Free Picks For Parx -8/4/20

Race 6 - Allowance (Purse - $40,000)

Eight male horses 4-years-old and upwards will go five-and-one-half furlongs in this race. This appeals to be a two-horse race between #8 Shanghai Superfly and #2 Ark in the Dark. Shanghai Superfly is in very good form having won three of his four starts in 2020. The 4-year-old Kentucky gelding, who has shown the ability to run any style of race, registered a career-best ESpeed of 99 as he held on to a victory -- in his last outing by a neck -- going this distance in a $25,000 starter allowance race. While there is not a lot of speed in this field, it is likely jockey Frankie Pennington will have the horse come off the pace if Shanghai Superfly plans on going 2-for-2 at this distance. #2 Ark In the Dark has been kind of inconsistent this year though he does get relief back in distance after fading to fourth in a six-and-half furlongs event against horses of this class. The 5-year-old horse, who does possess pretty good early speed, did best Shanghai Superfly two starts back. Ark in the Dark has two victories and seven top 3 finishes in 12 starts at Parx. #6 Hitmewthurbestshot and #3 Lucky Hero appear to be the most likely horses to fill the bottom of the ticket. Hitmewthurbestshot has finished in the money in three straight starts, claiming third in his first start following four months in a race that included Ark in the Dark and Shanghai Superfly on June 23. Lucky Hero, who could be among the pacesetters in this one, will look for a better effort in his second start following a four-month layoff. The 5-year-old gelding finished over nine lengths behind Shanghai Superfly early las month though he did show some energy late.

Picks: I like an exacta box on #8, #2. I will also put a show bet on the #6, #3.

Race 8 - Allowance Optional Claiming (Purse - $41,000)

10 male horses that are 3-years-old and upwards will sprint six furlongs. All 10 entrants have just one career win. #8 Bourbon Street is coming off the best two races of his young career, breaking his maiden two starts ago and then registering a personal-best ESpeed of 94 while getting caught down the stretch and then getting nipped at the wire for second by a nose in a six-furlong $25,000 starter allowance race. The 3-year-old Kentucky gelding, who has performed well at this distance, is making his debut at Parx. Bourbon Street is one of the fastest horses in the field. #3 Kelli’s Smile has been very consistent over his last seven races. The 4-year-old gelding has cashed in six of his last seven appearances and 11 of 18 overall -- finishing either second or third in 10 of those starts. Kelli’s Smile went three furlongs in 35 seconds in his last workout. #10 Irish Meadow returns to Parx, where he has three top 3 finishes in seven starts after a sixth-place finish is a six-furlong meet at Monmouth Park on July 3. The 5-year-old New Jersey gelding has seven cashes in 14 starts overall. #4 Gadago and #1 Great Go Go, who is arguably the quickest of the competitors in the field, should also be considered in exotic bets.

Picks: I like a win bet on the #8. I also like an exacta bet of #8, #1.

Race 9 - Allowance Optional Claiming $35,000 (Price - $41,000)

Eight fillies and mares 3-years-old and upwards will sprint six furlongs.#7 Nightlife returns to the main track after pressing the pace early in and finishing ninth in a seven and one-half race on the turf. The 4-year-old daughter of Into Mischief is the fastest and has seven top 3 finishes in 11 career starts. Jockey Mychael Sanchez has finished in the money in eight of his last nine rides, which includes two wins. #2 The Circle Game is coming off the longest layoff of her career, having last raced in March. However, the 5-year-old Pennsylvania mare has been terrific in her last two training sessions, going four-longs in 47.51 seconds and a mile in just over one minute. #6 Coupella has been excellent since coming off a long layoff three races ago, having finished first and second, respectively. While the 6-year-old mare is making a huge jump in class, she has run well at this distance and has four top 3 finishes in five starts this year.

Picks: I like a win bet on the #7.