PARX PICKS AND HORSES TO WATCH: Oct. 20

Notapradaprice
Notapradaprice won the 2019 G3 Dr. James Penny Memorial Stakes at Parx. Photo by RJ Umberger /EQUI-PHOTO.

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

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE NUMBERCONTENDERSCOMMENTS
Race 83-2-4-8A 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 93-10-5-8Top 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…

LATEST NEWS

Parx picks and horses to watch: Oct. 20

Mid-Atlantic Three Stars: October 20

Get The Racing Biz in your inbox!

Join our mailing list to get our latest news delivered to your inbox each week! And, by the way, we never sell our lists or share your info with outside parties.

You have Successfully Subscribed!