Race 1: StrAlw $5k F&M 6F
1st: #5 Lonely Drifter, class of the field in terms of quality of races competed in successfully and speed figures. Not to mention 8 for 16 here at Laurel with 5 other board-hitting efforts. 8 wins in 14 starts last year, this mare is a beast. Long layoff nearing 8 months at this point, but I’d point to Anthony Farrior’s 5 for 7 statistic with horses coming off 6 month+ layoffs. Astounding.
2nd: #3 Rein Supreme, was tempted to pick this one on top as she’s 9 for 23 locally herself and has a race under her built off the layoff, which should make her a bit sharper. But she’s a little less reliable in terms of winning as Lonely Drifter and the comeback effort was a little weak for a 6 horse affair at Penn National.
3rd: #7 Di, consistent last year at this level and has a race under her belt since the lockdown ended.
Race 2: MdClm $10k F&M 6F
1st: #7 Tenderness, sort of throwing up my hands here and going with chalk. Jamie + 7lb bug boy Charlie Marquez for a horse that has a couple decent figures and has faced tougher in her career dropping to lowest level. Don’t have much else on this one.
2nd: #2 Awesome Pal, last race before the lockdown showed considerable improvement and barely lost going 5 & ½ while closing. The most recent race in June however was so bad, cant pick her on top.
3rd: #4 Beckinsale, has faced much tougher in her career, daughter of Curlin and goes back to the dirt for competent trainer Jeremiah O’Dwyer.
Race 3: OC$50k 5 & ½F Turf
1st: #2 Jammer, first two times out so far this year have not been pretty, but I’ll toss the last out effort when he was “fractious in the gate” according to the track comments. This horse has proven he can win at this level and can run at the speed necessary to beat these foes. Perhaps he goes as the longest shot on the board but that would be a mistake by the bettors. He obviously needs the pace to set up for him in front and there is some speed in here from the 4, 5, 6, & the 8. This is the moment to bet Jammer who will be overlooked.
2nd: #3 Tricks to Doo, if you’re not willing to bet the longshot, this is one is the logical choice probably. Delacour horses always threats on the turf. This one has put up some big figures in stakes company including a 93 in the King T. Leatherbury stakes locally last year. Hasn’t won since January of last year in Tampa and likely to take a ton of money.
3rd: #4 Completed Pass, a stakes winner on the turf last year earning a trio of upper-90s Beyers. This is his third back of the year and I’m surprised he hasn’t won yet. Logical.
Race 4: MdClm $10k F&M 6F
1st: #4 Sophie Rules, this one drops to lowest level of her career and gets back on the dirt after a couple unsuccessful turf attempts between Bel and locally. Sheldon and Brittany team up for heavy weight owners Madaket and Michael Dubb. Once thought highly enough to try MdSpWt events in New York, this is a far cry from that.
2nd: #9 Keeper in Spite, probably will be bet a little more than the 5-2ML, she’s narrowly missed at this level and distance in both of her previous two. Shows a lot of speed but 0-6 so far. Good bet against.
3rd: #8 Foalsfillyspecial, first timers for Cal Lynch hitting at 23% and how can you beat that name? Go birds baby.
Race 5: Clm $16k 5 & ½F Turf
1st: #4 El Dulce, once very promising son of Twirling Candy was stakes placed in the Skidmore after breaking his maiden at Sar in 2017. Many iterations later, after more wins including a claiming event at Sar last year, this one winds up with Kieron Magee and gets Julian Pimental. There is a lot of speed in this race, and this one attended a hot pace last out and tired, but it was his first back off the lockdown. Guessing he’ll be better prepared for today’s try and believe he has a class advantage of the other speedballs in here.
2nd: #3 Geyser, do love this type of running line coming from 12 lengths back to beaten only a half. But he never actually gets up at the wire even though the pace in that last one was 21 and 3 and 44 flat. Does have the Beyer edge over Dulce.
3rd: #6 Cooke Brothers, looks like Lacey wanted to get this one on turf last out but it washed off. He ended up winning anyway, but my guess is turf is the goal and he’ll be better for it today.
