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Pick Pony takes pride in providing the most accurate expert picks available today. Pick Pony Expert Picks are carefully selected by our team of analysts based on analytics from our advanced Past Performance Sheets and Racing Forms. For potential longshot selections, check out Pick Pony's AI Picks.
Race 1: Claiming, 7 Furlongs, Dirt, $7,500 Purse
Win: #8 Harlan's Bond (43% confidence)
Place: #1 Wink Of An Eye (57% confidence)🥇
Show: #11 Starship Legend (29% confidence)
Alternative: #2 You Know Me (14% confidence)
Notes: Split opinion among Pick Pony analysts on the top pick. Harlan's Bond has early speed and fits well at this distance with a 9/5 morning line. Wink Of An Eye nearly always fires and drops a notch with good form at this distance. Starship Legend showed ability when winning at this yardage previously but had first turn trouble in a recent route attempt. You Know Me offered as a longshot value play by one analyst.
Race 2: Claiming, 7 Furlongs, Dirt, $10,000 Purse WIN
Win: #1 Trulli Warrior (100% confidence)🥇
Place: #8 Redoubtableripken (57% confidence)
Show: #3 Booted Up (57% confidence)
Alternative: #6 God Is Life (14% confidence)
Notes: Unanimous selection on Trulli Warrior, who takes an aggressive drop for a barn winning at a 31% rate. Redoubtableripken led this distance previously with routers and may be better suited at this yardage. Booted Up rallied behind the second pick when taking a steep drop after being claimed. God Is Life narrowed the gap at this level in an improved try and represents upset possibility.
Race 3: Claiming, 1 Mile, Dirt, $5,000 Purse WIN ($4.40)
Win: #7 Roman Goddess (75% confidence)🥇
Place: #1 Megan's Noel (62% confidence)
Show: #6 Erin's Enthusiasm (38% confidence)
Alternative: #5 Miss Chamita (12% confidence)🥈
Notes: Roman Goddess repelled a huge favorite after a Kirby claim and appears well-spotted for a repeat. Megan's Noel closed a big gap at this spot and shorter break between outings appears beneficial. Erin's Enthusiasm is a veteran mare with 12 victories who has been absent since July but poses a threat if ready. Waitwaitdonttellme earned a hard-fought score when claimed by Arce and takes a logical next step, splitting analyst opinion with the favorite.
Race 4: Claiming, 6 Furlongs, Dirt, $25,000 Purse
Win: #2 Midlaner (62% confidence)
Place: #6 Downtownchalybrown (38% confidence)
Show: #4 Palm Island (62% confidence)
Alternative: #5 Neigh Dude (12% confidence)🥇
Notes: Midlaner has been sharp twice since a hiatus and was claimed from this spot by Michael Pino, who has a remarkable 37% win rate at Parx in 2025. A helpful pace setup is anticipated. Palm Island battled to the late stages against similar and is racing into peak form again. Yuletide Gallop exits a sharp effort as odds-on chalk but faces severe early pressure today. Neigh Dude is an ultra-game and consistent gelding who has been perfect since returning from a layoff.
Race 5: Starter Optional Claiming, 6 1/2 Furlongs, Dirt, $26,000 Purse WIN + BOXED TRIFECTA
Win: #3 Cojelo Pa Ti (86% confidence)🥇
Place: #2 Chris's Revenge (57% confidence)🥉
Show: #9 A Votre Sante (14% confidence)🥈
Alternative: #8 Okie Den Den (14% confidence)
Notes: Strong consensus on Cojelo Pa Ti, who dominated easier competition when showing improved stamina. Well-placed again with potential to wire the field. Chris's Revenge brings a pair of strong outings since arriving from Colonial including at this spot. A Votre Sante pushed a heavy favorite to the limit in a game effort after being claimed. Okie Den Den nearly always fires and lost two photo finishes last month while shedding 7 pounds today.
Race 6: Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes, 7 Furlongs, Dirt, $100,000 Purse
Win: #6 Mister Me (38% confidence)🥈
Place: #4 Flyin Hawaiian (38% confidence)
Show: #8 Smoked Bourbon (38% confidence)
Alternative: #7 Mailata (25% confidence)🥇
Notes: Wide-open juvenile stakes with no consensus among Pick Pony analysts. Trainer Butch Reid entered three juveniles in this race, casting a long shadow in the Pennsylvania Nursery. Mister Me led throughout in a powerful maiden score after being edged by Flyin Hawaiian in his debut. Flyin Hawaiian was hard used forcing the pace in the Grade I Hopeful at Saratoga but posted an impressive local maiden score. Smoked Bourbon pulled away eagerly after prolonged pressure in a promising debut. Red Zone Runner (2/1 morning line) was very wide in his rally in Penn slop after a heavily-backed winning debut locally and remains a contender at favorite odds.
Race 7: Cornucopia Stakes, 6 1/2 Furlongs, Dirt, $75,000 Purse
Win: #6 Takethemoneyhoney (86% confidence)
Place: #9 Nature's Candy (43% confidence)
Show: #1 Alani (29% confidence)🥇
Alternative: #7 Mega Mil (14% confidence)🥈
Notes: Strong consensus on Takethemoneyhoney, a terrific filly who has been shelved since May. Rapid recent workouts and she is within inches of a perfect record. Nature's Candy is a speedy, versatile, and determined mare at the top of her game and dangerous here. Alani has hit the board in 15 of 18 attempts and battled a frequent winner in a game try at this yardage. Mega Mil faded at Keeneland but was just four lengths behind in a graded stake at Churchill Downs.
