Race 1: MdSpWt $40k 3 Year Olds 1M
1st: #6 Al Brown, can’t stand taking 3-5 ML favs but this one got a really nice figure and was closing going shorter than today’s mile in his debut. Please note he came in second by a neck by was 14 lengths clear of 3rd.
2nd: #5 Royal Thunder, first try for Brittany Russell was a solid one and clear improvement from the California tries. Should improve again.
3rd: #2 Bobby’s Goldengirl, don’t quite understand the 8-1 ML but Kelly Rubley always has her horses ready to go and this one has been working so solidly at Fair Hill including a most recent 48 and 3 breezing drill.
Race 2: OC$16k 1M
1st: #8 My Man Pots n Pans, they have really gotten a handle on what this one wants to do and his recent form has been very solid with a win and two seconds. Likes this distance.
2nd: #3 Paul the Waiter, Claudio trainee has improved. Toss the last on the slop.
3rd: #1 Willmakeyouhappy, Cal Lynch has a nice by Speigtstown here 2 for 2 but just short sprints. Will have to do more to win this.
Race 3: OC$25k 6F
1st: #5 Day the Music Died, since arriving in the Serey barn has upped his game winning two in a row at this distance locally and the breezes are exceptional as well. Like the way he comes from behind in a race filled with speed.
2nd: #3 Stroll Smokin, obviously the stand-out, a lot of 1s on the page. Keeps winning as he climbs the class ladder, today’s field should really test him up front in a way he hasn’t been of late.
3rd: #2 Sir Orinoco, maybe can make up some ground at the end.
Race 4: StrAlw $16k 1 & ¼M
1st: #3Can’t Pass It Up, look at the difference in form since he was gelded, Beyers have increased and he keeps hitting the board as they rise him up the class ladder. This StrAlw event is perfect for him as he’s an all out closer. Look at the win on Dec 14, he was 23 lengths behind and rallied to win by a length. Consistently makes up massive lengths and the added distance should help.
2nd: #7 Jefazo, really like this one obviously also the closing type and is coming off his best ever Beyer losing by just a head to bona fide stakes horse John Jones. The 9F Richard Small was a pretty good attempt against stakes horses. Lacey really has this one going good.
3rd: #8 Degrom, this horse has been trained by two different trainers who are both now under Federal Indictment before coming into the barn of Claudio Gonzales. Improving lately. Hmm.
Race 5: The Nellie Morse Stakes $100k F&M 1M
1st: #2 Arrifana, not keen on horses that haven’t been out since November, but this one obviously is so high quality and LOVES this track. Just a length behind Todd Pletcher’s Bellera who has since come back to win again in the G3 Comely. This a legit graded stakes horse, and Kelly Rubley gets her horses ready to win.
2nd: #1 Victim of Love, has a lot of speed and loves this distance. Most recently placed a G3 Fritchie locally.
3rd: #6 Bye Bye Bertie, 3 straight wins locally, another speed ball.
Race 6: OC$35k 7F
1st: #3 Bobby G, 10-16 locally and 2 for 3 at the distance. I underlined the 9F stakes try in the Dickie Small Stakes as a really good effort in open stakes company, but one turn one on the main track is probably his best.
2nd: #7 Tappin Cat, was fooled into picking this one on top in the last; he probably will be happy to go only 7F but just 1 for 10 at Laurel, I can’t make him my top pick.
3rd: #8 Marco Island, posted his best figure at this distance in December, a 93 which is tops in the field. If Mark Reid has him ready lookout.
Race 7: The Beyond the Wire Stakes $100k 3 Year Old Fillies 1M
1st: #4 Bella Aurora, she never made a run in the last but there’s so much speed in this field I have to think given an added furlong she’s going to have time to kick into gear.
2nd: #5 Ankle Monitor, same logic as above, seems the type to want to run late.
3rd: #3 Naughty Thoughts, really broke away from this group in the last but the track was definitely favoring speed that day and she got away with such an easy lead. Can’t believe with the amount of speed in this field she’ll get away that easy again.
Race 8: Clm $16k 3 Year Old Fillies 6F
1st: #5 Vics Cool Cat, really nice improvement and figure in the first under Hugh McMahon, distance relief today should help as she faded in the last going a mile.
2nd: #3 Tough N Buff, this one might be scratched as was previously trained by Jorge Navarro (now trained by Jamie Ness, from one cheater to the next Joe Besecker should be a shamed of himself.
3rd: #9 Amphitrite, Claudio Gonzalez claimer.
Race 9: The Harrison E. Johnson Memorial Stakes $100k 1 & 1/8thM
1st: #2 Alwaysmining, simply the King of Laurel Park. 9 for 12 locally including two straight stakes wins beating this crew in past events. Achieved his career best 103 Beyer which puts him among the top handicap horses in the country. Outdueled the (we now know) juiced up Monangahela for the now-indicted Jason Servis the entire way around the track and fended off closing Someday Jones. Without Monangahela on the front end to deal he should have an easier go up front.
2nd: #5 Someday Jones, obviously the biggest threat here and with added distance he should have extra space to close against Alwaysmining. If the pace is hot this one will be the beneficiary.
3rd: #3 Name Changer, has a triple digit Beyer but hasn’t been seen since he was third behind Monagahela and Someday Jones at Penn National in November. 2 for 2 locally.
Race 10: The Private Terms Stakes $100k 3 Year Olds 1 & 1/16thM
1st: #5 Mine Not Mine, really nice improvement in the Miracle Wood Stakes, his first in Brittany Russell’s barn. Look at the incredible run he made in the stretch making up nearly 8 lengths! Added another turn and half panel and this one will have his way.
2nd: #2 Lebda, definitely back on the right direction, don’t think he can do it around two turns but we’ll see.
3rd: #7 Took Charge, two really nice figures so far and this will be his second out at 3, will definitely improve. A lot of questions.
Race 11: OC$25k 1M
1st: #2 Garrison’s Charge, love the improvement and narrow 4th place effort at 16-1 and looks like the type that will appreciate more distance.
2nd: #8 Galerio, eye popping effort that looks like the type of running line intensely aided by a speedy track.
3rd: #1 Goodluckjonathan, consistent efforts.