Race 1: Clm $16k F&M 1 & 1/16thM Turf
1st: #10 Stiva, close followers of these pages will recall our best bet of the day was this filly in her win at this condition two weeks ago. Regally bred by Animal Kingdom, the dam’s line goes through sires Alphabet Soup and Cozenne. Since she’s figured out the gate it’s been nothing but good stuff on both surfaces, expect Perez to be using early, she’s better than this field.
2nd: #9 Who U Gonna Call, first out effort this year was a very good effort sprinting to rally 5 lengths in the stretch and hit the board at 44-1. Stretches back out to two turns, a distance she won at last year at this price. Great chance here.
3rd: #4 Princess Georgia, a winner last year in claiming ranks, her first effort this year was against much tougher competition and she earned a decent 58 Beyer. 5 lb bug doesn’t hurt.
Race 2: MdClm $40k F&M 1M
1st: #7 Artistic Reason, Graham Motion is absolutely en fuego this year between Maryland and New York. This one tried dirt and turf attracting Maryland’s top jockey in both of her starts and fared a bit better on dirt. Going from 6F to a mile today, Motion has a surprisingly high win % moving from turf to dirt, 29%. Looks like the type that wants more distance. She’s a half sister to Majestic Reason, winner of the G3 Barbara Fritchie earlier this year and G2 placed at Belmont last year.
2nd: #5 Super Hudini, first start was respectable earning a solid 59 Beyer and came with a “belated” rally to finish 5th at 34-1. Second in that race came back to graduate at this level. Candidate to improve.
3rd: #3 Silent Malice, always like to play against favorites like this. She’s had 6 starts and has hit the board 4 times, including a second place effort last out at this level on a wet track. But we basically know what type of horse she is and she isn’t showing much improvement from race to race. Could easily win, will look elsewhere.
Race 3: Clm $16k F&M 6F
1st: #4 Polished Copper, Claudio Gonzalez horses always warrant a look at 5-1ML. This one happened to have broken her maiden on the turf at GP but did no running in the Laurel turf debut last out. Take that as just an afternoon of exercise and she was 9-1 that day in much tougher company. Dropping in for $16k tag, retains Cintron, Claudio has this dirt race circled as the one he wants. Did do some running at much higher class levels on dirt at Saratoga and Churchill last year.
2nd: #1 Halfinthewrapper, ignore the turf try last out in much tougher waters, this is where this one belongs. She’s shown speed in every one of her races thus far and should fare well blazing from the gate at 6F at this level.
3rd: #7 Zig, another favorite I’m happy to play against. She’s just 1 for 12 lifetime here at Laurel and was just passed in the stretch at the $10k level in June when favored at 6-5.
Race 4: OC$25k 5 & ½F Turf
1st: #6 Hay Boy, this has got to be the best bet of the day. This one is eligible for this race by way of never having won three AND having started for a claiming price of $25k or less. Was entered in this exact same condition last out, his 2020 debut and it was a winning one, beating 10 other rivals and earning a career-best 80 Beyer when sent off as a lukewarm favorite. Second place finisher in that one came back to win an OC event of his own. Does his best work on turf and should improve off that 2020 debut. Best bet of the day.
2nd: #2 Ziggy Mon, a front runner whose first out effort since the lockdown was a solid second place finish at this condition beating Bullets Child who came back to win an allowance of his own. Maybe hoping this one gets rained off the turf, but I should think the speed will carry over to the lawn anyhow.
3rd: #8 By the Sey Shore, has a couple of the best Beyers in the field down at GP going the short 5F trip down there under Luis Saez. Only one of them was a win and it was in claiming company. Fits well here.
Race 5: MdClm $25k F&M 5 & ½F Turf
1st: #10 Hydra, has speed and from the 10 post will be forced to send immediately going this short sprint distance. “Weakened” after setting the pace in the turf debut last out but should be better off for it. Second time on the grass definitely eligible to improve.
2nd: #2 Dixie’s Fascinator, finished less than a length in front of Hydra in the last and can certainly improve herself. Perhaps with a hotter pace this time out she will be the play. I see less of a reason for her improvement than Hydra, but should be better second time out.
3rd: #3 Lilah Mae, Kelly Rubley rarely ventures into claiming company, this one was much overmatched in her 2020 debut. Dropping massively in class and distance, but I can’t see I’d be thrilled to bet her here.
