Quills Picks Winners – Saturday 9/19 – Parx Races 10-12

Today is the day that I wait all year for. It is Pennsylvania Derby Day (and Cotillion Day) at my local race track, Parx. Today we will take a look at the three graded stakes races and the two stakes races preceding them.

There are 15 races on today’s Pennsylvania Derby card. That’s a ton of opportunities to make some money today. We will look at races 10 through 12 in this post. We will look at the Greenwood Cup, which is a formerly graded stakes race that goes a mile and a half. Then we will look at the Parx Dirt Mile and then the Grade 2 Gallant Bob Stakes, the first of three graded stakes for three-year-olds.

Things will be interesting today with horses coming from all over for today’s races. Let’s see what we can do here this afternoon.

Parx Race 10 – Greenwood Cup

The first race that we will look at today is the Greenwood Cup going a mile and a half. Favored is the 9 Parchment Party (9/5 morning line). He bounced back from a stepping up in class in the Suburban Stakes to run in the Birdstone at his customary marathon distance. He got the lead late in that race at Saratoga, but he was passed late by Stars and Stripes along the rail.

Note Stars and Stripes ran yesterday in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and finished second to Forever Young. If you believe in transitive properties and things like that, I’m expecting Parchment Party to find this group to his liking today.

The 3 San Siro (5/2 ML) has run at longer distances, but those were on the turf. He did run well in the Grade 3 Ben Ali at Keeneland and the Grade 3 Pimlico Special in the spring. He stretches back out and looks like he is best of the rest here. He did win going nine furlongs while closing at Saratoga, but he needs to get three more furlongs on the main track.

The 5 Carolo Rapido (9/2 ML) finished fourth in the Birdstone at Saratoga in his first race in almost three months. Like the favorite, He shortens up here after that race and can close as well.

The 7 Silent Mode (15/1 ML) finished third in the local prep for this race last month finishing well with a late bid. He is stepping up in class here but should be able to get a piece here at a price.

Joe’s Greenwood Cup Pick

I think that Parchment Party has a distinct advantage in this race as the marathon distance loving horse here. I think he might get challenged late but I think he gets up to win here this afternoon.

I’m calling this race 9-5-3-7 and my play is $20 to win on the 9.

Parx Race 11 – Parx Dirt Mile Stakes

Up next is the Dirt Mile and favored is the 5 Bracket Buster (9/5 ML). He returned to the races after an almost 10-month layoff and romped in the West Virginia Governor’s Stakes at Mountaineer Park last month. He likes being near the front but he will have company up front today.

The 10 Saudi Crown (3/1 ML) is the rare horse that returns to Parx after he won the Pennsylvania Derby. He won the Derby in 2023 in a tropical storm. Last time out he did not fire in the Met Mile in a loaded field that included Nysos and Knightsbridge. He will get a bit of a break with this field but he will be part of the pace here, especially from this outside post.

The 1 Hall of Fame (9/2 ML) finished fifth to the favorite in the West Virginia Governor’s Stakes, but he was only less than two lengths behind second that day. He might have bounds there at Mountaineer and will look to bounce back here in the Dirt Mile. Don’t be surprised if he is closing late.

The 7 Margie’s Fun Sun (12/1 ML) won the Mayor’s Mile here at Parx in the local prep race, closing strongly to win by over three lengths. The waters get deeper here, but he will get a great set up to potentially upset this field.

Joe’s Parx Dirt Mile Pick

There is a ton of speed that should be dueling for the lead up front. This will set up for the closers. The local hope Margie’s Fun Son got his entry in the race winning the Mayor’s Mile and he should be able to close here today at a nice price. He will get up with the win other the tired speedsters.

I’m calling this race 7-1-5-10 and my play is $20 to win on the 7.

Parx Race 12 – Gallant Bob Stakes (Grade 2)

A field of 12 is entered in the first graded stakes of the afternoon, the Grade 2 Gallant Bob Stakes. Three-year-olds will sprint six furlongs here today. The 4 Bravaro will scratch according to his trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

The lukewarm 4/1 morning line favorite is the 8 Stradale. He Returns to the main track after winning the Grade 3 Mahony on the grass at Saratoga. He has won on both the main track and the turf this year sprinting and can also be near the front as well as further off the pace.

The 10 Captivator (9/2 ML) brings his California running style East for the Gallant Bob today. He is three for three at six furlong, using his front running style in those wins. He will try to go gate to wire here over a track that favored speed in sprint races yesterday.

The 6 Dr. Kapur (8/1 ML) closed gamely to win an allowance race against older horses at Saratoga last month. He steps up in class here, but he might be able to close here with all the speed that is signed up for this race this afternoon.

The 12 Mailata (15/1) won the prep for this race to earn a spot in the field. He does want to be near the pace he will be on the outside hee. If he can stalk behind the pace he could get a piece here. But his two-year-old races were better than this year’s races.

Joe’s Gallant Bob Pick

I had a hard time figuring out who would be able to close if a meltdown pace does happen. I think that will happen and Dr. Kapur will be able to close after closing while winning last month at Saratoga. I’ll take him in a bit of an upset in a wide open race.

I’m calling this race 6-8-10-12, and my play is $20 to win on the 6. Best of luck and I’ll see you in the winner’s circle!