Tuesday's Best Bet: Fulsome strong in the lane in Smarty Jones
Tuesday’s 11th race from Parx Racing is the Grade 3 Smarty Jones Stakes for three-year-olds traveling a mile and a sixteenth on the main track (Post Time 5:50 p.m. ET).
#6 FULSOME (8-5) rattled off three straight wins in the spring including the Oaklawn Stakes and Matt Winn (G3). He was especially impressive in the latter race and was made the strong favorite when last seen in the Indiana Derby (G3), but he just grabbed 3rd in a below par performance that day. In his defense, the Indiana Derby did not set up for him, and he should get honest fractions to chase this time.
#7 Alonzo (6-1) fired in all four starts around one turn at Gulfstream Park including a fast flat mile optional claiming victory vs. Florida-breds July 9. He improved his speed ratings each time out and still has upside.
#9 Ridin With Biden (7-2) chased and scored by a length in a local flat mile optional claimer June 7, and he carved out below par splits and held 2nd in the Dwyer (G3) July 5. He is going to have to use his speed from the outside post and might get caught wide if he cannot clear the field early.
#8 Antigravity (8-1) was over his head in the Haskell (G1) last time. He won two straight at Monmouth Park before that and might be able to land a share vs. this crew. Paco Lopez rode him twice and he won both times.
#2 Fast Bob (12-1) switched barns, shipped to Parx, and ran well in his last three starts vs. lesser. He gets tested for class.
#4 The King Cheek (8-1) chased and weakened in a NY-bred extended sprint stakes affair last time. He just held on in the restricted Sir Barton at Pimlico May 15, and battled on the pace and was clearly second best in the Penn Mile (G3) in the slop May 28. He should be part of the early pace.
#5 Doubleoseven (8-1) was an even 4th on soft turf in the Kent (G3) July 3. He captured a dirt route in the slop at Pimlico before that, and his other two wins were in dirt sprints.
#1 Indian Lake (5-1) exits a front running victory in the Bald Eagle Derby at a mile and a half on turf. He has struck three times at Parx including a pair of dirt route wins earlier this year. They paid $5k for this one in 2019 and he has banked more than $222k. He might scratch and run in next week’s Virginia Derby (G3) instead.
#3 The Jones Boy (8-1) cruised in his last two local starts vs. PA-bred foes. The lightly raced, gelded son of Smarty Jones will probably impact the pace. He is also entered in an allowance race at Parx on Aug. 25 and he is 3-1 on the morning line in that race.
Wagers:
Trifecta Key 6/7-8-9
Trifecta 6/ALL/8
Recent Best Bet Winners
Aug. 2 - Cavalier Cupid/Rambert Exacta ($7.00), Trifecta ($22.60)
Aug. 4 - Pearl Tiara/Diamond Solitaire Exacta ($11.60)
Aug. 6 - ART COLLECTOR ($5.60), Exacta ($21.60)
Aug. 7 - Pappacap/Finneus Exacta ($27.80), Trifecta ($76.60)
Aug. 10 - LEAKY CAULDRON ($6.00), Exacta ($15.20)
Aug. 11 - ARREST ME RED ($6.10)
Aug. 16 - BULLSEYE BEAUTY ($7.20)
Aug. 17 - American Union/Unflappable Max Exacta ($7.60)
Aug. 19 - RIJEKA ($8.00)
Aug. 20 - EDGEWAY ($4.00)
Aug. 22 - Mutamakina/Etoile/Merveilleux Trifecta ($110.90)
Aug. 23 - Just Might/Mucho Exacta ($15.40), Trifecta ($148.40)