Race 6: OC$35k 7F
1st: #8 Absentee, can’t say enough about the quality of the Colts Neck/Duarte crew, they’ve been live in every race since the return from the break. Took a while last year for this one to get his feet under him after some turf tries. One turn on dirt looks to be his wheelhouse and note the 7F win up at Aqueduct to finish off the year last year. A really solid first start as a 4 year old last out losing to Eastern Bay, himself a very high quality allowance horse, and earned his career-best 83 Beyer. Will absolutely improve off that one and gets an added furlong back to the 7/8ths he won at last year. Perfect post position will allow him to sit a few lengths off the lead and make him run at the top of the lane.
2nd: #4 Bobby G, really tough to go against this one. 10 for 18 lifetime at Laurel park and fresh off an 87 Beyer at this condition going a full mile. Do think he wants a bit more distance.
3rd: #3 Cerulean Springs, a favorite of mine, there’s no doubt this horse can close like a freight train. Beyer last out indicated wasn’t quite ready, but when in form he can run with anyone as the PPs indicate. Has run within 3 lengths of so many high quality allowance/stakes types. With the right pace scenario this one will be flying late. May need one more start to find his best.
Race 7: MdClm $16k 1M Turf
1st: #5 Flushed, this will actually be his first start on turf on the flat after three tries over hurdles for the Hall of Famer Jonathan Sheppard. A couple of his previous flat tries came on the Tapeta at Presque Isle and they were some solid efforts.
2nd: #7 Daper’s Drink, showed some ability in two turf tries last year at this claiming price. Improved big from first to second start this year.
3rd: #3 Really Felix, blinkers on, dropping in class, second out this year should improve. Gets Sheldon to ride.
Race 8: MdSpWt $40k 5 & ½F Turf
1st: #8 Percentage, first time out this year as a 3 year old, and first time out for new trainer Kelly Rubley and first time racing with Lasix. Spent his two year old season with Christophe Clement who thought highly enough of him to try open MdSpWt company at Bel last year. The workouts since he’s been transferred to Fair Hill are what really stand out to me. 4 straight 48 second breezes with perfect spacing, 3 of them bullet drills. When Kelly has them working like that they are ready to win. Gets Sheldon Russell, who could be the top jockey at Laurel today with Trevor McCarthy at Delaware.
2nd: #7 Jestful, his lone turf try was a respectable 4th place effort just a length behind in his career debut. Not sure he’ll be ready with no races under his belt since November, but does get Lasix for the first time.
3rd: #1 Josef Is Real, a nice career debut earning a 61 Beyer on dirt and adds blinkers today for his first try on turf. Connections give me confidence and the most recent workout is excellent, 47 and 1 breezing.
Race 9: OC$35k F&M 1M
1st: #1 Artful Splatter, third off the layoff, this one looks absolutely ready to take it all the way after a terrible come-back try on turf and a slightly lacking conditioning second back effort. She should have all the stamina she needs today and is 6 for 11 at Laurel and 4 for 6 at this distance. Last year she won restricted stakes event and numerous races at this condition.
2nd: #5 Jennemily, if she’s ready she is probably the fastest, but the last out effort before the layoff was terrible and the breezes are nothing spectacular. She does own the best Beyer in the field in the two back.
3rd: #3 Indy Union, we haven’t seen too much of Jeremiah Englehart at Laurel, this one was once just 7 lengths behind Midnight Bisou as a 3 year old but she hasn’t won since 2018.
Race 10: [R] Alw $35k 1 & 1/8thM Turf
1st: #8 McElmore Avenue, Brittany and Sheldon team up for this one who earned his career best 78 Beyer in his 2020 debut which also was his first time on the turf when sent away at a whopping 48-1. Will absolutely improve off that race and was closing fast to finish just a length behind Outofthepark who came back from that one to win another allowance race. Have to think the added distance will do nothing but good for him. Really excited to bet this one.
2nd: #7 Golazo, another one who tried turf for the first time last and it was obviously the correct surface. He earned a career best 74 Beyer when going two turns 7 & ½ at Del and was gaining at 99-1(!). Also will benefit from another 3/16ths.
3rd: #12 Nick Papagiorgio, won’t have the lead to himself, but did just win on the front end on this turf but at the $12.5k claiming level going 1 & 1/16th. Should be challenged up front, how far will he last?
Race 11: MdClm $10k 7F
1st: #2 Bayano, last race of the day, not going to overthink. This one was second in his last out, beating 10 rivals at this condition earning a 51 Beyer, better than any other horse in the field has. Marco Salazar a capable trainer 6 for 20 this year.
2nd: #5 Air Token, an argument to be made that this one will likely step forward more than Bayano, but he was fading in the last going only 5 & ½. Should be better for the 2020 debut, but might be too far.
3rd: #3 Elusive Motion, did improve from first asking, still didn’t show much speed. Capuano + Sheldon Russell do inspire confidence.