Race 1: OC$25k 6F
1st: #6 Sunman, we’ve selected this one on top in the past recently, definitely a good sign that Claudio Gonzalez is bringing him back just 7 days later. As you can see he’s ran right behind some stakes quality horses Win Win Win and Wendell Fong. Highest Beyers in the field, should be good enough today.
2nd: #3 First Talent, has been competitive at the allowance level over at Charles Town, this will perhaps be a step up in class but Jeff Runco does a good job. Would be more interested to see him on a dry track that we probably won’t get but he should be competitive here.
3rd: #2 Honor Run, just recently broken his maiden at the $25k level although he earned an impressive 71 Beyer besting 9 rivals. Significant step up in class today.
Race 2: MdClm $25k 1M Turf
1st: #8 Mutaraabit, mid 60s and last spring even mid 70s Beyers should be good enough. He descends all the way from MdSpWt to this level although it will be his first try on turf.
2nd: #13 Dynastic, Timothy Keefe moves this one down from MdClm$40k where he didn’t exactly run well. Will try the turf and two turns.
3rd: #1 Canal Point, has run decently going two turns on dirt. Hard to know how hell do on turf.
Dirt picks: 8-4-3
Race 3: Alw $42k 1M
1st: #2 Totalitario, 3 straight Beyers in the 80s to go along with his mastery of Laurel (3 wins and 3 seconds in 7 tries) should make this one good enough to finally win this condition. Retains services of top local pilot McCarthy.
2nd: #4 Throw the Fade, also sent out by Kieron Magee and also showing Beyers in the low 80s. 3 wins in 5 tries locally, 2 of which came at the OC$25k level. Should be amongst the pace scenario.
3rd: #5 Monteleone, Linda Rice sends this one down to Laurel for the first time. She’s 2 for 2 so far shipping down to Laurel during the spring meeting and this one popped a 94 Beyer in the 3 back on a sloppy Aqueduct surface. More recently gone off form.
Race 4: Alw $42 F&M 1M Turf
1st: #4 Kailee, Irish bred horse now trained by Timothy Keefe tried allowance company on turf down at Gulfstream Park when that colony is extremely tough and earned a 4th place finish and a 75 Beyer figure. 3 straight improving performances, expect a 4th.
2nd: #1 Ellyb, have to like Arnaud Delacour coming up from Florida. This one broke her maiden at first asking on turf and earned a nice 71 Beyer. Came back at the OC$75k level and ran evenly but didn’t gain much at the end earning only a 62 Beyer. The second place finisher did come back to win and this spot should be a somewhat simpler affair.
3rd: #3 Something Magical, staying on the inside here, this one had seemed to find herself last winter and spring here at Laurel but it’s been almost a year since we’ve seen her out. Probably needs at least a race.
Dirt picks:10-2-11
Race 5: The Frank Whiteley Jr Stakes $100k 6F
1st: #5 Lewisfield, Lewisfield or Laki, Laki or Lewisfield? How many times have we pondered that question on these pages? Today we go with Lewisfield. He came back from that brief freshening in the Not For Love Stakes last out and was clearly better off for it blitzkreiging the field that day which included a fading Laki, among others. Second off that freshening he could still improve.
2nd: #3 Home Run Maker, a pet favorite of mine as I feel I really watched him come into his own as a stakes horses especially after that win in the Fire Plug Stakes where he earned a 96 Beyer. He dueled in the General George but it proved too tough for him. Wouldn’t be surprised if he wins here.
3rd: #2 Laki, almost gives a top quality effort, especially the past 5 attempts with Beyers in the 90s. Depends how the track is playing.
Race 6: The King T. Leatherbury Stakes $100k 5 & 1/2F Turf
1st: #11 Proforma, don’t usually play horses off layoffs like this, but this one had such an excellent fall campaign that he looks the class of the field. The last out on Thanksgiving earned him a 98 Beyer and the winner of that came back to win. Obviously the Grade 3 win at Kentucky Downs is a big resume booster and the recent drills prepping for this test are so solid. Retains services of McCarthy as well.
2nd: #1 American Sailor, this would be a price play if you’re looking for something a little more interesting. Hasn’t been out since January when he got clipped at the wire at Sam Houston after setting ridiculous 43 and 3 half mile fraction. Love the recent drills, speed ball gets rail draw which should put him in position on the turn.
3rd: #15 Tricks to Doo, brutal 15 post draw, will need to use more speed than he normally wants. $600k buy from the OBS sale in 2017 being sent out by Delacour, only third career turf try.
