Thursday's Best Bet: Tate is in high spirits at Penn National

Thursday’s fifth race at Penn National is an optional-claiming event for 3-year-olds and up traveling a mile and 70 yards on the main track. The scheduled post time is 7:57 p.m. EDT.

Click here for Penn National entries and results. 

No. 6 Tate (7-2) was part of the trifecta in his last five starts. He was a close second in a similar local spot on April 20 and exits a show finish at Pimlico. He probably will work out a decent stalking trip at a hint of a price. 

No. 2 Dee Jay (5-2) chased from the inside post and weakened in a Pennsylvania-bred turf-route stakes race on June 2. He ran well in all four local dirt routes this year and should attend the pace in his third start after a layoff. 

No. 3 Trending Up (10-1) does not handle turf, so his last race can be forgiven. He likes rallying for minor awards in dirt routes and can get a piece of this at a price. 

No. 7 Eagles Cry (8-1) raced wide from the outside post and ran last at Parx last time. He likes this oval and owns competitive speed ratings. 

No. 9 Yes Sir Robert (6-1) woke up in his last two local starts. He has quality connections in his corner and should be forwardly placed from the outside post. 

Wagers

No. 6 to win

Exacta 2-6/2-3-6

Trifecta 2-6-7-9/2-6-7-9/3

Recent Best Bet winners

June 3 – Kalik ($7.90), trifecta ($41.80)
June 6 – Uncle Ernie ($4.60), exacta ($12.60), trifecta ($46.60)
June 12 – Cabra Chica ($6.80), exacta ($13.60)
June 16 – Clearly Unhinged/Pleasant exacta ($19.20), trifecta ($65.60)
June 18 – Planetario ($7.40), exacta ($14.80)
June 20 – Chelsea Wall ($11.40), exacta ($22.40)
Last Thursday – Daufuskie Island ($4.30), exacta ($10.80)
Monday - Looms Boldly/Acoustic Ave/Dr. Kraft trifecta ($12)