Wednesday Wagers: Warrior’s Vow is promising at Parx

Ten races are on tap at Parx on Wednesday, and I’ve got picks for five of the day’s heats below.

Best bet: Warrior’s Vow (race 8)

Best value bet: Ava K’s Boy (race 4)

Race 1

No. 1 Uncle Water Flow (9-5, morning-line favorite) held his own and even beat tougher at Aqueduct over the winter and drops to a new low – will be tough under Paco Lopez. No. 3 Whiskey Prize (6-1) rates a slight chance at the upset off two wins and a second in his last three starts, excluding a try vs. much tougher two back in which he acted up at the gate. No. 10 Chip’s Friend (4-1) has been third in five straight at this level and sheds weight under 10-pound apprentice Francisco Martinez.

How I’d bet it (based on a $100 budget): $10 exacta 1/3, $4 exacta 3/1, $2 exacta 1/10

Race 3

No. 6 Lion in the Sun (3-1) should be tough on this group of claimers after taking third in both his tries vs. open maiden company. No. 3 Amani’s Tiger (8-5, morning-line favorite) has been beaten twice at this level, once under the care of Jamie Ness, but the speed figures are hard to ignore. No. 4 Sheer Dominance (7-2) doesn’t have much to beat to land third, something he’s done three times in five tries.

How I’d bet it: $10 exacta box 3/6

Race 4

No. 2 Ava K’s Boy (7-2) has switched from the Silvino Ramirez barn to the Wayne Catalano barn and back twice now, with Ramirez losing him for $5,000 and just now re-claiming him for $7,500. Ramirez keeps him at the $7,500 level as he goes for his third win in five starts, and as long as the track stays dry, Ava K’s Boy should get it. No. 7 Dathoss (3-1) has lacked late punch in recent starts but the drop in class should aid his chances. No. 1 Borracho (5-2, morning-line favorite) goes off a claim-and-drop for Ness, who’s as capable as anyone in terms of getting horses to run to their back class. Mychel Sanchez picks up the assignment.

How I’d bet it: $10 exacta 2/1,7

Race 8

No. 3 Warrior’s Vow (3-1) was Dexter Haddock’s pick over No. 6 Bobby’s Candy (9-2) and mine as well. He’s yet to experience a truly smooth voyage in any of his tries at this level, including his most recent effort in which he was pinballed at the start, dropped to the back and still made up tons of ground late to finish second. Perhaps he’ll get some racing luck today. Bobby’s Candy has been second in each of his last two attempts on fast dirt, consider. No. 2 Sunset Town (5-2, morning-line favorite) lost to the top pick despite a better trip when last seen. He does own a win at this level three back.

How I’d bet it: $10 exacta 3/2,6

Race 9

No. 5 Masrour (4-5, morning-line favorite) isn’t unbeatable (5: 2-2-0 record in 2024) but looms large in the speed-figure department. He steps up slightly after cruising as a heavy favorite when last seen. No. 1 Traders Luck (8-1) had nothing left to challenge the top pick after dueling through wickedly fast fractions – chance to atone with a softer-looking pace scenario ahead. No. 3 Fatih (5-1) lures Lopez and looks a bit cheap on paper, but his poor recent tries vs. similar all came on wet tracks.

How I’d bet it: $4 exacta 5/1,3, $2 trifecta box 1/3/5, $4 win 1

Robert Criscola is a free-lance handicapper based in New York.