Race 1: Maiden Claiming $25,000, 3yo and up, 7 Furlongs
9- Crush It: Lightly-raced Eppler trainee seeks improvement off a strong 75 figure earned in his dirt debut last out; gets to cut back in distance from one mile.
5- Maynooth: He’s 0-for-11 lifetime with four second-place finishes. Betting such horses is a risky proposition. The good thing about him is that he’s never lost for a tag on dirt, and has never run below a 75 on dirt. Trainer Cal Lynch is not great with horses first off the layoff, but this horse may not need to be 100% to win. He’s one to respect.
4- Arrive in Style: Parx invader looks like one of the primary early speeds, and cuts back from a mile, a distance he clearly cannot get. Perhaps seven furlongs will be more to his liking.
Race 2: Claiming $25,000, 3yo and up, Fillies and Mares, 6 Furlongs
2- Polite Pearl: This speedy mare dominated a n/w2x allowance race last time, and looks as if she can just run them off their feet. You won’t get much of a price on her, but she will be very tough to beat.
6- Trusty Roll: Winner of two in a row has survived early speed duels in each victory, so a forecasted hot pace shouldn’t harm her. She’s improved her figure in each of her last three starts, and she hasn’t missed the board on dirt in recent memory.
4- Renaissance Rosie: Didn’t run badly when finishing second at Charles Town two back, then found herself completely out of her element going long at Presque Isle Downs. This mare has won four of seven lifetime at Laurel and should enjoy the class drop. Cannot be discounted.
Race 3: Starter Optional Claiming $25,000, 3yo and up, 1 Mile
6- Vincent Vangogo: Drops from the n/w1x allowance level after a complete dud of a race last time. Worked a sharp three furlongs getting ready for this one, and has not lost at this class. He ran two 87s in a row prior to this last race, and a return to that form would mean a victory.
3- Uno Dancer: Battled gamely against similar last out but ended up losing by three-quarters of a length. Makes his third start off the layoff and will be near the early lead.
7- Johnny Banks: Lightly-raced colt runs against winners for the first time. He broke his maiden last time at this distance as the heavy 1/5 favorite. He may find things a bit tougher here, but is open-ended enough to like.
Race 4: Claiming $5,000 (n/w2L), 3yo and up, Fillies and Mares, 6 Furlongs
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Race 5: Claiming $5,000 (n/w3L), 3yo and up, 6 Furlongs
2- Man of Wiregrass: Closed sharply last out against similar in his first start off a seven-week break. Looks to sit a good stalking trip while saving ground.
5- Road Guard Post: Showed speed and faded last time, but profiles as the dominant pace-setter of this race.
10- Midnight Cry: This three-year-old has already won three races, and is eligible to this race due to the age exemption. Makes his first start off the claim for Brittany Russell (nee Trimble), who is always dangerous whenever her husband rides her horses.
Race 6: Allowance Optional Claiming (n/w1x), 2yo, 1 1/16 Miles
5- Caladan: Winner of three races in a row comes in here with improving form, and already has three victories around two turns. He looks like the most logical alternative to the heavy favorite.
8- Olympic Village: He’s the aforementioned heavy favorite, at 6/5 on the morning line. Broke his maiden easily last out, earning a big figure of 87. Stretches out around two turns for the first time, and while he’s got a big shot here, I don’t know if I’d take him at low odds.
3- Strive for a Cure: Belmont Park invader comes in off a third-place finish in the Sleepy Hollow Stakes. Should enjoy the class relief and will be heard from late.
Race 7: Willa on the Move Stakes, 3yo and up, Fillies and Mares, 6 Furlongs
9- Shimmering Aspen: Comes in here off two stakes wins in a row, and has some bullet workouts to her name as well. Looks to be razor-sharp for this race.
6- Liz’s Cable Girl: This Jersey-bred mare rides a four-race winning streak into this race, including two stakes victories. Feargal Lynch jumps aboard for the first time.
1- Crabcakes: Fan favorite Maryland-bred exits a victory in the Maryland Million Distaff. She has two open company wins earlier in the year, but none of them came against stakes company. May be a bit of an underlay in here; tread lightly.
Race 8: Geisha Stakes, 3yo and up, Fillies and Mares, MD-bred, 1 Mile
11- My Magician: She won this race last year, and has been running at distances that appear to be too short for her. Should enjoy stretching out to a mile.
12- Anna’s Bandit: She’s won five out of ten at Laurel Park, and exits a respectable third-place finish in the Maryland Million Distaff. The extreme outside post does not do her any favors, however.
9- Riley’s Choice: Dominated the All Brandy Stakes last out, earning a sharp figure of 85. She hasn’t run worse than an 85 on dirt in recent times, and should be near the early pace.
Race 9: Maiden Claiming $10,000, 3yo and up, 6 Furlongs
5- Pro Riot
11- Brooklyn Sardy
3- Geronimo’s Spirit