Race 1: Maiden Claiming $10,000, 3yo and up, Fillies and Mares, 6 Furlongs
1- Lunetta: Drops in to this bottom-level class for the first time, didn’t show much last time at the $16,000 level, but is lightly-raced enough that there’s still room for optimism. At a 15/1 morning line, worth a gamble.
10- Louise: She finished second twice in a row at the $16,000 level in her last two dirt races. Has early speed from an outside post, and might be fast enough to clear. Her record of five seconds and one third in eleven races is not inspiring, but in a field like this, what can you do?
2- Animalistic: Rebounded off a tough trip to finish a respectable second last out against similar. She finished 8 1/2 lengths clear of third place in that spot.
Race 2: Claiming $5,000 (n/w2L), 3yo and up, 5 1/2 Furlongs
9- Ticker Tape Parade: FINALLY gets a cutback in distance, after a string of races in which he showed speed and faded at longer distances. He looks like a threat to take a clear early lead and not look back.
3- Looking Ready: Takes a big drop in class here, going from a $16,000 price tag on turf. Like Ticker Tape Parade, he’s got a lot of early speed, and is drawn much closer to the rail.
10- Gold Bridle: Dropped to this level for the first time last out, and got involved in a speed duel. He held well to finish second, earning a solid brisnet figure of 70, the third highest last-out figure in the group. Should also be an attendant of the early pace.
Race 3: Smart Halo Stakes, 2yo, Fillies, 6 Furlongs
5- Congrats Gal: She absolutely blew the doors off the field last out, winning an allowance race over this track by fourteen lengths. In the start prior, she lost a tough one to eventual multiple grade 1 winner Jaywalk. Her workouts coming in here have been razor-sharp. She’s not going to be a good win bet, with her presumptive low odds, but is the horse to single in the early pick 5, if you’re looking for someone.
1- Love My Honey: Broke her maiden impressively at Saratoga, then stopped badly when trying to go two turns at Churchill Downs. Gets a much-needed cutback in distance, and is a strong candidate to upset.
3- Helen: She’s never known a track besides this one, having made all five of her starts at Laurel. Has improved her figure in each dirt race, running a big 87 when crushing an allowance field last out. That’s just two points off the lifetime top of Congrats Gal. Must be respected.
Race 4: Claiming $25,000, 2yo, 7 Furlongs
8- Tap the Mark: Won against similar last time when closing from far behind. His late pace figures are superb, and he’ll definitely be heard from late.
7- Readytotapit: The clear early speed of the race, he showed speed and faded in his last two route races at Delaware Park. He broke his maiden at 4 1/2 furlongs back in June, so he may prefer shorter distances. The main question: is seven furlongs too far for him? We’ll find out.
4- Glad Dad: Broke his maiden with a career-best race against maiden claimers. He pressed the pace while wide up the backstretch, then drew off and held on late. The key: he’s never lost a race against winners.
Race 5: Safely Kept Stakes, 3yo, Fillies, 7 Furlongs
10- Estilo Fememino: She showed no signs of rust in her first two starts of the year. Off a 54-week layoff, she ran back-to-back figures of 97, far and away the best numbers in the race. Makes her first start since August 12 and runs for the first time under the care of Steve Asmussen. If she runs back to her races at Gulfstream Park, this one is all over.
5- Split Time: In from New York, this filly won the Alma North Stakes over this track at this distance back June. She then won the New York Oaks at Finger Lakes, lost a brutal photo over a biased track at Saratoga, then finished a distant second in the Empire Distaff at Belmont Park. Now, she cuts back in distance for trainer Linda Rice, who is always live with her shippers from New York.
2- Pacific Gale: She ran a huge figure of 96 three starts back at Saratoga, when she was fourth against allowance company. Ran a game race last out at Belmont Park, defeating Special Relativity, who re-appears in this race, by a head. Should sit a great trip rating off the pace on the inside. Luis Reyes comes down for the ride.
Race 6: Allowance (n/w1x), 3yo and up, MD-bred, 1 1/16 Miles
7- Legend’s Hope: Gets some much-needed class relief, and has some of the best speed and pace figures in the field. His 1-for-19 mark over the last two years is not inspiring, but maybe he’s finally caught a set of circumstances where he’ll thrive.
6- Crouchelli: Finished a good-closing fourth in the Maryland Million Classic last time out. He’s got a very distinctive running style, in which he drops far behind early, then launches a strong rally late. As such, he’s usually good for a paycheck, but he’s won just one race from eleven tries. One to use underneath for sure, but a little suspicious about him to win.
5- No More Talk: Looks like the primary early speed of the field, and will almost certainly be the leader early on. The last two times he’s been on the lead after a quarter, he’s won. Trainer Lacey Gaudet has been holding a hot hand lately.
Race 7: James Lewis Stakes, 2yo, 6 Furlongs
4- Passcode: He broke his maiden twice at Laurel; the first time, he was disqualified after an easy win two races ago. He’s improved sharply in each of his three races, earning a figure of 87 last out.
7- Follow the Dog: Coming off a win in the Maryland Million Nursery, which he won after dueling for the early lead and drawing off. Like Passcode, he’s coming in off a string of improving speed figures and has ample early speed.
3- Hawaiian Noises: Got up to just break his maiden at Keeneland last out. Notably, Kent Desormeaux comes back to Maryland to ride this Wesley Ward trainee. Would he do that if he didn’t think his mount was live?
Race 8- City of Laurel Stakes, 3yo, 7 Furlongs
5- Rugbyman: Comes in off two big races, including a sharp win against easy allowance company here at Laurel. Looks to be peaking at just the right time.
7- Old Time Revival: Turned in a gritty effort last out to win the Challedon Stakes against older horses, matching a career-high figure of 101. Like Rugbyman, he looks to be coming in here in peak form.
2- Oldies but Goodies: Had his breakout performance in his last race, with a stunningly easy win against n/w2x allowance company. His figure of 99 was 11 points higher than anything else he’s ever earned. Can he come close to duplicating that figure? If he can, he’ll be tough.
Race 9: Richard Small Stakes, 3yo and up, 1 1/8 Miles
10- Zanotti: He’s had a tough year so far. In eight races, he’s come in second six times, without a win. However, most of those races were against much tougher company than he’ll face today. If today’s not the day, the day will never come.
6- Name Changer: Defeated Zanotti two starts back in the Monmouth Cup, with a big figure of 106. He declined a bit to a 100 when finishing third in the Pennsylvania Derby Championship, but that still puts him with the best in the field. Jevian Toledo rode him to victory in this race two years ago, and picks up the mount on him here.
3- Tour de Force: Has the best early pace figures in the race, and could sneak away to an uncontested early lead.
Race 10: Allowance (n/w1x), 3yo and up, 1 Mile
11- Liberty Lane
13- Chargin Storm
4- Swinging Star