Race 6: Clm $5k F&M 7F
1st: #7 Heelstothesky, a long and winding road for this one. Was once featured in a number of high-quality state-bred events in Pennsylvania and showcased himself well, earning a 78 Beyer when beaten 5 lengths behind Mid-Atlantic legend Bronx Beauty back in 2018. Was off two years and is attempting a comeback, appears to be headed in the right direction, hope that back-class comes out today at this lowly $5k level.
2nd: #6 Si Mamacita, acquitted herself well amongst much tougher over the winter, drops to lowest level today.
3rd: #4 Girl Next Door, likely to see a similar effort today as last when making up some lengths in the stretch. “By-faders” seems appropriate.
Race 7: MdClm $40k F&M 5 & ½F Turf
1st: #10 Coconut Cake, clear standout in this race I am very surprised by the 3-1ML, think more like even money by post time. Field-best 66 Beyer in her debut when attempting to close from 15 lengths back. To finish just a half a length behind the winner there at 22-1 is impressive. That she’s stepping down from MdSpWt is even better. She’s got the breeding for sure, Bandbox by Tapit on top out of an English Channel mare. Sheldon Russell was supposed to ride here but is off his mounts unfortunately with a broken wrist. Still a good sign he chose this one before the injury.
2nd: #6 Perfect Kind, hard to improve on Graham Motion for turf trainers, but Kelly Rubley smart to get this one in here and doesn’t have to drop her in for a tag because it is her first back since the lockdown ended (actually since last October, but for waiving the tag purposes she hasn’t raced since the lockdown ended). When Kelly has a horse breezing in 48 seconds over the Fair Hill Tapeta they are going to run well.
3rd: #9 Bound for Broadway, will be close to the front if not on the very front, but has to step up in class today, though able to waive the claiming tag because she’s MD-bred. Notice the final time from her race—1:04 and 1 compared to Coconut Cake’s 1:01 and 4. Big difference.
Race 8: Clm $5k 5 & ½F
1st: #3 Ummu Ummu Ummu, first start off the layoff was a decent 70 Beyer 4th place finish at 6-1 at 6F. That effort usually good enough to win this one. Earns a bit of distance relief today and gets the 7 lb bug boy.
2nd: #4 Hammers Vision, simply ran them off their feet in the last when attending a very stiff pace. 2 for 3 so far since coming back from the layoff. Beyers haven’t taken than notable step back in the right direction toward his form from last year.
3rd: #2 Ticker Tape Parade, tendency to make up lengths in the stretch, Beyers are consistently decent enough.
Race 9: OC$35k 1 & 1/8thM Turf
1st: #3 Artemus Bridge, ignore this colts efforts on dirt and his record is tremendous. A couple of higher priced claiming wins including a win at Saratoga at this distance when in for a $40k tag at 11-1 is quite an effort which qualifies him well for this event. First back off the layoff and he was ready at Del winning an N1X at 7-1. Record suggests will eat up more distance and gets some pace to his outside to close in on. Regally bred son of Verrazano out of a Kitten’s Joy mare.
2nd: #2 Mokheef, another that seems to relish going long on the turf, the two back event at 12 furlongs is an eye-popping running line from being 9th by 18 lengths to second by 1 to first by 4 in 3 calls is astounding. The prep for this one was decent, should be ready today.
3rd: #5 Posterity, proven closer that infrequently gets up to win but will always make a late run.
Race 10: Clm $16k F&M 1M Turf
1st: #2 Olive’s Bumpa, lone turf try came in October of last year at the OC$40k level and it was certainly respectable 3rd place at 14-1. Surprised its taken this long to get back to this surface.
2nd: #10 Dnacing Contessa, improving efforts in the two back since the lockdown including a 62 Beyer last out beaten a length and a half by Stiva, one of my faves.
3rd: #8 Instinctive, returns to the surface of her maiden-breaking score and also a decent OC$25k try last September. Will improve.