BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Florida-breds Genghis and Large will look each look for an upset victory in Tuesday’s $75,000 M.P. Ballezzi Appreciation Mile at Parx Racing as both are labeled at 20-1 in the morning line of the $75,000 affair. PCC Stable’s Genghis has drawn post 10 in the overflow field of 3-year-olds and older while Hugh G. Robinson’s Large is number 12 on the also eligible list and needs two defections to draw into the body of the race.

A 6-year-old gelded son of Arindel stallion Brethren, Genghis is trying to break a streak of three consecutive second-place finishes at Parx including in his last race when run down late by Brett’s World in an $8,000 starter allowance after leading for much of the seven furlongs.

The first runner-up performance in the span also came in an $8,000 starter allowance, this one at six-and-a-half furlongs on Sept. 6. Genghis made a good late run from eight lengths back after a slow start but could not catch Masour, who won by four-and-three-quarter lengths.

After the Sept. 6 race, Genghis was switched to the barn of current trainer Janet Polachek and responded by closing well to finish second to Caramel Chip in a $10,000 starter allowance going seven furlongs on a sloppy and sealed track.

Genghis has solid record while finishing in the top three in nearly half of his 68 career starts. He has won 10 with 12 seconds and eight thirds with earnings of $339,679. The M.P. Ballezzi will be his first start against stakes company since November of 2019 when he finished second to Soros in the $75,000 Smooth Air at Gulfstream Park.

Out of the Maimonides mare Mystic Blue, Genghis was bred by Arindel and Genghis will be ridden by Julio Correa.

Trained by Carl Jones, Large makes his first start since finishing seventh after a slow start in the same Sept. 23 starter allowance won by Caramel Chip when off a step slow. He also had poor start two starts back in a $10,000 claiming going six furlongs at Parx, but rallied to finish third behind winner Jebologist.

A 6-year-old gelding, Large is by Exclusive Quality out of Another Smokey, by Heckle and was bred by Joyce Mary Kielty. He has won just three of 44 career starts with 11 seconds and five thirds with earnings of $114,228.

Jockey Richard Mitchell will have the call should Large scratch in.

The 5-2 morning line favorite is Nimitz Class for trainer Bruce Kravets and owner Thomas G. Gunter.

The 4-year-old son of Munning exits a length-and-three-quarter victory in the $300,000 Parx Dirt Mile over a sloppy track on Sept. 23.

Frankie Pennington will ride Nimitz Class for the first time Tuesday and they have post two.

The remainder of the field for includes No Sabe Nada with jockey Kevin Gomez, Kendrick Carmouche comes in from New York to ride Offaly Cool, Dontmesawithme has Ricardo Chiappe named to ride, Magic Channel with no rider yet named, No Salt and Jairo Rendo, Be Better will carry Sheldon Russell, King Kumbalay will have Abner Adorno aboard and Jevian Toledo rides Doppleganger.

Return to Oct. 16 issue of Wire to Wire