Race 1: Starter Optional Claiming $25,000, 3yo and up, 5 1/2 Furlongs
3, Baptize the Boy: Gets a much-needed cutback in distance after stopping badly at a mile last out. When facing better horses at this condition two starts back, he finished a solid third. Goes second off the claim for Claudio Gonzalez, to boot.
4, Ready to Run: He has the most early speed in the race, so he should be able to outrun his rivals to the front and open up a long lead. From there, it’s going as fast as he can, as far as he can.
5, Cool Man Cletus: Exits a race over that bullring at Charles Town, which did not play into his style at all. He closed well over this track two starts back, finishing a clear second. Should be heard from late.
Race 2: Maiden Special Weight, 2yo, 6 Furlongs
5, Tapping the Glass: Finished third on debut in a salty maiden claiming affair at Delaware Park. Hasn’t raced since that mid-August outing, but the recent workouts have been sharp.
1, Decorated: Sharp-looking firster for the Jeremiah O’Dwyer barn gets hot jockey Russell aboard. He’s had a string of bullet workouts recently, and should be in top form for this race.
4, Toy: Saved ground and made a mild run on debut in a very inexperienced field. The race under his belt should be of benefit.
Race 3: Starter Optional Claiming $25,000, 3yo and up, 6 Furlongs
3, Factor It In: Very fast Parx shipper takes a drop in class after a few speed-and-fade tries at that track. He’s another one who will try to steal away on the front end and hope for the best.
6, Brush Country: Beat open claimers at Saratoga three starts back, but fell flat after a wide trip against horses like that in his prior two. The ship to Maryland should do him favors, but if Factor It In sneaks away on the lead, he could be tough to catch.
1, Cape Lookout: Closed decently last out, missing by just a length when chasing a fading loose leader. Wouldn’t be surprised if a similar scenario unfolded here.
Race 4: Maiden Special Weight, 3yo and up, Fillies and Mares, 7 Furlongs
5, Pepper Pot: Finished fourth when going two turns in her only dirt start to date. Workouts since her last start have been strong, and McCarthy gets back aboard.
6, Takechargmatriarch: She’s burned a lot of money in her last two starts, losing at 4/5 and 1/1, respectively. She was pressed on the lead last out, and gave way in the last few strides. I’m a bit wary of losing more money to her.
7, Celestial Dream: Goes first-time dirt after mixed results going long on the grass. In a confusing field, I’m inspired by her early speed going long, as well as the decent fight she showed in the first mile last out. Worth consideration.
Race 5: Claiming $8,000, 3yo and up, 1 Mile
6, Gold Man: He can race well at Laurel, and just about nowhere else. This is proven by his recent form: he laid three eggs at Penn National and Timonium recently, but won over this track three starts back. Returns to his favorite oval here, and should turn in a peak effort.
4, Stolen Love: Showed little in the Maryland Milion Starter last out, but hit the board in his three starts prior against more reasonable competition. McCarthy gets back aboard.
1, Quit Your Moanin: Didn’t do anything over a wet track last out, but won solidly against weaker going seven furlongs two starts ago. I’m thinking that he’ll plod on late and pick up a piece of the exotics.
Race 6: Allowance Optional Claiming (n/w2x), 3yo and up, 5 1/2 Furlongs
9, Bustoff: It’s hard not to root for this classy gelding, who has reeled off six wins in a row, almost all by close margins. Won a starter allowance last out at Monmouth Park with a game stretch battle, running just one point off his lifetime top.
10, Full Salute: Showed speed and faded in his first race off a long break last out at Aqueduct. I wish he wasn’t drawn in the outside post, but his good form from last year, and the fact that Russell takes off Bustoff to ride him, makes me optimistic.
1, Articulator: Faded badly last out over an extremely sloppy track. Races for Claudio Gonzalez for the first time, and should fire fast from the inside post.
Race 7: Maiden Special Weight, 2yo, Fillies, 6 Furlongs
2, Princess Adira: She burned a lot of money last out, but her figure improved sharply in that race, and is facing a weaker field this time, in my estimation. This is the best single opportunity in the late pick 5, in my opinion.
1, Tippy Tippy Tay: One of two Jonathan Maldonado firsters she’s been working well, with a recent four-furlong drill in 49 seconds highlighting the tab.
7, Sudden Brilliance: Battled gamely on grass to lose her debut. Tries dirt for the first time in a field that is only a slight class upgrade.
Race 8: Starter Optional Claiming $25,000, 3yo and up, 6 Furlongs
2, Daily News: Chased one of his rivals here last out, but he was severely pace compromised in that race, and I don’t think that’ll happen here. Has good late pace figures and has been steadily improving since returning off a long layoff.
5, Sir Orinoco: The aforementioned rival; who won last out after setting a very slow opening quarter. He’s a consistent, speedy sort, but should get more pace pressure here.
1, Cozy Lover: Jersey-bred was in sharp form at Parx in his last few, before regressing at Charles Town last out. Should find the big track more to his liking.
Race 9: Claiming $10,000 (n/w2L), 3yo and up, Fillies and Mares, 1 1/16 Miles
4, Hard Rockin Blues: The lightbulb angle applies to her, as she crossed the wire in her first start after breaking her maiden, only to be disqualified. Has a win going two turns, always a plus.
5, Simmard Shenanigna: Gets a big jockey upgrade to Horacio Karamanos, and goes first off the claim for Robert D’Angelo, who is 31% with that angle.
2, Bee’snbee’s: Got a screw-tightener last out at Monmouth Park, and now comes second off the layoff here. Her maiden win earlier in the year was scarily impressive; we’ll see if she can duplicate that form here.