
TRADITION OF "TROTTIN' THURSDAYS" RETURNS TODAY AT PHILLY
The Thursday cards at Harrah's Philadelphia have often been programmed to feature fast performers at the trotting gait, and that tradition returns in 2017 as Harrah's Philadelphia has a pair of features for the local diamondgaited elite. Developing horses will contest the highest purse of the day, $16,000, in the "steppingstone" class for non-winners of 5 races lifetime, race 10, with EDINBURGH, WRIGHTWOOD, and MR PAUL coming off wins, and hoping to raise up another rung today. The $13,000 seventh race has a full field of nine of veteran conditioned horses; FLEET BUMBLEBEE, off a good second at Pocono, draws post two for driver George Napolitano Jr.
ANALYSIS OF KEY RACES
5th race: As none of the likely favorites fires our imagination in this event, we'll try to get a bit of a price on PICARD. Note that he was involved in a fast front-end battle at Dover on 2-20, and held fairly well; after that was post eight, then a scratch, then a big move, after which he again held pretty well. Figuring he'll be tighter today, and thus a stab for price.
13th race: BIANCA MIDNIGHT just has too many "classic" handicapping angles on her side to ignore her in this mares contest. She's been facing marginally better at The Meadows, where she's had some good races, and today goes to the barn of high-percentage trainer Clay Faurot Jr. while also adding Lasix. She just may be fast off the mark here from PP8.
14th race: Not picking on Team Orange Crush, but here's another situation where they figure to have another big chalk in CERSEI HANOVER -- who has made a break in five of her six purse starts, including both with hopples. On her best she can win, but we'll look for value with CIRCLE M JETTA, who dropped a lot of time in her Q and here gets David Miller.