Race 1: Clm $10k 1 & 1/16thM
1st: #5 Eastport, claimed for $12.5k by Claudio in February and got a little turf mile exercise under his belt last weekend. Didn’t do much running but that doesn’t concern me at all. Gets back to dirt where he’s put up some hefty figures in the past and of course get’s back to doing what Claudio doesn’t best.
2nd: #2 Curlin’s Knight, best running came last summer at Saratoga around two turns. Didn’t win but ran more than respectably at $16k, which at Saratoga you have to think is at least 2 class levels above $10k at Laurel..
3rd: #1 Auld Lange Syne, similar train of thought here as the 5 Eastport, horse got some exercise over the turf two weeks ago and ran well enough to get the biggest Beyer of his career. Gets back to dirt which is the surface of his lone career win
Race 2: OC$25k 1 & 1/16thM Turf
1st: #7 Noble Lion, second back at 4 after a strong debut effort is always a reliable angle, not to mention that the winner of the first came back to win right here at Laurel Park at this condition by a 4 length margin. Nearly equaled his career best figure in the 2020 debut, have to think he will eclipse that effort and showed promise over this turf course last year for George Weaver with a 2nd place. Enough speed, especially to his inside, to setup a late run.
2nd: #13 Fast Master, not exactly the post you want but will likely come from far back regardless. First time turf finally for this one who probably has wanted turf all along but missed the warm weather months last year. The way Graham Motion is going at the moment on the turf (absolutely en fuego between Laurel, Belmont, and Churchill) can’t overlook a first time turfer.
3rd: #3 Toe Curlin Kiss, 12-1 ML and my guess is goes off at even higher odds. The turf try around two turns at Pim last year doesn’t jump off the page exactly, he made a late run to get within 6 lengths of the winners, but it’s the top horses in that race which make me think. Eons went on from that one to win two stakes at Del including the G3 Kent, and Largent has become a nice gelding himself winning 2 of 3 straight allowance events in Florida over the winter earning hefty figures.
Race 3: MdClm $16k F&M 5 & ½F
1st: #2 Lucky Ninety Nine, this is the type of race where you have to know when to simply take a favorite. Country Life Farm hombred that showed superior Beyers to this field when she was racing last spring, now back after a year but drops several class levels. Top local connections Trombetta + McCarthy. Shortens up first back, not getting cute here.
2nd: #9 Creative Alibi, two seconds locally including one time actually winning before being DQd. Two very nice efforts at or about this class level. Two nice recent drills.
3rd: #8 Awesome Pal, was just 3/4s of a length behind Creative Alibi in the Feb 27th race.
Race 4: OC$35k F&M 5 & ½F Turf
1st: #3 Hip Hop, one of my favorite turf sprinters last year seems to have the stars aligning for her today. She’s the type that really needs a good setup ahead of her, taking the results a bit out of her own hands (hooves?) But she’s not the type that comes from 15 lengths back and she only got better and better last year. Love that she’s already gotten a run into her since last year and it turned out to be a solid effort, closing late on some very fast horses. She will be better for it, and there’s plenty of speed she can stalk behind.
2nd: #1 Maybe an Omen, toyed with putting this one on top but a couple things working against her. She has the speed, and obviously has shown she can use it on turf. But those two wins last year were in smallish fields against other 2 year olds. Today she faces older horses for the first time as a barely 3 year old. Breaking from the rail she’s going to have to use all of her speed, but there’s a lot of it in this field and I don’t know if she has the stamina or quality yet to carry it the whole way around against these.
3rd: #9 Never Enough Time, probably a strong case to make for this one on top, but has been off a full year and will be first time on turf. Plenty of class on the dirt, maybe Trombetta knows she’s best on dirt but guess here is this is more of a fact-finding mission.
Race 5: MdClm $40k F&M 6F
1st: #8 Queen of Tomorrow, can easily toss the recent come back effort which was a turf sprint, obviously not what Claudio is good at or what this horse wants. My guess is that was just a jog for a little exercise. Clearly the horse has some ability, got a 60 Beyer last summer, Claudio can probably get her back to that level.
2nd: #2 Deco Strong, early speed, hasn’t quite gotten there yet, figures headed in the right direction before the pause.
3rd: #3 It’s Timeless, R Larry Johnson homebred debut effort for Trombetta/Pimentel. Been breezing steadily at Fair Hill. Dam has given birth to a number of winners, none that jump off the page.
Race 6: Clm $16k F&M 1 & 1/16thM Turf
1st: #1 Icy Lady, they definitely found what she wanted to do last October at the Meadowlands when they sent her around two turns on the turf. She might not be ready yet, but she should be improved now at 4.
2nd: #9 Annie Boo Boo, can draw a line through the finale last year, was competitive in open stakes company and routinely close in allowance company. Claiming tag waived.
3rd: #12 Shake D Moon, broke her maiden over the turf last year at Del and followed it up with a solid allowance performance. Back on turf today, also waiving claiming tag.
Race 7: Clm $5k 6F
1st: #5 Cape Lookout, figures simply superior and racing competitively at levels much higher than this. An obvious claiming opportunity at $5k. Also one of the last times we might ever see the Aqu inner dirt track symbol in the form.
2nd: #8 Parade of Nations, Claudio trainee second time back since the break, 8 for 30 locally.
3rd: #10 Black Stetson, couple real nice figures over the last year, a close second place effort in the first back.
Race 8: Alw $42k F&M 5 & ½F Turf
1st: #11 Beantown Baby, three straight Beyers in the 80s since getting on turf, now under the tutelage of one of the top turf trainers in the country Delacour. Somewhat concerning that she was 1-5 last out at Tampa and got beat. Will take my chances with a couple more months of training.
2nd: #13 Introduced, numerous really nice performances last year, can stalk off the pace and win.
3rd: #2 Golden Can, was massively overlooked last out making her turf debut for an unknown trainer and won at 45-1 at this distance. Will need to improve, but shouldn’t be such a long price.
Race 9: OC$25k 1M
1st: #6 Awesome DJ, 5 for 11 locally, including a career best 85 Beyer in his 5 length win locally two weeks ago.
2nd: #4 Hammerin Aamer, Sheldon Russell is the hottest jockey on earth and always a threat when he teams up with Brittany. This one last year finished just a head behind G1 winner Preservationist while earning a field best 97 Beyer.
3rd: #1 Divine Interventio, a personal favorite of mine, 4 for 14 locally including a last out win in February at this condition.
Race 10: Clm $12.5k 5 & ½F
1st: #12 Tale of E Dubai, so much speed in here, hasn’t been on turf in some time, but does have a win over the local lawn.
2nd: #4 Charlie Mops, some speed as well including a couple wins last year with some nice figures.
3rd: #5 Too Much Data, bona fide closer, has proven can come from well back.