Quills Picks Winners – Monday 5/4 – Parx Race 8
Happy Monday everyone! We head to Parx today for our Monday race and we have an interesting one to say the least. Today’s race is a claiming race where the horses will go a mile and three-sixteenths. Yes, they are going the Preakness distance today, which is a distance that is not run often at Parx.
A field of eight is entered, and even with some of these horses that have had 20, 30, or even more races in their careers, many of these horses have not run this far before, and if they have, it is so long ago that I will not show on a program you would download or buy at the track.
So let’s see if we can make heads or tails with this race and come up with a play.
Parx Race 8 – Claiming
Favored in today’s race is the 3 Gametime Gladiator (3/1 ML). He returns from a trip to Aqueduct where he raced on the turf in an allowance race. He showed nothing that day in an allowance and returns home for today’s race. Look for him to be on the lead and is bred for these marathon-type races. He won at this claiming level in January with a gate to wire win.
The 5 Bob Jon Ray (7/2 ML) has actually raced longer, having run a mile and three-eighths two races back at Aqueduct in a starter allowance. He tired in that race and then last week here, she was off slow and didn’t show much in allowance company. He figures to fit in here today back in claiming company. Look for him to be near the front as well.
The 6 Nixon Joy (10/1 ML) finished a non-threatening fourth last month here at Parx. He has shown the ability to close and should be able to close today. He won going nine furlongs back in December, so he should be able to handle the stretch out today.
The 1 Preach It Warrior (5/1 ML) went gate to wire last month here at Parx to a convincing win. He drew the rail then and did so again today. Look for him to be on the lead here today, but the problem is that some of the other horses highlighted want the front as well.
Joe’s Pick
This is such a tough race to pick a winner here for many different reasons. For me, it is the fact that these are older horses that may not have run this far before. On top of that, their form has not been great, thus racing for a tag today.
I will swing for the fences here and take Nixon Joy here. He is a closer in a race where he should close into a slow pace. It won’t be purposely slow. It’s just that these horses are slower and whatever the fractions are will be fast for this level of racing.
I’m calling this race 6-5-1-3 and my play is $20 to win on the 6. Best of luck and I’ll see you in the winner’s circle!
