A grade one prep Breeder’s Cup Classic. The Pennsylvania Derby at nine furlongs featured triple crown runners Midnight Bourbon, Bourbonic, and Hot Rod Charlie.
Top 2021 Pennsylvania Derby Contenders:
Fulsome has run in five stakes races at five different tracks. Winner of the Smarty Jones stakes the experience at Parx could prove beneficial. He has the right running style and the pedigree is by top sire Into Mischief. The best Brisnet speed figure is 100 in the Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Keepmeinmind has a couple of races that are strong. This late runner needs a full field and fast pace to do his best running. He has run eleven times and may not have room to improve with that experience. Continues to have an even work pattern and the most recent work is five furlongs. Travers Stakes race was a slow pace and speed did well in the race flow. Should get some speed to run at in this race.
Speaker’s Corner is the new horse and enters off a dominating score off the layoff at Saratoga. He picked up a 102 Brisnet speed figure and won by five lengths over a talented field. Ran a fast race last year against Caddo River and faced Team Merchants in his debut. Bullet workout on September 18th. Capable of upsetting if Hot Rod Charlie doesn’t run his race.
Weyburn gets a jockey switch to Paco Lopez and enters after a disappointing effort in Jim Dandy after passing on the Travers Stakes. Should be fresh and his Pegasus effort was strong against Mandaloun. Has the speed to be forwardly placed and doesn’t need the lead. Can sit off the pace and pounce in the stretch. Weyburn is inside the other speed and an aggressive ride could be the key trip to the winner’s circle.
Hot Rod Charlie is the 5/2 morning line favorite and has developed the elusive blend of stamina and speed. Is the co-leader of the three-year-old crop just behind Essential Quality? Capable of going wire to wire, or can elect to sit off the pace of Midnight Bourbon. A forwardly placed trip on the lead may be his best chance of winning.
Midnight Bourbon was not able to take advantage of the speed bias and small field as the lone speed in the Travers Stakes. Clipped hills with Hot Rod Charlie in the Haskell Stakes. He runs his best races on the front end but doesn’t run fast fractions. Overall maybe outside the other speed in Weyburn and Hot Rod Charlie. Will take some money and has run seven races this year with one win. His best effort was a front-running score, a key decision will have to be made early with Weyburn and Speaker’s Corner both capable of showing speed.
Pennsylvania Derby Selections:
Win: Weyburn
Place: Hot Rod Charlie
Show: Speaker’s Corner