Race 1: OC$25k F&M 1 & 1/16thM
1st: #3 Thesweetesttaboo, some of my favorite patterns here, an improving 3 year old who has shown a clear difference in form since entering the top Claudio Gonzalez barn (30%) earning a 70 and a 78 Beyer since the switch. Both wins over this surface including last out at the N1X allowance level by 2+ lengths.
2nd: #9 Lady Vicki, playing the improvement at age 3 since the switch to the Lacey Gaudet barn (35%). First off claim was a 57 Beyer, second improved to 68. Similar improvement during this third one puts her firmly in the mix to win. Loves the surface.
3rd: #7 Untaken, second last out to Thesweetesttaboo earning a 74 Beyer. She is 0 for 6 locally but 5 second place finishes. Think this will be another in the money finish without a win.
Race 2: Clm $8k 6F
1st: #6 Martywiththeparty, another out of the Gonzalez barn, this one showed his ability sufficiently at this level 2 and 3 back winning by 4 and 6 lengths respectively earning mid-70s Beyers. Last out they tried the Str Alw level and he faired respectably. Back to the $8k open level should be a winning spot.
2nd: #3 The Great Provider, struggled with whether or not to put this one on top, won last out at the $5k level and now goes for the Gaudet barn who is hitting at 26% 1st off the claim. Earlier this year was competitive at the OC$25k level. Definite contender.
3rd: #2 Scout’s Honor, two wins locally in the last couple months at the $8k and $5k levels, and most recently actually finished a length in front of #6 Marty in the Str Alw event on Nov 23. Maldonado not exactly in the circle of trust for me, just 1 for 30 at this meet.
Race 3: OC$25k F&M 5 & ½F
1st: #4 Pass a Mento, close readers of these pages will recall we picked this one in her last, an off-the-turf event at today’s distance and she ran all 11 of them off their feet winning by 3 ½ lengths earning a 73 Beyer. Think there’s even more improvement in her as well, sent off by the Gaudet barn. Beyers in 4 Laurel starts 38, 53, 65, 73.
2nd: #3 Over Exposed tremendous improvement up at Pen, depends what you think of the caliber of the fields at their allowance events, I’m not inclined to think too highly of them, but the Beyers are real here earning a 77 last out. Only beat 5 rivals by 1 length so she won’t go on top for me, but worth noting trainer Tim Kreiser is 3 for 7 shipping to this meet.
3rd: #1 Cocktail Waitress speedball out of the Gonzalez barn, she got away in front last out and never looked back, we’ll see if the 66 Beyer is good enough to beat this field. Will need to improve on that somewhat beating just 5 rivals.
Race 4: Maryland Juvenile Futurity Stakes $100k 7F
1st: #2 Our Braintrust, showed brilliant speed in his first two back in the spring winning the Tremont Stakes up at Bel in open company winning at 10-1 besting Sombeyay, who came back to win the G3 Sanford at Sar, and Mae Never No who came back to with the Colleen Stakes at Mth. Before that broke his maiden over this strip. If he’s ready this is probably the one to beat–the gate drill Nov 30 going 59 and 3 tells me he might be.
2nd: #4 Scrap Copper, this colt out of the Hamilton Smith barn has put together an impressive juvenile campaign thus far with 2 wins locally including the most recent JF Lewis Stakes against open stakes company where he earned a 77 Beyer. Colt shows impressive ability on both dirt and turf. Love the most recent drill here going 4F in 47 and 3 fastest of 65 that morning.
3rd: #3 Alwaysmining, out of the ever reliable Kelly Rubley barn, this is one o the most experienced colts in the field and has two winners locally. Last out won over a sloppy strip locally by 10 lengths earning a 68 Beyer.
Race 5: Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship Stakes $100k 7F
1st: #1 Belial, this filly has shown steady improvement each time she’s raced culminating in the OC$50k event Nov 17 here where she earned a field-best 69 Beyer.
2nd: #6 Questionoftheday, after winning at the OC$50k level here back in August, Trombetta tried the turf followed by a respectable showing in the Smart Halo Stakes finishing 4th by 8 lengths behind Congrats Gal who earlier this year was 2nd to Breeders Cup winner Jaywalk in the White Clay Creek at Del.
3rd: #9 No Mo Lady, the “other” Trombetta filly, this one just flashed a 59 Beyer in her best effort yet winning at the OC$50k level locally.
Race 6: Clm $5k 7F
1st: #9 Mo Focused, ignore most recent as it was his first off an 8 month freshening. Two back over this strip was his best lifetime effort winning by 8 lengths going away earning a 79 Beyer. We expect big improvement second off the layoff especially from the ever reliable Ollie Figgins barn.
2nd: #11 Turbin, another bad post position, as close readers will recall we picked this one in his last out where he broke terribly from the 13th post and was never a factor on a frozen Thanksgiving day surface. Expect something closer to the 2 and 3 back performances. Gaudet barn gives confidence.
3rd: #1 Sventastic, decent showing last out in the same race as Turbin and Mo Focused finishing second ahead of them earning a 57 Beyer. Rail draw could be a problem.
Race 7: Howard and Sondra Bender Memorial Stakes $75k 6F
1st: #5 Laki, taking recent form here. This one fresh off a second place finish in the G3 D Francis Mem Stakes locally where he earned a whopping 98 Beyer. 6 for 9 with 3 seconds here at Laurel makes the difference.
2nd: #6 Lewisfield, can definitely make a case for this one on top given he’s 5 for 8 locally with 2 second places finishes. He won on Maryland Million day and earned an 87 Beyer with a 98 DRF Speed Rating so maybe he simply didn’t like the surface up at Pen in the last out, but I don’t like the decreasing Beyer figs. Exacta play possible here with these two.
3rd: #1 Sonny Inspired, this 7 year old has earned north of $600k in his lifetime running evenly in races like this one, doesn’t usually make it on top but runs consistently with Beyers in the 80s.
Race 8: MdClm $10k 5 & ½F
1st: #6 Telecommunication, have you heard me mention that Jeremiah Englehart is winning at 38% shipping to this meet? This one descended to this level last out after some solid efforts in New York and ran a close second over the track earning a career best 52 Beyer. Think we’ll see a little more improvement also.
2nd: #7 Gotnoquit, once highly thought of ($210k purchase in 2015) has descended the ladder through 13 career starts for the Gonzalez barn. Has run in him but the pattern isn’t good. Two back at this level lost by just a length earning a 55 Beyer.
3rd: #5 L’Overture, I couldn’t blame you if you took this one on top; he’s has shown steady Beyer improvement in his young career, I’m just not sure what the reason for the layoff was since August and the local drills are not inspiring.
Race 9: MdClm $10k F&M 5 & ½ F
1st: #6 Di, check out the workout back on Sep 22 at Del: 4F in 47 and 1 breezing from the gate, wow! This one clearly has run in her, she’s improved each time out and is getting some class relief here, her first attempt for the worthy Jamie Ness barn (20% this year).
2nd: #4 Flirtation Walk, flashed a 40 Beyer two back at the $16k level finishing second and 3 lengths ahead of third place but regressed in her last. Perhaps got a bad trip among 14 starters and might get away easier here.
3rd: #9 Weekends for Work, decent drills locally and two solid attempts at the $16k and $25k levels. Class relief should help.