Penn National Spot Plays for June 1, 2019

I like the way that the Penn National race office has doled out the eight stakes on Penn Mile Stakes (G2) day on Saturday. Instead of interspersing dirt and turf stakes races, they separated the first four to dirt stakes and the second four to turf stakes. Considering how bad the weather has been, it makes the first All-Stakes Pick 4 very attractive since we don’t have to guess if any turf races are being switched to the dirt. FREE Penn Mile (G2) PPs courtesy of Brisnet.com! Race 4, the New Start Stakes, kicks off the first Pick 4 and it is a state-bred stakes race for three-year-old fillies going six furlongs on the dirt. It has attracted a field of eight and wet-track form in addition to any success over the Penn National main track would be helpful. ULTIMATE MO (#6) (5-2) ran well on a sloppy track going short at Oaklawn Park and Churchill Downs. She makes her Penn debut for D. Wayne Lukas and is bred for the wet being sired by Uncle Mo (21 percent wet-track winners). UJJAYI (#3) (7-2) had two poor efforts in New York going a mile and then switching to turf, but dropped back to six furlongs on the dirt at Parx Racing and rallied wide to get third. Tyler Conner wins 27 percent riding for Erin McClellan. I’M THE TALENT (#5) (8-1) romped by almost seven lengths against open company maidens at Parx Racing and has trained well since then. Race 5, the Danzig Stakes, is a six-furlong sprint for state-bred three-year-olds. It attracted a field of 10 which is highlighted by CALL PAUL (#10) (8-5), who won his only start against state-breds last year by five lengths. Since then he won the Swale Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park and was third in the Bay Shore Stakes (G3). Last out, he caught a sloppy track in the Gold Fever Stakes and held well to be second going this distance in fast time. He draws outside and gets Manny Franco. ADMIRAL ABE (#7) (6-1) tired in his career debut going short on turf before returning to win by 10 lengths over a muddy track at Parx Racing. Race 6, the Penn Ladies Dash Stakes, is a six-furlong sprint for open company fillies and mares and has drawn a field of eight. MS LOCUST POINT (#5) (5-2) beat high-class allowance foes by over seven lengths at Parx Racing two starts back and returned to take the Primonetta Stakes at Laurel Park going six furlongs on April 20. She has a brilliant :58 and change breeze for this and can handle wet tracks as well. ZIPPER’S HERO (#7) (6-1) is a horse for the course who loves wet tracks and drew well. YORKIEPOO PRINCESS (#3) (6-1) missed by a neck in the Correction Stakes before tiring badly last out going seven furlongs in the Distaff Handicap (G3), both at Aqueduct. She has three wins on wet tracks. Race 7, the Chocolate Town Sprint Stakes, is a six-furlong sprint for open company older horses and it only attracted a field of seven that includes an entry. KILLYBEGS CAPTAIN (#3) (3-1) beat similar company in fast time three starts back going this distance in the Pelican Stakes and just missed in the two-turn Challenger Stakes next out. Most recently he came back in the six-furlong Runhappy Stakes at Belmont but ran into Grade 1 hero Firenze Fire and finished fourth. MIDTOWNCHARLYBROWN (#1A) (3-1) is five-for-six on this main track and his full brother MIDNIGHTCHARLY (#1) (3-1) has two wins and two seconds in four starts on wet tracks. LAKI (#4) (2-1) has placed twice in Grade 3 contests and this is his first start at Penn National. $2 Pick 4 #6, #3 with #10, #7 with #5 with #3, #1 = $16 50-cent Pick 4 #3, #5, #6 with #10, #7 with #3, #5, #7 with #1, #3, #4 = $27 In Race 11, the Penn Mile Stakes (G2), we will try to get a trifecta without spreading out too much. The key horse is EMPIRE OF WAR (#7) (9-2), who has form on soft turf and should improve second start off the layoff. Todd Pletcher has the pleasure of not having to face Chad Brown in here and he has the right horse to do it. $1 Trifecta #7 with #2, #3, #4 #5, #6, #9 with #2, #3, #4 #5, #6, #9 = $30 PHOTO: Midtowncharlybrown (left) and his full brother Midnightcharly (right) (c) Nikki Sherman Photography