We’re in the post-Breeders’ Cup phase of the year in 2020 now. It sure doesn’t feel like it, but the Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup Classic are all in the books now. The Triple Crown schedule was reworked because of Covid, so it didn’t really feel like it happened at all for some reason. Fortunately, the 2021 Triple Crown season will return to some normalcy next year.
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I find it hard to believe we’ll have packed crowds in May, but a normal schedule would be nice. It’s not a big day of horse racing on Monday. We’re back down to three racecourses offering cards. That includes Parx, Mountaineer Park, and Indiana Downs at BetOnline.
Mahoning Valley, Grants Pass, and Zia Park are also racing on Monday. Our first stop on Monday will be at Parx in Philadelphia, where they are putting on a ten-race card. A total of $216,000 is up for grabs at Parx today. Head below for our free Parx Racing picks for November 9, 2020.
Race 3
Post Time: 1:19 p.m. EST
Distance:1 Mile 70 Yards
Purse:$21,000
We’ll start in Philadelphia with Race 3 at Parx. The event will cover a mile and 70 yards on the main track for a $21,000 purse. Magical Mesa and Tistaahal should have a strong run in them on Monday afternoon. Magical Mesa has shown progress after finishing 8th on July 29 at Parx. She was a no show in the $40,000 race and quickly realized that racing in a class like that was not ideal.
Magical Mesa was able to show improvement on September 9 at Delaware Park. It wasn’t perfect, but certainly better than her previous effort. Magical Mesa finished 4th and was 3 lengths a neck behind for a win. It was a pretty right race in the stretch, and the cards just didn’t fall Magical Mesa’s way. Magical Mesa’s trainer was smart to lower him in class to a $23,000 race. There wasn’t much of an option after he didn’t show against in the $40,000 event.
Magical Mesa looked good in a recent 4-furlong workout, with a time of 49.76 seconds on October 24. However, I wasn’t enthused when Magical Mesa ran for 5 furlongs. She completed the workouts with a time of 1:03.93 and 1:02.58. I would have liked to see a little more out of him at that distance.
Tistaahal made her debut at Saratoga on September 7. She aimed for the big girls right off the bat at Saratoga, but didn’t get too far. That said, it was a difficult $72,000 assignment. She was not able to find any headway in that race and was finished behind five horses for 6th. Tistaahal did run faster than three rivals in the event. Well down in class on Monday, from a $72,000 to a $21,000 race, expect Tistaahal to bypass these opponents.
Race 6
Post Time: 2:40 p.m. EST
Distance:1 Mile 70 Yards
Purse:$27,000
Race 6 has a mile and 70 yards on the main track at Parx on Monday afternoon. Ahsad and Jerome Avenue are expected to run strong races for the top prize. Ahsad was on a three-race win streak before watching his streak come to an end on October 16. Before a win on August 3, Ahsad went winless in 12 straight races to begin his career.
Ahsad then went on a three-race win streak to complete a hat-trick. In his most recent win, Ahsad beat Wahoowa Wahoowa by 5 ½ lengths in a $19,000 event. Prior to that win, he was ¾ length winner in a $25,000 race over Robin Warrior as the betting favorite. That shows Ahsad is capable of winning in a higher class than the $19,000 race he just dominated. However, note that it was much closer in the $25,000 event.
Jerome Avenue will have to fight from the outside to get the win here. Fortunately it’s a mile and 70 yards, so Jerome Avenue will have ample time to make up ground from the outside post position. Jerome Avenue is 3 for 20, which doesn’t sound terrific, but has been in good form recently. He has finished in the top-2 in five of his previous seven performances.
Jerome Avenue is coming off a win on October 19 in a $27,000 event. He blew out Kadens Courage by 8 ½ lengths to pull away handily. Back in the same class, look for Jerome Avenue to romp again. It should be closer, but a comfortable Jerome Avenue win isn’t out of the question in Race 6 at Parx.