PARX PICKS AND HORSES TO WATCH: DEC. 1

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 afternoon. Post time for the opener is 12:25 p.m., and we’ve got Parx picks.

How’d we do last time at Parx?

RACE NUMBERCONTENDERSCOMMENTS
Race 85-1A-4-10It’s pretty clear that #5 Mr. Thrifty (3-1) has become a different horse his last couple of starts — really, since he started his ’20 season. It’s also clear that, though he was on the lead early last time when he just failed, he doesn’t need to be there. This is a race full of early speed types, and his ability to stalk-and-pounce might be decisive in this spot… If one of the early types stays on, it likely will be #1A Jerome Avenue (6-5). He’s absolutely obliterated his rivals in both starts since claimed by Mike Pino, and it’d be no surprise to see him do it again… #4 Over Sensual (6-1) is another who figures to do his best running later. While he’s clearly no world-beater, he does have some decent tries in the bank and should get the setup he wants here… #10 Manolito (20-1) has run decently against similar and gets blinkers off today…
Race 911-6-9-2The Kelly Breen-trained #11 Stay Smart (7-2) enters in top form with back-to-back wins against Jersey-breds, including last out in the Smart N Classy at Monmouth Park. She won’t have recent pilot Bravo with her, but if she can carry her form to Parx, she’ll be tough in here… A horse we think can move forward in this spot is #6 Precious (8-1). The John Servis trainee ran evenly last out in a pretty good heat from which four of five to run back have finished in the triple next out (two winners) and here makes her second start off a four-month break while getting blinkers on. Servis is 5-for-13 in similar circumstances, and this miss showed early promise… #9 Spin Control (6-1) didn’t run badly last time out in just her second try on the main track, still has improvement available… #2 Dantastic (5-1) ran a big one last out at long odds to be second versus similar…

LATEST HANDICAPPING