Parx Racing ends the year with its Winter Racing Festival featuring six stakes races scheduled for Tuesday, December 30th and Wednesday, December 31st. Post time each day is 12:05 P.M.
December 30th features three stakes for two-year-olds including the Miss Behaviour Stakes for two-year-old PA bred and PA sired fillies going six furlongs. Favorites in the race are represented by top PA stallions Uptowncharlybrown, Smarty Jones, Warrior’s Reward, and Weigelia. Still a maiden, early favorite in the eight horse field, Smart Philly, by Smarty Jones, was third in this year’s Blue Mountain Stakes at Penn National. Crown Royal Babe, by Uptowncharlybrown won first time out and was fourth in the Shamrock Rose Stakes at Parx. Several maidens and a first time starter round out the field.
Kim Pratt Photo
The Parx Future Stars Stakes for two-year-olds going seven furlongs drew a field of nine including three trained by Parx trainer Butch Reid. The favorite, Mailata, trained by Reid, won two races this year including the Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes at Parx. Stablemate Tough Guy Tony won three races this year including a maiden at Parx, an allowance at Delaware Park, and the South Mountain Stakes at Penn National.
The two-year-old filly division of the Parx Future Stars Stakes drew nine entries competing for the $75,000 purse. Entries include Divine Intentions, winner of this year’s Shamrock Rose Stakes, and Bellanova with one win and a second in two starts. At early odds of 9/2, C’est Chouette has one win and a second in the Shamrock Rose Stakes.
Wednesday’s card features the Kris Kringle Stakes, the Blitzen Stakes, and the Mrs. Claus Stakes. The Kris Kringle Stakes drew eleven entries for the one mile and one sixteenth event for three-year-olds and up. Off to a great start in his training career, Parx trainer Benjamin Dunn entered a pair of top contenders competing for the $75,000 purse. Double Your Money, graded stakes placed and trained by Dunn, won five races this year including a Claiming Crown race at Churchill Downs and a race at the Belmont at the Big A meet. He was also second in the grade 3 Greenwood Cup Stakes at Parx. Dunn’s other entry, Golden Ice has five wins this year. “The boys are running,” commented trainer John Servis when asked about his two entries, Adero and Irish Cork. “They are doing great. They have different running styles, so we’ll have to see how the race sets up,” said Servis. Another top contender, Ninetyprcentmaddie won the Storm Cat Stakes this year and is always a factor.
Kim Pratt Photo
The Blitzen Stakes for three-year-olds and up going seven furlongs drew eight starters including Parx favorite Buccherino. Trained by Alfredo Velazquez, graded stakes placed Buccherino won four races this year. In his last race, he was second in the grade 3 Bold Ruler Stakes at Belmont at the Big A. Other competitors include stakes winner, Maximus Meridius and Dropline, third in this year’s Storm Cat Stakes at Parx.
A full field of twelve compete in the Mrs. Claus Stakes for fillies, three-years-old and up going seven furlongs. A newcomer for Parx trainer John Servis, Promising, by Justify, makes her first start at Parx. “It’s a little concerning,” said Servis. “Her dirt form isn’t as good as her tapeta form. She’s coming off a win at Woodbine, so we’ll just have to see how she does,” Servis said. Other entries include trainer Uriah St. Lewis’s Not Too Late, a stakes winner at Monmouth. “She’s feeling good, and she’s doing great,” said St. Lewis. Alani, trained by Michael Moore and an early favorite, won six races this year including the Cornucopia Stakes at Parx. Several talented ship-ins round out the field.
Parx ends the year with two days of exciting, competitive racing featuring talented runners from the Mid-Atlantic region.
Cover Photo Credit to Kim Pratt
