The competitive 11-horse field features four graded-stakes winners, and the Grade 1 race offers plenty to analyze from both a pace and class perspective.
Here is a look at the field and the key Digest numbers.
Pennsylvania Derby Field
1. Zihnal (8-1)
Zihnal enters off an impressive victory in the Grade 3 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer on August 9. He added blinkers and returned to Lasix that day and responded with a 6 1/4-length victory at 1 1/8 miles.
He should be forwardly placed from the inside post, and trainer Jonathan Thomas has been winning at a solid rate with dirt-route starters. John Velazquez takes the mount again.
The concern is whether Zihnal can duplicate that career-best effort while losing Lasix. I liked him in the West Virginia Derby, but this is a significantly tougher test.
2. Iron Honor (5-1)
Iron Honor is a logical top three contender in the Pennsylvania Derby.
The Chad Brown trainee is adding blinkers again and gets Jose Ortiz aboard. He won the Grade 3 Gotham earlier this year and has subsequently placed in two Grade 1 races.
He finished second in the Preakness and third in the Haskell, with the latter coming over a sloppy track.
His recent Today’s Racing Digest ratings include a 141 in the Preakness and a 128 in the Haskell. If he can return to something around that 141 level, he should be extremely competitive.
There are also reasons to forgive some of his other races. He had a difficult trip in the Wood Memorial, drawing post 12 and encountering early trouble before racing wide and finishing seventh. In the Preakness, he tracked wide and made a strong move toward Napoleon Solo before settling for second.
The Haskell was also run over a wet track that may not have suited him.
With the race flow potentially in his favor and a return to a fast track, Iron Honor looks like an attractive horse at his 5-1 morning-line price.
3. Our Moneyman (8-1)
Our Moneyman has been remarkably consistent, entering off back-to-back runner-up finishes in Grade 3 competition.
He earned Today’s Racing Digest final ratings of 137 and 147 in those races, while his pace ratings of 150 and 152 indicate that he should be in a good tactical position.
The Indiana Derby form is particularly interesting. Leading Change won that race and subsequently captured the Grade 1 Travers, while Zihnal, who finished fourth, came back to win the Grade 3 West Virginia Derby.
Our Moneyman should get a good trip from his inner post, and Manny Franco takes the mount for the first time.
He’s difficult to dismiss and could once again find his way into the top three.
4. Igniter (8-1)
Igniter was my top choice in the Ellis Park Derby and delivered with a four-length victory.
He tracked the pace from second and produced a career-best 150 Today’s Racing Digest final number.
The question is whether he can duplicate that effort at 1 1/8 miles against a deeper and more accomplished field. The Ellis Park Derby had only five runners, whereas this race brings together 11 horses and multiple graded winners.
There are also several horses with similar tactical speed who may compete for the same position.
I respect his recent form, but this is a much more difficult assignment.
Read more at Today's Racing Digest
