Parx Hosting PA Day at the Races Saturday

This Saturday Parx Racing will play host to the 14th edition of Pennsylvania’s Day at the Races, a day designed to celebrate the Breeding industry here in the Commonwealth, an industry that has become one of the top programs in the nation. The card featuring five stakes with purses totaling $400,000 has drawn a number of well matched fields with some of the state’s top stakes caliber horses ready to compete.

Topping the racing program is the $100,000 Mrs. Penny Stakes, a one mile and one-sixteenth turf test for fillies and mares three and up. The 2-1 morning line favorite is Waterway Run, a 4 year-old Arch filly racing for owner Martin Schwartz and trained by Chad Brown. A four time winner on the grass, she’s also a graded winner, having won the G3 Beaugay Handicap back in May at Belmont Park. She was also second beaten by only a nose earlier this year in the G3 Hillsborough at Tampa Bay. Kendrick Carmouche has been named to ride.

The big sprint race of the day is the $75,000 Banjo Picker Sprint. Choctaw Racing Stable & Winning Horse Stable’s Officer Alex opens as the 2-1 choice. The 4 year-old Officer colt has enjoyed considerable success at Parx winning three of five starts, including a win as a 2YO in the Pennsylvania Nursery and a win this May in the $75K Lyman Handicap. Frankie Pennington will ride for Lynn Whiting.

The top turf sprint of the day is the $75,000 Marshall Jenney Handicap. A strong field of 10 was drawn and opening as the 5-2 choice is Barlar’s Oklahoma Crude. He’ll be stepping up in class as the 4 year-old Harlan’s Holiday colt looks for his fourth consecutive win. A win on the turf at Penn National and then two allowance wins at Presque Isle bring him to the Jenney in top form. Trainer Bernie Houghton has named David Cora to ride.

Three year-old fillies will compete in the $75,000 Dr. Teresa Garafolo Memorial at six furlongs on the main track. Lawrence Stables Inc.’s Pixie Dust breaks from the inside gate and has been installed as the 8-5 favorite. A daughter of Ecclesiastic, she’s been working exceptionally well at Fair Hill for trainer James Lawrence II following a sixth on July 5th in the biggest test of her career, the G2 Delaware Oaks at Delaware Park. David Cora gets the mount.

The early 5-2 favorite in the $75,000 Roanoke Stakes is Ramon Preciado’s Sailor’s Revenge. It remains to be seen if he makes the gate, having run a mile and one-half here on Monday in the G3 Greenwood Cup. If not, John Tripp Sr.’s Traffic Light will be tough. The 5 year-old gelded son of Peace Rules has won 7 career races here at Parx and is a multiple stakes winner for trainer Freddy Velazquez. John Bisono will be in the saddle. The Roanoke is run at one mile and one-sixteenth on the main track.