BetAmerica’s horse racing pick of the day: July 6, Parx

Weekday picks and plays for Thoroughbred racing.

Monday, July 6

Parx, Race 8: Allowance/optional claiming (6 furlongs, 4:04 p.m. ET)

Trainer Kathleen Demasi saddles the coupled entry of #1 Word On a Wing and #1A Spirit Special (9-5 on the morning line), a pair of capable geldings with competitive Brisnet Speed ratings under their belts.

Word On a Wing in particular looks like a promising sort, after he rattled off three straight victories by daylight margins last year, most notably when he led all the way to claim a 6-furlong allowance dash by 6 3/4 lengths.

But Word On a Wing hasn’t run since October, which could put #7 Rookie Salsa (7-2) in the mix for victory.

Conditioned by hot trainer Claudio Gonzalez, a 25% winner this year, Rookie Salsa won the 2019 Kentucky Juvenile S. at Churchill Downs as a 2-year-old and has shown new life since he was claimed by Gonzalez. The 3-year-old gelding went 2-for-2 against fellow sophomores in allowance company at Laurel Park during the winter and picks up jockey Luis Ocasio (a 26% winner at Parx) for his first run against older horses.

Let’s play Rookie Salsa in the exacta and trifecta with the coupled entry. Underneath, we’ll toss in #6 Buddy’s Run (5-2), who cuts back in distance after a win over a mile at Parx on June 5.

$5 exacta: 1,7 with 1,6,7 ($20)
$2.50 trifecta: 1,7 with 1,6,7 with 1,6,7 ($10)
Total: $30

Good luck!