PARX PREVIEW: THE WEEK AHEAD

Alwaysmining
Alwaysmining won the 2020 Jennings Stakes at Laurel Park. Photo by Laurie Asseo.

The Parx Racing week kicks off Monday with the first of three 11-race cards this week. Post time is 12:55 p.m.

Here’s what to watch for this week:

Monday’s feature is a first-level allowance for fillies and mares going a mile on the main track. The morning line favorite is Always a Queen (5-2), who won last time out and has been in the exacta four straight while ascending the class ladder. Top local pilot Ruben Silvera – winner of 31 races in the last 15 Parx cards – has the mount.

It’s a pretty wide-open field in which all six entrants are 8-1 or below. Major competition could come from Cousin Basil (3-1) and Irrepressible (5-1), the latter of whom may provide the best value. The former has finished in the triple in nine straight for trainer Louis Linder, who’s won with nine of his last 27 starters while generating a +74% wagering return on investment for bettors. The latter got blinkers on last time in her first try in the hard-hitting Miguel Vera barn and responded by crushing Pimlico maidens by five lengths.

The Tuesday card features a pair of allowance contests. The eighth race is a second-level, $47,000 allowance/optional claimer for older runners going six furlongs on the main track, while the tenth is an open, $48,000 allowance for older runners going a mile.

In the eighth, Fortheluvofbourbon (5-2) makes his return to action after being away since August 31. Trainer Mike Pino claimed him for $50,000 in May of last year, and in two subsequent starts, the Bourbon Courage gelding won impressively. Mychel Sanchez has the mount.

Major competition could come from the Jamie Ness-trained 2-2X entry of Shanghai Superfly and Still Having Fun (3-1), as well as the New York shipper Foolish Ghost (4-1). In his first try in the Ness barn, Still Having Fun led a long way against similar before settling for third – a tactical change that is worth watching today. Foolish Ghost’s best work has come on the lead, where he never got last time after stumbling leaving the gate. An easier spot and a clean break today could make a big difference. Sheldon Russell will ride.

In the tenth, a rugged group of runners will face the starter, with the Ness-trained Wentz, a six-length winner against similar last out, the 5-2 morning line favorite. Silvera will ride.

Top rivals here include last-out winners Dixie Drawl (3-1), a winner at Laurel April 11 for trainer Dale Capuano, and Deal Driven (4-1), who beat similar at Parx March 31 for trainer Robert Mosco. Also in the mix are runners like Zoomer (5-1), whose last, at 11 furlongs and without Lasix, we can probably draw a line through; and Alwaysmining (6-1), whose nearly $600,000 in earnings lead all contenders here and who scratched out of the Pimlico Special May 14 to await this spot.


HOT JOCKEYS AND TRAINERS

Jockeys

RANKJOCKEYPTS
1Silvera Ruben126
2Haddock Dexter99
3Laprida Jeremy90
4Pennington Frankie83
5Sanchez Mychel J80
Scores based on wins, win percentage, and wagering ROI for all trainers with at least one winover the last 15 cards.

Trainers

RANKTRAINERPTS
1Linder Jr Louis C144
2Ness Jamie134
3Servis John C109
4Wyner Harold109
5Pino Michael V103
Scores based on wins, win percentage, and wagering ROI for all trainers with at least one winover the last 15 cards.

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