Nimitz Class has emerged as one of the better handicap horses in the Mid-Atlantic. A winner in 10 of 18 starts, Nimitz Class will likely start favored Monday in Parx Racing’s Storm Cat Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at a mile and 70 yards. The Storm Cat is one of seven $100,000 stakes on the card for Pennsylvania-bred or -sired performers. Nimitz Class captured five races in a row before finishing a close second in Monmouth Park’s Grade 3 Salvator Mile on June 17. “I thought he ran a big race,” trainer Bruce Kravets said about the Salvator, a race in which Nimitz Class made an early move between horses to challenge for the lead. “A little disappointed we didn’t get the money, but that was a nice horse that beat him, and he ran his heart out.” Nimitz Class most recently finished second when giving six pounds to Be Better in the Deputed Testamony on July 29 at Laurel Park. Far Mo Power was cross-entered in Saturday’s Philip H. Iselin at Monmouth, but will run here instead. A hard-luck sort – he was the victim of a controversial disqualification in last fall’s Parx Dirt Mile – Far Mo Power has hit the board in his last four starts despite suffering through some troubled trips. :: Bet the races with a $250 First Deposit Match + $10 Free Bet and FREE Formulator PPs! Join DRF Bets. “I’d like to see him lay close,” trainer Louis Linder Jr. said. “If not on the lead, looking right at them. I don’t want him too far out of it.” Buy Land and See fits this race well. A stakes winner on both dirt and turf, Buy Land and See makes his third start of the year after finishing third in the Hard Spun over the Tapeta surface at Presque Isle Downs. He should be close to the early pace under Mychel Sanchez. There’s a chance the pace heats up in the Storm Cat, and that would suit King Kumbulay just fine. A rallying second in an allowance race here July 17, he appears to be rounding into his best form. Irish Cork has raced close to the pace in his last few starts, and trainer John Servis thinks a change in tactics are in order. “He wants to be covered up,” Servis said. “If you look back early in his career, he was coming from last and next to last, and suddenly, he now wants to go to the lead. If we can keep him covered up and close, we should be in good shape.” Allevare has won three of his last five starts, but Servis mentioned he might opt for another race down the road. Irish Cork finished third in the 2021 Storm Cat; Market Maven makes his first start for high-percentage trainer Jamie Ness. Banjo Picker It’s all about the break for the classy Beren, who brings $867,670 in career earnings into the Banjo Picker, a race for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs. When he gets away cleanly, the 5-year-old can still step, as evidenced by his two allowance wins at Parx this year. In his four other 2023 races, Beren wasn’t as sharp from the gate. He didn’t win any of those starts but did place in two stakes, including the Grade 3 General George. “It’s become a habit with him,” trainer Butch Reid said. “We’ve schooled him in the gate. It just seems like every time they snap it, he turns his head or something. It’s really cost him.” :: Get Daily Racing Form Past Performances – the exclusive home of Beyer Speed Figures Twisted Ride has won his last four starts at Parx and should appreciate dropping into restricted competition after racing in two graded events in New York. He finished second in the Runhappy on May 13 at Belmont Park, then was caught up in a pace battle and ended up sixth going seven-eighths in the John A. Nerud. Andy Hernandez pilots the Great Notion gelding for trainer Michael Moore. Uncle Ernie split Twisted Ride and Beren when second in the Page McKenney three starts back. He earned a career-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure in his most recent start, a high-level allowance here June 6. Servis said Uncle Ernie “popped a splint” after that race. Three-year-old Gordian Knot is cross-entered in Tuesday’s Salvatore M. DeBunda Sprint; Magicnthemoonlight has won three of his last four starts; One More Scoop and Word On a Wing enter off wins; Picture This completes the field. In other stakes action: ◗ Remain Anonymous returns to Parx to defend her crown in the Dr. Teresa Garofalo Memorial for fillies and mares at six furlongs. She hasn’t raced since November, however, and might need one in her first run for trainer Michelle Nevin. Fellow layoff runner Gunfyre Gal, Midnight in Alaska, and La Cienega can all contend. ◗ Like Beren, Witty has developed a bad habit of breaking slowly. The half-brother to reigning Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Caravel still usually fires his best shot, though, and enters the Marshall Jenney for 3-year-olds and up at five furlongs on turf after a rallying second-place finish in Monmouth’s Wolf Hill. Reid counters with Fore Harp, who will run here instead of in Tuesday’s Parx Dash, and Smooth B, who won this race when it was washed off the turf in 2022. “Nothing went well for us,” Reid said about Fore Harp’s Wolf Hill. “He had a horse lapped on him from the outside the whole trip, and he’s not the same horse when that happens. He doesn’t need to be on the lead but likes a bit of clear running room.” ◗ Reid will run Morning Matcha on turf in the Mrs. Penny for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles. A multiple stakes winner on dirt who finished second in the Grade 1 Cotillion last fall, Morning Matcha recently placed third in the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap. “She’s only had one try on turf, and it was fair at best,” Reid said. “But she’s been running against the top fillies in the country and now faces Pennsylvania-bred company, so we’ll take a shot and see if she can improve.” Reid also trains the proven turf filly Neecie Marie, who jumps into stakes company after winning 2 of 3 on the lawn. They join In a Spin, Maldives Model, and Trolley Ride as contenders. :: Bet with the Best! Get Free DRF PPs and Cashback when you wager. Join DRF Bets. ◗ Servis entered first-time starter Sirani in a wide-open Miss Blue Tye Bye for 2-year-old fillies at 5 1/2 furlongs. “She’s very quick,” Servis said. “She’s built like a Quarter Horse. I don’t know how far she’ll go.” ◗ Ten promising juveniles entered the Whistle Pig at 5 1/2 furlongs, with Poker Partner and Gamboling Ghost the only ones with winning experience. Servis saddles first-time starter I Can Do Magic. “He’s a big two-turn-looking horse,” Servis said. “I don’t think the 5 1/2 furlongs is going to benefit him a whole lot.” :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.