Monday's Racing Picks 11/18: Parx Racing
After an impressive showing in the Grade 3 River City Handicap at Churchill Downs last Saturday, we come back two days later to try our luck at Monday’s matinee at Parx Racing in Bensalem, Pa.
Today’s feature is a $35,000 allowance optional claiming race (purse: $47,000) for 3-year-olds and up over a mile on the dirt. The field of 8 will go to gate for race 8 of the 9-race card with an approximate post time of 3:34 p.m. ET.
#6, D T Goodie, Angel Rodriguez, 3-1
D T Goodie will make his 51st career start today (9-11-8) and his 17th this year (4-4-4). He has finished in the money in six of his last eight starts, including a runner-up finish in his last by ¾ of a length in a starter allowance here on Oct. 28. In a start prior to his last, he finished 1st by a neck in a starter allowance race on Sept. 29 also at Parx. D T Goodie has plenty of experience and is a solid runner always in the mix at the end. Angel Rodriguez is aboard for trainer Joseph Taylor. The pick.
#1, Navy Commander, Frankie Pennington, 2-1
After four straight third-place finishes at Parx, Navy Commander won by a head in his last here in an allowance optional claiming race on Oct. 6. It was his first win since Oct. 13, 2018. In his only graded stakes race, he finished seventh to Good Magic in the $1 million Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on July 29. Frankie Pennington is back aboard for trainer Robert Reid, Jr. Pennington aboard certainly helps and always seems to be in the money here in some capacity. Runner-up.
#2, His Royal Majesty, Jose Vargas, Jr., 6-1
In four straight out-of-the money Parx starts, His Royal Majesty is looking for his first win since a 3 1/4-length win in the $75,000 Turning for Home Starter Handicap on June 22, capping a two-race win streak in June. Jorge Vargas is in the irons for trainer Marcos Zulueta. This will be his 28th career start (5-2-4) and eighth at Parx (2-0-0). Contender.
#7, Ruby Bleu, Kendrick Carmouche, 10-1
Today marks Ruby Bleu’s 50th career start (11-11-6) and 10th this year (3-0-0). Winless in his last four starts, including two here at Parx, Ruby Bleu is trying to rekindle the magic after a three-race win streak in Bensalem in May/June of this year, capped by a 2 ½-length victory over King Koa in a starter allowance race on June 10. Kendrick Carmouche returns to the saddle after a two-race hiatus aboard and after an 8th-place finish in the Neshaminy Stakes on Sept. 2. Carmouche back will certainly help and for a price. In the mix.
PICKS: 6-1-2-7
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By Lou Monaco