Good luck and watch out for horses entering new barns that will take them in a different direction. The claim boxes have been very busy recently so there are many starters in new barns. The obvious angle is when a horse moves from a low percent shop to a high percent one, especially one with proven success immediately off the claim. This should continue until Spring when horses start arriving from the South but more importantly, it’s when horses start going to tracks like Finger Lakes, Woodbine, Presque Isle and Fort Erie. Horses are restricted from racing at a new track for 60 days following a claim so the boxes grow quiet when everyone is moving around and need starts in their new location.
Picks for January 28, 2019:
Fast and chilly before the East climbs into the freezer midweek.
Parx Race 4
Claiming $5K non winners in 6 months at 6f for older boys. Talk about a horse popular in the claim box! 1-Global Positioning has been haltered 6 times in six months and never lasts more than 2 races with connections. That said, he sinks to the lowest level of his career and jumps to a barn that is not great (7%) off the claim. Instead, look outside to 8-The Pooch, another one coming off the claim but this guy gets a barn that wins at 16% off the claim. The jockey-trainer combo strikes at 36%, too.
$10 W/P/S 8-The Pooch
$5 Exacta box 1,8
Parx Race 5
$12.5K non2 life for older boys at two turns. As much as top speed last out is a good sign of the future, 2-Free for Nothing ran that career best speed figure at 5 ½ f, a far cry from today’s distance. The new trainer for this one is a genius if this works. Instead, look to 6-Egyptian Pioneer, a Zayat bred that has made his way to Mike Pino after some other stops. Look for Pino to have this one figured out and the drop will help, too.
$10 W/P/S 6-Egyptian Pioneer
And now for a quickie.
Parx Race 11
Big field of maiden fillies in for $20K. Name hunch play here . . . go to the daughter of Vesper Lynd, 8-Gray Harmony. James Bond would approve . . . or would he?