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Race 1: MdSpWt F&M 1 & 1/16^th  

1^st: #1 Back Roads, one of two Motion entries in here, this one dropped back badly in the first start after an even break but made most of the ground up going 7F. Was a length or so behind the Colts Neck Horse 5 Dance For Gold in debut but did a lot more work than that one. Both stretch out to two turns for the first time today, I like this one a little better, keeping top pilot Trevor McCarthy and should improve with some experience.

2^nd: #4 Saigon, ran a very uneven two turns on the Tapeta at PID last out but it was an improvement Beyer-wise from her turf debut which occurred at Saratoga. They must think decently of her and today she adds blinkers. The mother was a stakes winner over Hurdles.

3^rd: #5 Dance for the Gold, three straight middling performances sprinting, perhaps her quickness sprinting will put her on the front here. I’m not encouraged by the dip in Beyer from second to third, maybe its her day, not willing at 8-5ML.

Race 2: Clm $12.5k F&M 1M

1^st: #4 Our Star, does really well when dropping down to this level, all four career wins were at $12.5k and $16k. In between has raced against allowance or SAL company and been overmatched. This is the right class level and you may get a bit of a price due to the most recent event on turf, an easy toss.

2^nd: #2 Dazzle Me, might be rounding back into form after 3 very poor races. Against $8k claimers in August at Del she was a winner and earned a solid 70 Beyer. Inherited the lead last time out and couldn’t finish, but maybe a sign she’s found her form again.

3^rd: #5 Yesterdaysplan, avoiding this ML favorite who will likely take money due to the 62 Beyer and winning effort against OC$8k horses, but it came on a sloppy track and previous form doesn’t exactly match that effort. Willing to play against.

Race 3: Clm $16k 2 Year Olds 6F

1^st: #1 Warm Sunny Breeze, seems a bit like a no brainer in this group; this one broke his maiden for $20 at Mth after two speed and fade performances and then tried much, much tougher allowance horses, three of whom came back to contest the John Lewis Stakes here last weekend with No Cents winning it with an 81 Beyer. He was 42-1 that day and held the lead for a time but didn’t completely vanish finishing 5^th in a field of 8. Will need to use his speed from the rail today.

2^nd: #5 Theduke of Hazzard, the likely other speed of this field and it’s a Claudio Gonzalez trainee who may have figured it out last time. This field definitely stiffer competition that Md$15s, but headed in the right direction. Second in that winning effort came back to break his maiden and earn a 57 Beyer last week at Laurel.

3^rd: #3 Boss Logic, really nice maiden win followed up by a closing effort against OC$25k and earned 9 more Beyer points. More improvement in store today? Pace should set up for him.

Race 4: MdClm $16k 2 Year Olds 1M

1^st: #4 Battle of the Nile, dam has dropped 7 winners including 1 stakes winner and 2 other graded stakes competitors. This one by American Pharoah only brought $15k at the sales so perhaps he’s not the finest, but the first start was good experience and definitely reads as the type that will enjoy more distance. Should relish the class relief from MdSpWt all the way down to Md16k. Trainer Daniel Velasquez is 2 for 5 this year on that angle (MdSpWt to MdClm).

2^nd: #7 Jack Gave Back, likely will take some money based on the connections, Motion and McCarthy are teaming up to win 21% here at Laurel. Breeding is impressive too: dam was a winner and has produced 3 winners of 3 foals before this one including Fly On Angel who just won the G3 Charles Town Oaks. Class relief as well, could be a good claiming opportunity for $16k.

3^rd: #5 Doublebarrelbourbon, showed a little Beyer improvement from first to second attempt, might prefer longer distances, has made up lengths late in each of his first two starts.

Race 5: Alw $42k 6F

1^st: #8 Karan’s Notion, what happened? Why was his last performance in the MdMillSprint such an outlier from his previous? I’m willing to bet it wasn’t a fluke. 16-1 that day and beat Lewisfield that day who came back to win with an 88 Beyer. Obviously a needs-the-lead type and there are other speed horses in here, but I’m willing to bet that the last effort against better competition was not a fluke as I think many will assume.