Dirt Picks: 4-11-6
Race 7: The Primonetta Stakes $100k F&M 6F
1st: #2 Ms Locust Point, thought she might be a bit over the hill after she lost the lead in the Fritchie this year, although Late Nite Pow Wow and Spiced Perfection are certainly excellent horses. This one has run with some of the best in her career and absolutely owns this strip going 4 for 6 with a second locally. Perfect spot for her in this ungraded stake on her home surface. Love the paid workout at Parx last time out. A wet track shouldn’t be an obstacle either.
2nd: #5 Shimmering Aspen, another Laurel lover, winner of 5 of 10 locally, this one ran decently in the Fritchie although not as well as MLP. Might not be quite on that level but she’s certainly shown her quality in the morning drills, love the most recent going 59 flat breezing.
3rd: #3 Cairenn, feel like this one has been around the block more than she has, but she did try Grade 1 company at Sar last summer and wasn’t totally embarrassed. Motion hasn’t been shy about trying Graded company with her, probably a bit over her head but she fits here. Retains services of McCarthy.
Race 8: The Dahlia Stakes $100k F&M 1M Turf
1st: #1 Viva Vegas, recently in hot pursuit of some of the best girls on turf, she was just a half length behind Hawksmoor in the G3 Endeavour Stakes at Tampa two back and just 3 lengths behind Chad Brown’s Rymska in the G3 Hillsborough last out. Gets rail post draw which should help put her in solid position for the first turn if she doesn’t get bottled up.
2nd: #6 La Moneda, at the risk of getting too cute, she is clearly a high quality mare but has shown previously that she needs a race off layoffs. In each of her last two races she was passed in the stretch after 2 months away from the track. Solid exacta play.
3rd: #9 Secret Message, this Motion filly is a Grade 3 winner coming out for the first time at age 4 after a 6 month absence after a 6th place finish in the G1 QEII at Keeneland where she finished 10 lengths behind the beast Rushing Fall. Was also G2 placed in between those races at Belmont last September. Wanted to put higher but have a feeling she’ll be using this race as a prep for her 4 year old season.
Dirt Picks: 14-2-5
Race 9: The Weber City Miss Stakes $125k 3 Year Old Fillies 1 & 1/16thM
1st: #6 Las Setas, really weak field for this vintage of the Weber City, we’re sticking with the hottest local 3 year old filly who has done everything they’ve asked of her in style. Last out they tried her at a mile and it looked like she wanted to run all day, no one ever seriously contended. Today will be her first two turn trip, but I don’t expect anything again to seriously challenge. 7-5ML will probably end up being 3-5.
2nd: #2 Pat’s No Fool, improved the Beyer slightly to take a NY-bred Stakes event at Aqueduct going 1M at 16-1. Two back handled two turns here at Laurel decently although didn’t win.
3rd: #3 Trapped N My Mind, definitely improving and should excel second time out at age three. Tough ask of a Maiden to try open stakes company.
Race 10: The Federico Tesio Stakes $125k for 3 Year Olds 1 & 1/8thM
1st: 2 Alwaysmining, what is there left to say about this one? Since entering the Kelly Rubley barn he has transformed into a bona fide Kentucky Derby level horse, although the connections have chosen to bypass that route for this one pointing instead towards the Preakness. There will be a lot of debate in the coming weeks about that decision, especially if (when?) he takes this one. Last out was the big test when they asked him to go two turns for the first time and it was a total laugher as he shot from the gate and did his thing the whole way around earning a career-best 96 Beyer. 1-5ML tells you all you need to know. Just watch the tote board… 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12.
2nd:1 Bozzini, has shown improvement in the last two since turning three, was nosed out by Still Dreaming who is a borderline stakes horse at the OC$50k level. Will need to improve massively.
3rd:5 Tybalt, the also ran behind Alwaysmining in a number of his races. Will similarly need to improve huge here.
Race 11: The Henry S. Clark Stakes $100k 1M Turf
1st: 8 Real Story, a lot of patterns I really like here, second time out at age 4 after a really solid allowance try down at Gulfstream Park in March just getting passed at the wire going longer than today’s distance. Will be better for that effort after showing his quality last summer winning the Grade 3 American Derby at Arlington Park going 9F and earning a 106 DRF Speed Rating. Will be better for the effort last out and gets distance relief.
2nd:3 Irish Strait, son of the champion English Channel trained by Graham Motion, this one was just a length behind bona fide graded stakes horses Inspector Lynley and Divisidero in the G3 Tampa Bay Stakes last out earning a 97 Beyer. Very high quality.
3rd:10 Just Howard, Motion’s “other” horse also a son of English Channel gets McCarthy to ride today and is 4 for 5 locally over this lawn including winning the G3 Commonwealth Derby in September 2017 here. This will be his first time out since October, think he needs a race.