Race 1
7-1-3-2
(#7) ONEIROMANCER – after a short break, racing resumes with 15 today at Harrah’s Philly. Here in R1, my selection comes from the juggernaut Ake Svanstedt barn. This will be her first time in against non-stakes company & her record is plenty good enough to expect this drop should generate a win. Meadowlands figures produce best front & back figures by quite a bit. Win the first, win them all.
Race 2
2-1-7-8
(#2) DILLINGER – no win machine but shows reasonable for & 2nd best speed plus best closing number for this $7,500 claiming bunch (28.2).
Race 3
8-2-7-4
(#8) STEALING – been testing the upper claiming range of this claiming handicap offering lately & has the 8-hole again as a consequence. Talented though & shows best group speed number (56.0). That Aug 7 start also produced the best closing number for the group with a 28.4. The one to beat.
Race 4.
3-1-8-5
(#3) FORE AND AFTER – the key to this selection is the drop to $2500L5 company. That was the scene of his last win back on July 23. At a price.
Race 5
5-1-2-7
(#5) FRENCH MISTRESS – is enjoying the upper earnings limit of this 2YO NW2 category. Slides back into that group one more time & comes off 2 straight wins. Ties with best closing number, a 28.4. Looks like a recent purchase from Nifty Norman connections & now with Engblom.
Race 6
5-7-6-2
(#5) NEHALENNIA– all 2026 races in Kentucky so far BUT (3) 2025 starts right here at Harrah’s Philly show these are her kind. (3) 2nds from those 3 starts & a 29 flat closing number over a year ago would do nicely against these.
Race 7
7-4-2-5
(#7) SECURED – best speed (57.0) and best 5/8ths closing number, a 28.1 from his last race gets him top billing.
Race 8 .
2-4-6-5
(#2) BIG TIME TROT S – in this case, the name says it all. Been doing well against superior competition so this NW2 spot seems like Ake’s looking for a paid workout before he goes after some bigger fish. Should dominate in here.
Race 9
4-2-6-7
(#4) MODESTY BLAISE – shy on wins, especially here in 2026 but has been facing better in the NY Excel series. Lone Philly start (Jun 19) produced a group-best 28.2 adjusted closing quarter which is pretty impressive from only the one usable race.
Race 10
3-4-2-5
(#3) RAMBO HANOVER – RAMBO is one of those front/back picks that I love. Tied as best speed (57.3) and his last race produced a 27.4 closing number which is also best for this group. Even a more impressive closing calculation considering he led almost the entire way. Looks solid to repeat.
Race 11
2-5-1-6
(#2) FLYING COPPER – looks like another good opportunity for a Svanstedt pupil. Again, this one has been chasing the stakes money & today takes on a “normal” group of NW3 types.
Race 12
6-7-4-2
(#6) HUSTLE RAIN S – here’s a nice Ake import with lots of winning money on his program. Shows 2 great North American starts so far & against tougher so it shouldn’t take much for HUSTLE RAIN S to find the winners circle in this spot. That 27.3 closing number in his last at Pocono is tops for these.
Race 13
3-4-1-7
(#3) DIABOLIC HILL – brings a whole other level of class to this group. No wins yet in 2026 but has earned $223K from only 8 starts. That works for me. The 27.3 closing number taken at Pocono Aug 22 slaps these in the face, so he absolutely deserves top billing in this spot.
Race 14
5-7-3-6
(#5) TRILLION TIMES- looks best in here & that 27.4 adj closing quarter from Sept 12 is the best number I see. Disappointed in last but perhaps that can be blamed on the post 8 draw. Adds Allard today so I’m staying on the bandwagon.
Race 15
4-8-1-3
(#4) LOVE THIS BAR – this is a drop versus those (2) $40,000 claiming starts at Yonkers. His Big M form prior to those was much better & this group seems similar to that Meadowlands competition. One of my emerging faves Trae Porter, is a bonus in this spot.
Most Likely: R13 – #3 DIABOLIC HILL
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Value Play: R3- #8 STEALING
Deep Crunch: R15 – #4 LOVE THIS BAR
Early Pick 4 – 17/2/28/1358 – $8.00 for 50 cents
Pick 5 – 125/5/47/2/246 – $9.00 for 50 cents
Late Pick 4 – 3/1256/67/3 – $4.00 for 50 cents