2^nd: #2 In the Loop, maybe Karan’s Notion’s main competitor for the lead, this one front ran the last two fields of claimers off their feet and won with Beyers in the 80s. This is a significant class jump but notice he has back class from last year before injuries derailed his stint with Colts Neck. He is a half brother to Necker Island who is multiple graded stakes placed and started in this year’s Kentucky Derby. And his half brother by More Than Ready just sold for $500k as a yearling. Clearly a very high quality family.

3^rd: #11 Absolved, one to pay attention to late. Has not been a winner since his maiden win in July of 18, but has hit the board consistently against allowance company and could provide value in vertical exotics.

Race 6: OC$62k 2 Year Old Fillies 5 & ½F

1^st: #4 Trip to Freedom, done nothing wrong in her two race career thus far: a monstruous maiden win in claiming company followed by a third in the MdMill in which she set stiff fractions (22.41, 44:86) and still held on for third missing by just a length. Second place finisher that day Street Lute followed up with a win in the Smart Halo Stakes last weekend earning a 72 Beyer. Don’t see anyone who is going to be able to run with her early and finish as strongly, and oh yeah, this race is only 5 & 1/2F. At 8-5 a slam dunk bet, more likely even money. 46 and 4 drill, fastest of 65 Saturday at Laurel. Nice.

2^nd: #2 Moochie, toss the most recent try in the turf stake at Mth, her debut at Del was big. A little time off since August can only help this filly and she’s been working exceptionally since October 3^rd. Most recently: 59 flat on Nov 7.

3^rd: #1 Whiskey and Rye, second highest Beyer in the field in her maiden score two back when she got loose on the lead going easy and romped by 4 and half. Caught a stiffer group last out and we saw what happened to her, really died. Won’t have the lead free here, but should be up on it early from the rail.

Race 7: MdClm $40k 6F

1^st: #9 New Frontier, 15 time maiden and off since August, but this one has been competitive in open MdSpWt company in New York and Kentucky, most recently on the first a 4^th place finish after setting the fractions and earning a 75 Beyer. He has multiple Beyers that are faster than anyone else in here. Best speed, class drop, very nice recent workout. Stuck with chalk here.

2^nd: #3 Zen Pi, first off the claim for capable Dale Capuano who adds Lasix and puts blinkers on. Capuano 5 for 6 (83%) adding Lasix for the first time so it appears he really knows what he’s doing on that angle. Stepping up in class and facing a bit of a ringer I don’t think he’ll be able to overcome that. Probably a decent bet if 8-1+.

3^rd: #5 Dreaming of Carats, steady as she goes at this level, tried turf, dirt, Tapeta, doesn’t exactly seem to have that passing gear. Don’t think he can overcome the ability of New Frontier, one of these days he’ll break the maiden.

Race 8: OC$35k 6F

1^st: #2 The Cairo Kid, since adding the blinkers in the 4 back effort on Aug 28 at Laurel he’s won twice with a second and a third (MdSpWt, first allowance, N2X). Beyers still heading in the right direction form mid 60s to last 82. There’s meaningful reason to see this sudden improvement. Katie Davis riding for Annette Eubanks will allow you to get decent odds.

2^nd: #3 Stroll Smokin, this 5 year old eligible for this event by entering with the $35k tag after three wins other than this year. Take out the turf efforts and there’s not a blemish all of this year.

3^rd: #6 Hold Me Black, has the highest Beyers in this field a couple of 90s but the form is a bit all over the place as he’s shifted between barns.  Last out effort at this condition was below par, might need some time off.

Race 9: MdClm $40k 2 Year Olds 1 & 1/16^thM

1^st: #2 In the Top Ten, Schoenthal must’ve had good thoughts for this one debuting him in the First State Dash at Delaware Park. He didn’t do much running that day but he came back at this condition and improved to finish 4^th at this condition and two of the horses in that field have since come back to win including the horse that finished just ahead of him. Running lines pretty even suggest the two turns will be good for him. Open field here, hope for better than 3-1.

2^nd: #8 Iron Pearls, probably will be overlooked here but shipping up to Belmont for open MdSpWt company is a significant step up in quality and he finished 4^th in a field of 12, was 57-1 that day. Serious class relief today and it seems O’Dwyer knows he’s looking for more ground.

3^rd: #4 Reassured, for me an easy ML favorite play against. Two decent Beyers, passed some tired horses in the MdMill Nursery, but not enough there for me to like.