Race 1: Clm $5k 6F
1st: #6 Approvethismessage, really like this claim by High McMahon away from Steve Asmussen down at Lone Star back in June. 9 year old gelding was dropped into the lowest level in a mile event that he had the lead in the stretch before fading. Cut back in distance, adds blinkers, gets top local pilot Trevor McCarthy. Two back drill shows what he can do.
2nd: #2 Talent Scout, even with the fav in here at 7-5 am a little surprised this one a 7-2ML, should go off lower than that I think coming off a win at this class just two weeks ago. It was in the slop but was his first start here at Laurel and he clearly liked it, was “driving” down the lane, love to see that. Kieron Magee always trustworthy despite his weak percentage at this meet.
3rd: #1 Rip Rap Riley, Capuano bringing this one back to the track for the first time since January. Was a winner three times in a row locally last fall at higher claiming levels. 4 for 11 locally. Can’t ignore.
Race 2: Clm $5k 1M
1st: #6 Seattle Ric, dropped in for the lowest price of his career late last year and his first back this year and again today after being competitive at much higher levels last year. He’s the only one in this field that has any early speed whatsoever so hopefully he’s out there all alone. Not bothered at all by the effort two weeks ago, was just out for some exercise and not in for a claiming tag. Somewhat impressed that that he ran as evenly as he did and got a 40 Beyer. Will be much improved and likely overlooked on the board.
2nd: #2 Victory Given, likely post time favorite based on the drop in class back to the level he won two in a row at in July 6 days apart from each other. 0 for 6 at the mile distance.
3rd: #5 Booby Trap, a closing second last out at this level for Magee. Doesn’t usually make up lengths in the stretch, looks like a bit of a fluke last out and you’ll be penalized at the windows because of the recent 2nd place finish.
Race 3: Clm $16k 1 & 1/16thM Turf
1st: #4 Sin Bin, non-winners of 2 lifetime here so you’re looking for something young and improving, lightly raced. This one has just three turf tries and only one start this year. Broke his maiden for $16k last year before a flat try at $10. Comes back this year at Colonial again and against $10k N2L and puts up his best Beyer closing last but narrowly missing by a length. Transferred to the Merryman barn, a Maryland staple, especially over the turf. And just had a 47 and 2 breezing workout. Should be primed for his best.
2nd: #8 War Lance, closed well last out but ran out of ground going this trip at 14-1. Attracts McCarthy today.
3rd: #2 Sleeplessdreammore, gave his best performance yet in the first back off the layoff in July at this distance when sent away at 34-1. Slight drop in class today.
Race 4: MdSpWt $40k 2 Year Olds 5 & ½F Turf
1st: #10 Arrest Me Red, Arnaud Delacour horses routinely over-bet on the turf especially first time out but nonetheless the pick here. This one a homebred by Roy and Gretchen Jackson by Pioneerof the Nile is out of a Medaglio dOro dam that has produced three winners so far. Mots recent drill 47 & 3 breezing from the gate at Fair Hill is tremendous, fastest of 38. Gets McCarthy to ride.
2nd: #9 No Obligation, doesn’t look like the cream of Graham Motion’s 2 year olds here: a $60k purchase by Street Boss out of a dam that has produced a daughter in 2016 that was stakes placed at 2.
3rd: #Zip the Lip, a No Guts No Glory farm homebred for John Robb who is hitting 25% with 1 time turfers.
Race 5: OC$25k F&M 6F
1st: #1 Magical Anna, just a length behind Brut Rose in the last but she was attending those ridiculous fractions of 21 and 4, 44 and 3, 57 flat the whole way around and barely ceded any ground late, losing by just 1 and ¾. Given a more sensible pace in this one the guess is she just storms away from them.
2nd: #2 Brut Rose, a lot of speed in this small field, this one showed last out the ability to come flying with a late run given a hearty pace nearly making up 12 lengths in 6F to lose by just a half. Showed improvement from first start to second start out this year, should improve again third time out.
3rd: #6 Live Aid, member of early speed contingent has frequently held the lead for the first half or three quarters of her races before giving way. Md25 off turf last out compared to this field is a big step up in class.
Race 6: Clm $16k F&M 1M Turf
1st: #11 La Shirimp, am tempted to say this one is the class of the field. Was obviously overmatched in California at the MdSpWt level but once she got into claiming company she made her presence felt. Hasn’t tried the Laurel turf but was successful at SA turf and GG synth. Noble Mission filly obviously has the turf pedigree.
2nd: #5 Pink Pearl, a lot of speed in this field means should set up for the closing type. This one hasn’t had much success in recent trips but lets chalk that up to facing turf sprinters. She got behind early and was mostly outrun, although the state-bred attempt at Colonial at the end of last year was a decent effort. Model for today would be her first turf try last April, stalking trip, middle move, etc. I expect her to shuffle back a little farther today given the amount of on the lead types and actually get a better late trip.
3rd: #6 Bird Tycoon, obvious Ness contender who just satisfied the N2L condition in her first turf try at Parx when stalking a slow pace and “inherited” the lead late. Laurel turf races a bit stiffer than Parx.
Race 7: Alw $42k 1 & 1/16thM Turf
1st: #11 Box N Score, expect this one to take a lot more money than the 5-1 ML indicates. Has the “advantage” of being big name connections (Jonathan Thomas trained, Bobby La Penta owned) and lightly raced. Debut effort a winning one in open MdSpWt company at Belmont going 9F. Actually love this placing instead of rushing him back into the deep waters of Saratoga, try this middle distance route first off the layoff at 4. 2-1 likely at post time, expecting his class to carry him today.
2nd: #7 Mr. d’Angelo, case here for a more in form horse. This one got one race under his belt in July and it was a really nice effort behind a blitzing Papal Law who obviously came back to win. This one won the Maryland million turf last year. Just a high quality allowance horse with a brilliant turf pedigree.
3rd: #5 Benny Havens, ignore the last out off the turf event, the two back on the turf try showed his ability over the grass when he earned a 78 Beyer going 9F. Would love to see him show his speed again like he did in the Laurel Futurity last year. Only 3, still improving.
Race 8: Alw $42k 1M
1st: #2 Universal Payday, this 4 year old improved significantly during the lockdown layoff and was ready to win at first asking up at Saratoga going 9F in StrAlw$50k company. Excellent placing by Trombetta and he should be better off for that race in terms of stamina and experience.
2nd: #1 Paul the Waiter, winner of his last two on the dirt up at Parx for Claudio Gonzalez and has won twice over this dirt track. Am skeptical of Parx form but the Beyers are solid.
3rd: #6 Galerio, two for his last two and five for his last seven including 4 wins at this track. Beyers have been consistently in the upper 70s and low 80s but not showing progression.
Race 9: MdClm $16k 5 & ½F Turf
1st: #6 Championship Alley, off since an effort at Tampa in which he was essentially eased on the dirt, does have some turf form including a 61 Beyer at Tampa back in January at the MdClm $40k level. Blinkers off today and shortens up. Was a $180k purchase as a 2 year old, probably has talent and two recent bullet drills.
2nd: #11 Backwoods Boogie, debuter for Anthony Lynch who owns and trains. Attracts McCarthy to ride with some solid breezes. Grandson of Galileo on the sire side and English Channel on the dam side, impressive turf pedigree.
3rd: #4 Kukulkan, has the early speed but so far hasn’t shown the stamina to stay even at 4f after using early speed. 0 for 30 lifetime.