Race 1: Clm $5k 5 & ½F
1st: #1 Port Louis, needs a bit of pace to run into but the last effort was really strong, just missing by a head bob against $14k company earning a 66 Beyer. Looks to be plenty of speed towards the outside for him to stalk.
2nd: #7 No Mistake N Me, consistently forwardly placed, I think you can throw out whacky results at Parx, that Beyer came back so poor. Is a definite threat here having won 2 of his 4 starts locally including the two back at this condition.
3rd: #5 Tambora, part of the speed contingent, stamina is a concern, but has been facing higher quality and performing adequately.
Race 2:Clm $8k 6F
1st: #4 Pressdamusicbutton, went off at 27-1 and got beat by less than a length in the second out try as a three year old. Can see the considerable improvement since joining the Potts barn and turning three, projecting more improvement here.
2nd: #2 Candy Wompus, Ness sends this one away on a slight class drop donw from the $12.5k level where he was running decently. MG Broker stole away big time in the last out and Expect Drama and Charging Lion came back to finish 1-2 last Saturday here at Laurel, so the race was live.
3rd: #5 Crypto Currency, turf to dirt as Anthony Pecoraro brings his string northward with the conclusion of the GP championship meet. Last two works are solid.
Race 3: Clm $8k Fillies Three Years Old 6F
1st: #4 No Refunds, first time out at three was excellent effort earning a 48 Beyer and winning going away by 4 lengths at this condition. I especially like the way she rated and took control midway through and expect improvement second time out. Wouldn’t be surprised if she gets claimed here.
2nd: #1 Allison K, showing improvement she broke the Maiden first time out at 3 and followed it up with another win after getting claimed for $10k. Was claimed again back by Hugh McMahon and here she is again at $8k. Definite contender having won two in a row at this condition.
3rd: #5 Starr Designer, showing Beyer improvement of late, will be interesting to see how she performs over a dry strip now that she’s a little more seasoned.
Race 4: Clm $8k F&M 5 & ½F
1st: #7 Rapid Route, coming off the win at Tampa for Hubert Gaffney, that race turned out to be live as the third place finisher came back to win. Retains the same rider for this one.
2nd: #9 Angelina’s Star, aided by the speed favoring track in her last, she obviously has a propensity for this strip finishing in the money in 8 of 9 local tries. Shortening up here should help.
3rd: #5 Cocktail Waittress, decent effort in allowance company at Charles Town, should be part of the early pace scenario.
Race 5: MdClm $10k F&M 5 & ½F
1st: #6 Gaby Vee, first time being sent out by Claudio Gonzalez, who is hitting 27% with debuters for his barn. Two modest efforts, one locally, didn’t embarrass.
2nd: #2 Myladycharlotte, showed improvement in her debut this year earning a 23 Beyer and beating 5 rivals. Expect improvement second time out.
3rd: #8 Loveanor, second time out this year should showcase her improvement as she looks to get back to her debut effort form from last April. Shortens up here and the last race turned out very live as second and third place finishers came back to win.
Race 6: OC$35k F&M 5 & ½F
1st: #5 Velocita Brillante, with so much speed to the inside (1, 2, & 3 should all vie for the lead) I looked for something with the ability to close. Two and three back efforts were the result of middle/stretch moves and she was pulling away in each. In her last she got a pretty quick pace against state-bred stakes horses and rallied from 6 lengths back to just 3 at the wire. Given another strong pace I can see her reaching the wire first.
2nd: #2 Yes I Dance, Yes I’m taking this one in second despite being involved is what is sure to be a blistering pace. I get the sense they think very highly of him after he broke his maiden at first asking and following it up with a win at the OC$50k level last April here at Laurel. Perhaps he needs the seasoning under his belt as it’s been 9 months since he’s been out, but the gate drill on Mar 16 is fantastic, was the first of 29 that day.
3rd: #4 Margie’s Money, again looking for something that can close late, she has shown ability to make up lengths in the stretch and has 5 wins in 15 tries locally.
Race 7: MdClm $40k 3 Year Olds 7F
1st: #2 Marylander, love the first out effort earning a field-best 65 Beyer, making up nearly 4 lengths in the stretch and finishing 2 lengths in front of Closer Look the 1 horse. Expect him to move forward, most recently drill is solid.
2nd: #1 Closer Look, obvious second choice, retains services of Trevor McCarthy and gets the blinkers. Maybe that’ll make the difference here.
3rd: #7 Reds Winning Call, two decent efforts last fall, should move forward today but probably needs a race before really contending for the win.
Race 8: Clm $8k F&M 6F
1st: #3 Stay Good, a classic Rudy Rodriguez shipper where she’s not clearly outclassed in New York but isn’t quite at that level. She did miss by just two lengths at the $16k level in New York last out, drops to her lowest level yet, will be sub-even money.
2nd: #6 Roman Holiday, second time out at 4 should improve off that first effort which is decent albeit at the lowest class rung. Even efforts.
3rd: #8 Call Me Jelly Roll, always honest. Don’t expect much.
Race 9: MdClm $10k F&M 5 & ½F
1st: #2 Midnight Mass, rarely pick a debuter, but only 5.5F here and gets services of top local pilot McCarthy. Charles Lynch has started one debuter this year and he went off at 27-1 and he won. Some nice drills mixed in.
2nd: #1 Four Lady, Dale Capuano sends this debuter out with Weston Hamilton aboard. Capuano is 6 for 10 this year with debuters, extremely strong.
3rd: #8 Kojo’s Queen, first time back to the track since July, has thrown some decent Beyers in the past….