 to win on the 12. Also, since we looked at consecutive races, let’s go 1 and 12 for the daily double from the 9th into the 10th race as well for $20.
That’s it for now. Best of luck to everyone and there is no place like home!
Check out my stream “The Joe Quills Show” on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9 pm Eastern on my Twitch, X and YouTube talking about the latest sports news and whatever comes up; and catch my horse racing show every Saturday at 10 am Eastern on the Bleacher Brothers platforms.