All eyes are on PARX today ....... the last BIG three year old derby of the season

The road to this year's Breeder's Cup World Championships at Keeneland Racecourse starts this weekend at PARX Racecourse in Bensalem, Pennsylvania with their biggest day of racing today. Five stakes races are on tap and we'll be looking at four of them, including three featuring the sophomore class of 2015. The two feature races of the day may have an impact on three year old Eclipse award winners.

First in the all stakes pick four play, its for older males going a route distance - the Bayern Stakes (7th). This listed stakes race at a mile & a sixteenth is wide open. My top selection is the rail horse; Street Babe (#1) who woke up at the Spa dropping to optional claimer allowance race with a much needed class relief victory. I'll use three horses underneath Street Babe; Ground Transport (#4) making second start off long layoff, last wasn't pretty but has bullet work at Arlington Park for this race, Encryption (#7) another who last few weren't good, but was consistent before that and Classic Giacnroll (#8) 10 for 15 in the top two spots at PARX, horse for the course.

Three year old sprinters highlight the Gallant Bob Stakes (8th) going six furlongs. The outside horse; Bayerd (#8) is my top selection just missing in a 100k allowance race here, makes second start off layoff & had a good winter campagin at Oaklawn Park. For 2nd; Hebbronville (#6) who is a perfect three for three over the PARX strip, also wintered at Oaklawn. Underneath these two runners, I'll be using; Limousine Liberal (#3) - Catalina Red (#5) - Grand Bili (#7).

The three year old fillies are featured in the mile and a sixteenth - Cotillion Stakes (#9) where the top two finishers of this year's Alabama Stakes are featured. This race will play a big part in who may be top sophomore filly of 2015 since it will be one of the last restricted races for these fillies. I think, I'm a Chatterbox (#8) turns the tables on Embellish the Lace (#3) today and these are my top two selections. Underneath these two probable favorites, I'll use; Take Charge Brandi (#5) second start off layoff - Peace and War (#7) with two runner up finishes after a trainer change, Eskenformoney (#10) who was 2nd best as the lukewarm in the Monmouth Oaks.

The marquee race of the day is for the three year old males, the rich Pennsylvania Derby (#10). There's no American Pharoah to worry about today, but a few Travers Stakes runners decided to take their chance for the million dollar purse. I'm looking for consistent form here and a price, not the usual suspects. While Bob Baffert isn't represented by his Triple Crown winner, he has Gimme Da Lute (#6) who's won three in a row on the west coast, will be a square price here facing tougher competition and stretching out. He'll be my top pick with Island Town (#2) who is my second choice having a sharp victory over the track in the Smarty Jones Stakes, which was a prep race for today. At 5-1 & 10-1 these are the two "price" horses I like on top! Underneath them, I'll include; Frosted (#3) the horse that pushed American Pharoah to the limit in the Travers - Madefromlucky (#5) the West Virginia Derby winner who wanted no part of American Pharoah last time out & Upstart (#9) who originally was pointing to this race, but decided to chase American Pharoah at Saratoga instead. The pick 4 play in these four stakes races is : 1 with 6/8 with 3/8 with 2/6 ($4.00 for a 50 cent play).