Race 8: Turkey Trot Stakes, 1 Mile 70 Yards, Dirt, $75,000 Purse
Win: #4 Adero (57% confidence)🥉
Place: #6 Irish Cork (43% confidence)
Show: #3 Call Me Fast (14% confidence)🥇
Alternative: #8 Ninetyprcentmaddie (14% confidence)🥈
Notes: Adero nearly always fires with a win in 9 of 27 attempts and figures tough for the John Servis barn. Irish Cork closed strongly with similar company after a layoff and remains formidable at age 8. One analyst makes Call Me Fast a Best Bet, noting he placed in graded stakes in the past and displayed ample ability in a handy score. Ninetyprcentmaddie is a possibility if disregarding the last start; blinkers aided prior try at this distance.
Race 9: Shamrock Rose Stakes, 6 Furlongs, Dirt, $100,000 Purse
Win: #1 Keystone State (38% confidence)
Place: #5 C'est Chouette (25% confidence)🥈
Show: #10 River Escape (25% confidence)
Alternative: #8 Coppedge (12% confidence)
Notes: Divided opinion among Pick Pony analysts. River Escape was fantastic after a troubled break in winning her debut like a good thing, spread-eagling the field on November 5. She is a $120,000 Essential Quality 2-year-old purchase who looks like a good one at this level. One analyst designates River Escape as a Best Bet. Keystone State has been flawless in two starts elsewhere and is a daughter of top sire Constitution. Crown Royal Babe put in a solid effort against a big favorite in her last and overcame a slow start in her debut. Coppedge showed much improvement in her second start in a decisive score as a longshot and will be tested with these.
Race 10: Let’s Give Thanks Stakes, 6 1/2 Furlongs, Dirt, $75,000 Purse WIN
Win: #8 Maximus Meridius (50% confidence)🥇
Place: #4 Twisted Ride (38% confidence)
Show: #7 Sunny Breeze (25% confidence)
Alternative: #10 Paradise Valley (12% confidence)🥉
Notes: Maximus Meridius is a multiple stakes-winner who battled a classy rival at Parx and in a prior loss at Saratoga. He looks aimed for this spot and has run big over the track and on off going. One analyst notes a tiny pause of concern with a three-week gap in the workout tab. Twisted Ride looked like his old self in a decisive score, boosting his career bankroll to $740,288. Veeson is a formidable stretch-runner shelved since May but shows encouraging works for a top barn. Paradise Valley exits a big effort at Laurel with another powerful closing kick.
Recommended Exotic Bets and Value Plays
Philly Big 5 (Races 6-10) – $145,980 Carryover with Mandatory Payout
Pick Pony analysts recommend the following approach for the mandatory payout Philly Big 5 sequence:
Race 6 (Pennsylvania Nursery): Use #3 Red Zone Runner, #4 Flyin Hawaiian, #6 Mister Me, #7 Mailata, #8 Smoked Bourbon. This wide-open juvenile stakes warrants spreading.
Race 7 (Cornucopia): Key #6 Takethemoneyhoney as the consensus pick. Include #1 Alani and #9 Nature's Candy for coverage.
Race 8 (Turkey Trot): Use #3 Call Me Fast and #4 Adero as the main horses. Include #6 Irish Cork.
Race 9 (Shamrock Rose): Single #10 River Escape based on impressive debut and strong analyst support, or spread to include #1 Keystone State.
Race 10 (Let's Give Thanks): Single #8 Maximus Meridius based on consensus support and track-and-distance form.
Daily Double Plays
Races 1-2: Key #1 Trulli Warrior in Race 2 (unanimous pick) with #8 Harlan's Bond and #1 Wink Of An Eye in Race 1.
Races 4-5: Key #3 Cojelo Pa Ti in Race 5 (86% consensus) with #2 Midlaner and #7 Yuletide Gallop in Race 4.
Value Plays
Race 1: #2 You Know Me (12/1) – Mentioned by multiple analysts as a value play with middle move potential.
Race 6: #8 Smoked Bourbon (6/1) – Promising debut with eager pull-away. Value in a competitive juvenile stakes.
Race 8: #3 Call Me Fast (6/1) – One analyst's Best Bet with graded stakes placings in his past.
Race 9: #10 River Escape (4/1) – One analyst's Best Bet based on dominant debut despite trouble.
Trifecta and Superfecta Recommendations
Race 2: Box #1 Trulli Warrior, #3 Booted Up, #8 Redoubtableripken. Consider adding #6 God Is Life for superfecta.
Race 5: Key #3 Cojelo Pa Ti on top with #2 Chris's Revenge second, using #5 Dads Good Runner, #8 Okie Den Den, #9 A Votre Sante underneath.
Race 7: Key #6 Takethemoneyhoney on top with #1 Alani and #9 Nature's Candy in exacta and trifecta combinations.
Weather Consideration
Overnight rains in greater Philadelphia should be considered when handicapping the card. Horses with proven form on off-going may benefit, including Maximus Meridius in Race 10 who has run big on off tracks.
