Race 1: MdClm $40k 2 Year Olds 1 & 1/16thM
1st: #7 Reassured, 3 solid starts the most recent 2 of which are the highest Beyers in the field. Proved last out the two turns are right in his wheelhouse. Trainer Brittany Russell couldn’t be hotter hitting at 51% so far this meet, just simply can’t pass on this standout even if he’ll be 2-5.
2nd: #5 Ferocious Storm, massive Beyer improvement from first to second out are a big positive and just based on the running lines looks like the type who will appreciate the distance.
3rd: #3 Dandy Yankee, rare to get a Trombetta/Carrasco two year old son of Cairo Prince at a solid price, could make a big difference on the stretch out, can’t take on top here.
Race 2: Clm $5k F&M 1M
1st: #7 Makin’ Out, a bit inexplicable why this one is in at this level after two straight wins against tougher competition. Certainly looks built for the distance with two turn wins and two wins at a mile. Has back quality with two wins against state-breds in NY in MdSpWt and Alw company. Why’re they so freely dumping her for $5k when she seems to be rounding back into her best form? Good opportunity for anyone to claim.
2nd: #3 Petion Lass, infrequent winner but has won 3 times at this distance in her career and if the track is still playing towards closers like last week she should be making a run late.
3rd: #4 Bring Me Answers, would love to see this one at two turns, longer distances appear to be her strength. Dropping to bottom level today for first time in over a year.
Race 3: MdClm $16k 2 Year Old Fillies 7F
1st: #5 Twice Served, sat much closer to the pace in her second try than her first and it definitely worked in her favor. She got a good second at 19-1 and was passed by the late closing 4-5 favorite who came back to win against winners in her next start for Brittany and Sheldon Russell. Probably needs to improve a bit more, but she’s trending in the right direction and the smalltime connections should allow an honest price.
2nd: #4 Italian Dressing, dropping from the $40k company down to $16 is a steep drop and her Beyers on the fast track are respectable. I don’t know about the 2-1ML odds.
3rd: #1 Queen Karma, this is the type who is likely to make a big improvement: Jose Corrales trainee making her third start putting the blinkers on fresh off a bullet drill. Gets the top apprentice rider.
Race 4: OC$35k 1 & 1/8thM
1st: #2 Tattooed, last two races have been really good by Beyer figure and when taken in context against who he ran against. In the two back MdMill event he ran with Monday Morning QB (who came back to come in second in the G3 Discovery) and Harpers First Ride (previous G3 winner and next out stakes winner locally with a 100 Beyer). He finished ahead of Top Line Growth and Cordmaker as well that day. Most recently he ran with Galerio, a multiple allowance winner. He should like the 9F distance.
2nd: #6 Plot the Dots, not ready to take this 3 year old son of Uncle Mo on top at the new distance. He’s won at 8.5F but only against state-bred allowance types. Obviously on the improve, but he hasn’t faced this quality before nor at this distance.
3rd: #1 Universal Payday, at first glance this entry looks like it might be Trombetta just trying to make sure this race got used for Plot the Dots, but this gelding won at Saratoga against StrAlw$50k quality horses going this distance this summer and won an open allowance locally. He adds blinkers today. Could surely compete.
Race 5: MdClm $40k 2 Year Old Fillies 1M
1st: #3 Marvella Nasty, high quality debut effort when sent away at 19-1 in MdSpWt company against 10 rivals and she beat 7 of them. Has the running line that looks like she’d appreciate a couple more furlongs. This is a wide open field, could sort of take any of 4 or 5 of these depending on price.
2nd: #4 Speed Lane, Kelly Rubley and Julian Pimentel for noted breeders Robert Evans. This one’s debut looked very promising but she didn’t exactly follow it up with a world-beating effort. I would’ve expected stronger improvement but it wasn’t a disgrace.
3rd: #7 Offlee Graysful, third out for the Ness barn, adds blinkers but it’s tough to say today she’s going to take the step forward.
Race 6: OC$25k 6F
1st: #5 Ziggy Mon, pretty solid field here, I’m avoiding the 8-5ML favorite who’s been off for 9 months and instead going with this horse who’s yet to win in 2020 but has finished second 4 times in 5 tries with a third. Seconditis, I know, but routinely the most forwardly placed and competing mostly at this level. 6F might be a stretch, first in the Claudio Gonzalez barn I’m projecting a bit of improvement and love the most recent drill, 2nd fastest of 44.
2nd: #7 Inside Risk, son of Street Sense was a bit over his head when placed in open allowance company in the last two but his Beyers fared well enough. Placed back at the SOC level should be right in his wheelhouse. Looks like a Capuano special to me, 8-1ML.
3rd: #2 Escape, the aforementioned 8-5ML favorite shipping in from New York for trainer George Weaver has been off since a big March 13th StrAlw win at Aqu where he earned a 90 Beyer. If he runs back to that race he wins. Eyebrow raising that Weaver is choosing this spot down at Laurel running for only a $29k purse.
Race 7: MdClm $10k 7F
1st: #1 Burgess, both efforts featured slow starts which could damage his chances breaking from the rail, but in the most recent which was 5 & ½F he made a serious rally moving up 8 lengths in the stretch. Today he gets another 1.5F and hopefully he’ll break a little better. It’s his second time out this year after a year-long layoff and he clearly improved while away from the track. Needs a bit more.
2nd: #5 Imaginethejoy, second out after the layoff; the first back was over the turf but he popped a hearty 50 Beyer figure. He’s always shown more on the turf than the dirt, we’ll see if the improvement away from the track translates to dirt.
3rd: #6 Maximo Strong, two improved efforts figure-wise most recently. Showed speed last out, some distance relief today.
Race 8: OC$62k 2 Year Old Fillies 6F
1st: #2 Miss Leslie, three straight 55 Beyers, the most recent of which came during her maiden-breaking score and was claimed by Claudio Gonzalez who is 29% first off the claim. Most consistent of these mixed up babies.
2nd: #1 Breeze Off the Bay, the only among these with two wins under her belt, she was claimed for $25k last out by Kieron Magee.
3rd: #7 Adelaide Miss, 2-1ML favorite who showed quality on the turf in her debut, a win at Colonial back in August. No idea how she’ll handle winners, dirt, Laurel, etc. Tough to take that as favorite.
Race 9: OC$25k 6F
1st: #6 Moonachie, trained and owned by Jeremiah Englehart (we miss you in Maryland Jeremiah!), this NY-bred broke his maiden at Saratoga, competed in a couple NY-bred stakes and has had a real stop and start type of year. Jeremiah brought him back from a 3 month layoff at this condition last out and he led almost the whole way but got caught at the wire at 3-1. Second time back he’ll have his legs under him. It’s not a slam dunk because this is a really solid field, but to me the winner.
2nd: #5 Zen Pi, first time out for Dale Capuano last out as well as the addition of the blinkers and Lasix and it made the difference, he increased his Beyer by 23 points and won at 4-1 in a 10 horse field. First against winners today, much tougher field but he’ll compete.
3rd: #8 River Crosroad Rvf, probably not who I’d actually pick third but this poor guy has bolted at the far turn twice for the chute’s opening at the top of the stretch in 4 starts at Charles Town. Jeff Runco sure has a tricky one on his hand and clearly he’s getting him out of that environment to get him back on track.