First picks for 2019! Let’s get it!
Race 1: WAIVER CLAIMING $16,000 – $14,000 Six Furlongs Picks: 2-4-1
Shoe Loves Shoe (#2): Comes in off a win at Penn National at this distance and level. Trainer is 24% in claimer repeats and gets Trevor McCarthy aboard. Has a win at Laurel Park and will use his speed to go all the way.
Cobh (#4): Drops from $25,000 to $16,000 level, consistent beyer numbers among biggest of the field. Good workout pattern coming in. Has speed but also comes from off the pace.
Abdaar (#1): Returns to Laurel Park where he has a good track record and runs at a shorter distance to his liking. He will get pace to chase and will be flying late. Good jockey/trainer combination.
Race 2: MAIDEN CLAIMING $10,000 Six Furlongs Picks: 4-7-2
Fix Me a Sandwich (#4): Makes his first start since June 2018 and drops from $40,000 to $10,000. Has a nice work pattern coming in and will be facing much weaker company than in the past. Good jockey/trainer combination. Trainer is 25% in maiden claimers.
Kitchen Soup (#7): Makes his six furlong debut today and will get speed to chase. Was second at this level last time out and has high speed figures. Good work pattern. Must use.
Samadi Blue (#2): Drops from $25,000 to $10,000. Forget last race, stumbled badly and never recovered. Trainer 18% when dropping two classes. Posted a 47 flat work two weeks ago. Ready to go.
Race 3: CLAIMING $5,000 5 1/2 furlongs Picks: 7-6-5
Journeyonthemove (#7): Has a good record at Laurel Park and is the speed of the field. Trainer Claudio Gonzalez is 26% in sprints. Has the fastest speed figures in the field. Must use.
Theresa’s Honor (#6): Ships in front Delaware where trainer is 15% shipping. There will be speed for tis closer to come into. Last win came at this distance at this level. Good workouts.
Rein Supreme (#5): Drops from $12,500 to $5,000 and has won a this distance in the past. Has the ability to rate and trainer is 16% when dropping two classes.
Race 4: STARTER ALLOWANCE $8,000 5 1/2 furlongs Picks: 3-1-7
Papacho (#3): Winner of his last two straight ad both times had Victor Carrasco aboard. This horse loves the distance and has the best beyer numbers of any horse in here. Trainer is 17% with last out winners. Must use.
Whateveryouwant (#1): Winner of his last races but now steps up in company. Will be stalking the pace. Trainer is 43% with drop off winners. Good workout patterns and likes Laurel Park.
The Great Provider (#7): Winner if his last two straight and now cuts back half a furlong. He has finished in the superfecta in six straight races. Comes in off sharp four furlong workout. Good chance.
Race 5: MAIDEN CLAIMING $10,000 Six Furlongs Picks: 2-5-4
Lucky Leonard (#2): Makes his career debut today where the trainer is 33% debuting in maiden claimers. Inside post and good work pattern. Good break and he has a good chance.
By the Bay (#5): Drops to lowest claiming level of his career and drops to distance that should fit. Trainer is 23% in maiden claimers. Has speed, will need it to win.
Top Hat Tune (#4): Among the most experienced in the field and has a stalking style that suits well here. Good jockey/trainer combination.
Race 6: CLAIMING $12,500 – $10,500 Six Furlongs Picks: 8-7-1
Call Me Jelly Roll (#8): Drops to the lowest level of her career and ran a career best beyer last time out. This horse has good speed and that maybe enough against this group.
Sharp (#7): Comes in off a nice win three weeks ago and has a solid pattern of works coming in. She has good speed and will need that again to win.
Elysium (#1): Drops to the $12,500 and gets the rail. She has good gate speed and can get an inside trip. She will have to run her best race to win.
Race 7: ALLOWANCE $35,000 Seven Furlongs Picks: 6-5-3
In Arrears (#6): Makes second start with Claudio Gonzalez, where he is 32% with horses second time in his barn. This horse has a closing kick and will need pace. Posted a career high 94 beyer last time out and looks to improve on that today.
T Sizzle (#5): Last start, he was pulled up and vanned off, but is ok to run here. Won a starter handicap two starts back and gets the services of Trevor McCarthy. Posted a sharp four furlong workout two weeks ago and is ready to go.
Apolodorodedamasco (#3): Was second beaten 3/4 length at this level last time out. Trainer is 20% in sprints and he has posted nice works coming in. Good chance.
Race 8: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING $50,000 Picks: 1-6-2
Lady Banba (#1): Last time, she broke her maiden by 11 lengths at Park Racing and has shown good stamina coming out. She ran a good workout last week and has a rail position. Posted a solid 77 beyer in that race. Good jockey/trainer combination. She runs to her last race, she will win.
Her Royal Highness (#6): Broke her maiden at Laurel at this distance last month. Posted a sharp four furlong work coming in and trainer is 16% in allowance races. Will get a good pace to run at and be coming late.
Abbo (#2): The Grade one runner returns after a two month break and will face a little easier competition. Trainer is 14% when 60 days away. She has matured and with a good pace, will be coming late.
Race 9: CLAIMING $16,000 – $14,000 Six Furlongs Picks: 1-4-5
Trusty Roll (#1): In the superfecta in ten straight races and she is still going strong. She drops to $16,000 and has plenty of speed. She has the rail to herself so she can save ground. Trainer is 25% with beaten favorites. Katie Davis returns to the saddle.
My Chest Charm (#4): Has won two of her last three races where she won by a combined ten lengths. Her beyer numbers have gotten better over the last year. Trainer is 16% in sprints. She has won her last two going gate to wire, but will likely stalk the pace. Must use.
Faze the Nation (#5): Drops to the $16,000 level after rose won at the $20,000 level two starts back. Trainer is 27% in claiming races and she will have a lot of pace to run at. Weston Hamilton has been on a roll lately and give this one a good chance to win.