Race 1: Clm $5k F&M 6F
1st: #1 Fender Baby, Wayne Potts trainee has a lot of speed and she’ll need it from the rail. Her last start back in March over this strip she also broke from the rail, got the lead and ran them off their feet at this condition, slightly shorter. But she’s 3 for 5 at this distance. Claiming tag waived.
2nd: #4 Dorothyfromdublin, don’t think her running style is the best, she’s likely going to be toward the back and things will have to really shape up for her in terms of pace. Will make a late run.
3rd: #3 Trimmed in Grey, this one has a decent running style, having proven that she can stalk a pace and take over down the lane.
Race 2: Clm $16k F&M 1 & 1/16thM Turf
1st: #1 Instinctive, can easily toss the two most recent performances on dirt. In some ways, that Mary Eppler thought she might be capable of competing up in NY is a sign that she has some quality. Two most recent starts on turf were more than solid including a nice 63 Beyer in OC$25k company. Should be more mature as a 4 year and the most recent breeze at Pim is impressive.
2nd: #4 Chasing Helicity, definitely nice Beyers and competitive in large fields. A lot of losses.
3rd: #6 Sayyida Al Hurrra, she doesn’t really interest me at all, her only win was on the dirt and has been going backwards lately at Tampa. Graham Motion’s barn is on fire and gets top local pilot, can’t write off completely.
Race 3: Clm $10k 6F
1st: #4 Dirtyfoot, simply the highest class and fastest animal in here. Competitive in allowance company, even won a few last year earning a couple 80s Beyers. In for $10k. Great claiming opportunity. Almost makes you wonder.
2nd: #7 Baptize the Boy, hate to say it, just can’t overlook Claudio in dirt sprints off the layoff. Some decent figs.
3rd: #8 Always Forgiven, was headed in the right direction before the pause. Back class from his days in California.
Race 4: MdClm $10k F&M 6F
1st: #1 Le Petite Papillon, hate taking first time starters especially breaking from the rail. So many things can happen to a green horse from there. But she’s been breezing very nicely at Fair Hill, assume she is decently well meant. Gets Trevor McCarthy.
2nd: #3 Fast Intentions, probably a more logical bet. Has experience, dropping in class, blinkers on and has shown speed in her last 3. Distance a question mark.
3rd: #10 Mouse Cat, Hugh McMahon takes over and adds blinkers to this miss who is getting out for a second time.
Race 5: OC$25k F&M 5 & ½F Turf
1st: #1 Jenn’s the Boss, bit of a stand out here for me, not sure about the 5-1 morning line. Horse’s two best efforts came over this turf last year as a two year old in MdSpWt company. Can toss the dirt tries, horse has speed and gets the top local pilot for one of the best barns.
2nd: #3 Bellamy Knows, familiar connections here but Claudio on the turf isn’t what he is on the dirt. This one has some class having won in open company in NY at 7F last year.
3rd: #5 Alleria, headed in the right direction at the end of last year. Sheldon won on her in October but the distance relief might indicate this is more of a tune up.
Race 6: Alw $42k 5 & ½F
1st: #1 Off the Record, can’t lay off these rail horses! This one showed massive promise breaking his maiden at Saratoga at first asking last summer as a three year old for Rodolphe Brisset. Got bet a bit in the first level allowance second out where he earned a field-best 87 Beyer. It was all down hill after that and after a couple trainer switches he ends up with the ever-capable Cal Lynch and has been breezing so nicely here at Laurel. Gets back on track in this short sprint.
2nd: #4 Thatwouldbegrand, Capuano once thought highly enough of this one that he tried the Hopeful two summers ago at Saratoga and he didn’t disgrace himself, getting beaten 6 lengths by Mind Control, the prominent multiple G1 winner. Shortens up after many tries going longer sprints.
3rd: #8 Wondrwherecraigis, Brittany and Sheldon team up for heavy weights Michael Dubb and the Elkstone Group with this one who broke his maiden at first asking getting an impressive 83 Beyer in a short winter-time field locally. Love to bet against ML favs that haven’t faced winners yet.
Race 7: OC$50k 1 & 1/16thM Turf
1st: #8 Zumurudee, class on the grass and this one has the class. In January was just a length behind Dot Matrix in the G3 Connally. Consistently in the upper 80s even 90s figures.
2nd: #9 Surprise Twist, similar in terms of class as Zumurudee and might be better at this shorter distance than some of the marathons he ran in later in the year.
3rd: #4 Gunnison, Kelly Rubley horses are always ready, this one just registered his two best Beyers of his career.
Race 8: Clm $16k F&M 6F
1st: #5 Make It a Double, surely Linda Albert has been itching to run this one back since she claimed her for $16k in an OC$16k event in March. John Robb obviously thought highly of this horse and she threw up some big figures before the break.
2nd: #7 Passion’s Image, mixed up field of claimers, when in doubt go Claudio. Really not convinced by this one. Will probably win.
3rd: #1 It’s So Easy, the other Claudio? I don’t know. Ran well in her debut.
Race 9: Alw $42k 5 & ½F Turf
1st: #1 Kingpin, another rail horse, Michael Stidham trainee really woke up when getting on the turf down at the FG this winter. Has been breezing steadily at Fair Hill since. Top Beyer in the field, 87.
2nd: #3 Matta, lightly raced 4 year old for Trombetta is tempting given his likely physical maturity advantage over the 3 year old Kingpin, but the lay off since last June is too long for me to feel confident. The breezes are routinely high quality and obviously prefers the turf. Tough call.
3rd: #6 Boppin Anda Weavin, a lot of early speed, horse was getting better and better on the turf last year. Turf sprints are probably where he belongs, a lot to like here off the layoff.
Race 10: OC$16k 6F
1st: #2 Sound Off, not going on much here but he ran with some quality horses in the last couple before finally getting the big easy win last out at Charles Town. Beyers consistently upper 70s.
2nd: #3 Uplifting, if price remains similar to ML, this one is probably the bet as he ran just a couple lengths behind Sound Off in the two back. In the last the horses he ran with are nearly stakes caliber horses.
3rd: #4 Sparty, obviously has talent, not sure sprinting is what he really wants.