Quills Picks Winners – Monday 8/24 – Parx Race 8

We have an interesting race here on tap here at Parx to start our week. A field of 10 horses are entered in their featured race of the day at a distance that the track does not run that often.

These horses will go a mile and a quarter today. The track record is not in danger of being broken today with this field of optional claiming horses, but it will be interesting to see which of these horses can go this far today.

Parx Race 8 – Starter Allowance Optional Claiming

Favored in today’s race is the 10 Nixon Joy (3/1 morning line). He was claimed last week in an optional claiming race where he did show a strong but belated closing kick. With a field like this, this gelding should be sitting and make a big move late in this race.

The 8 Missouri River (6/1 ML) faded in the slop last month in optional claiming race. Previously he was close to the lead and going a mile and three-sixteenths when he won that race. He stretches back out to this distance today and should be a factor in this race.

The 5 Silent Mode (6/1 ML) finished second in the slop last month and missed by a head that day. He will sit and make his late move. He finished third to Missouri River in June in that race when he tried to rate behind the leaders.

The 1 Notturno (10/1 ML) finished fourth at Penn National last month where he tired late in that race. He was used mostly in sprint races this year, but he does have the pedigree to go this distance.

Joe’s Pick

This is such a hard race because you see horses in this race that have run so many races yet somehow never ran this far in their careers. The horse that fits this condition the best is Missouri River who won here back in June going the Preakness distance of a mile and three-sixteenths.

These horses won’t set any records today, but we will see who can get this distance in this race today. I’m calling this race 8-10-5-1 and my play is $20 to win on the 8. Best of luck and I’ll see you in the winner’s circle!