Race 1: MdClm $25k F&M 5 & ½ F Dirt
1st: #3 Weekends for Work, her first time out was a really solid effort earning a last-out field-best 31 Beyer where she beat 12 rivals to finish second after starting horrible in 13th place and rushing up to the front. Given a decent break, that’s a winning performance and there’s reason to think the Beyer will improve on second asking.
2nd: #2 Rosuri, this will be her fifth try, has 2 second place finishes over this surface and I like the improving Beyers. Last out was decent and the 7 lengths behind is likely a symptom of the sloppy track.
3rd: #1 Sunday Red, has good early speed and showed decent Beyer improvement at the $40k level but has stamina issues. Should be a player in this one. Like the gate drill on 10-13 3F in 35.00 Hg.
Race 2: Clm $12.5k F&M 1M Dirt
1st: #1 Miss Nosy, not extremely confident here, this miss is an in-the-money machine but is 0 for 8 this year and the last out is ugly. That being said, has consistent mid-to-upper 60s Beyers over this track.
2nd: #3 Shifra Magician, Lynn Ashby starter who is coming from turf races back to dirt (Ashby is 20% doing that this year). She has the best Beyers in the whole field including last out 70 locally. 15-1 ML would be an incredible overlay.
3rd: #5 Child’s Play, this one has the early speed but doesn’t usually last at this distance. Makes you wonder why trainer doesn’t try a sprint but then you look and he’s 4 for 112 this year.
Race 3: Clm $16k 1M Dirt
1st: #5 Moneymeister, once highly thought of Keeneland September purchase ($500k) has the most consistent Beyers in the field down at Churchill Downs. Son of Bodemeister descends the class ladder to the lowest level of his life.
2nd: #1 So Good, three straight decent efforts after coming out of the allowance company in New Jersey. Two tries locally were a second and a third.
3rd: #2 Sidewalk Prophet, two straight second place efforts at or close to this level showing improvement off the summertime freshening. Two second place finishes locally. Have to include this one as he deadheated with So Good in the last out effort.
Race 4: OC $50k F&M 7F Dirt
This is the hardest race I’ve ever handicapped due to the amount of serious contenders and various angles. To the bettor with a decent bankroll, this is your shot to play trifectas and superfectas with expected superior returns. After I give my top 3, I will include all of my contenders for the exotic combinations.
1st: #2 Sine Wave, this lightly raced 4 year old has placed twice in graded stakes events: the G3 Beaumont at Keeneland and the G3 Monmouth Oaks both last year. She followed that with a respectable effort in the G1 Cotilion 17 lengths behind Abel Tasman. She only has two races this year including most recently an ugly attempt at Del in the Winter Melody Stakes. Trainer Ben Perkins backed off after that and has been working her consistently between Monmouth and Maryland and her last two drills show her preparation: 47 flat two back, 34&1/5 most recently. She looks ready to fly and the morning line odds of 12-1 appear high to me and should come down a bit, but there are so many contenders here all will be priced well.
2nd: #5 Isotope, Englehart’s shipper looks to threepeat locally after wins at the allowance (by 8 lengths) and OC$35k (2 & 3/4 lengths) levels. She was competitive this summer in New York despite not finding the winner’s circle since a May starter allowance $50k win at Belmont; has clearly found her level here at Laurel and loves the strip.
3rd: #6 Lady by Choice, can’t ever ignore Claudio Gonzalez here (31%) this one just won at the OC$25k level at Parx earning his career best 82 Beyer. Has won twice locally including the maiden-breaking effort back in March by 10 lengths. Improving 3 year old for a top barn and the last out drill was fastest locally of 65 horses covering 4F in 47 & 3/5ths.
In addition to those three, the other contenders to include in a trifecta or superfecta box are: #1 She’s Achance Too, can’t ignore her she’s won four straight times most recent two here at Laurel; #4 Timeless Curls, another improving three year old she’s won two straight here at Laurel first at the OC$16k level then stepped up to the OC$35k level, from the ever-reliable Dale Capuano barn (21%); #7 Imply, has some of the finest Beyers in the field, extremely reliable in PA-bred stakes should translate into highly competitive here especially off the 84 Beyer last out. Last drill 47 & 1/5B is impressive; #8 Luz Mimi, the other Englehart shipper, extremely reliable in higher priced events in New York, makes you wonder why Englehart brought them both.
Trifecta box: 2-5-6-1-7-8
Superfecta box: 2-5-6-1-7-8-4
Race 5: OC $35k F&M 6F Dirt
1st: #4 Majestic Won, another Englehart shipper (reminder he’s 8 for 19 shipping down this meet), improving 3 year old including last out a 3 length win in the first level allowance company here 11-2 earning a 79 Beyer and a 96 DRF Speed Rating. That race is probably good enough to win this and we expect improvement.
2nd: #6 Gotham Gala, the other improving 3 year old out of the Delacour barn also has a win in the first level allowance company locally last out earning a 76 Beyer. Ignore the two back effort over a weird Parx surface and there’s no blemish on her record. Can’t go wrong with these two. Exacta play here if you get any odds.
3rd: #1 Item, a mixed bag here, on one hand some really nice state-bred/restricted stakes tries both in PA and MD but a lot of losses. Good Beyers though, would definitely be third best in this group.
Race 6: OC $50k F&M 1 & 1/16M Dirt
1st: #4 Two Dozen Roses, not every Thursday we get to bet on Todd Pletcher at Laurel Park, but here he has one that broke her maiden up at Sar in a MdSpWt event earning a 66 Beyer. Didn’t fare as well in the stakes events he tried after but this should be the perfect spot, good job by Todd finding this spot for her.
2nd: #8 Wicked Awesome, really nice effort in her maiden breaking win at the $40k claiming level where she earned a 58 Beyer. Second place finisher in that one came back to win, should see improvement here.
3rd: #3 Getouttamyway, hard to know how much the slop aided in her maiden breaking win but she popped a 72 Beyer there. Slight regression since, hard to know what the blinkers will do for her.
Race 7: MdClm $40k 1M Dirt
1st: #6 Belmont Ride, really like this pattern, Delacour gets him ready for his first time out and he runs well getting third by a length. Gonzalez claims him out of that one and your reminder that Claudio is hitting at 31% first off the claim. Some improvement should win this one.
2nd: #1 Offerhecantrefuse, look at the improvement here, 31 Beyer first out followed by big time improvement up to 56. Similar improvement here wins this one and he did make up 4 lengths in the stretch last out. Going to be tough.
3rd: #7 Snidely, another Englehart shipper (he brings 4 today to Laurel?) another one showing big time improvement from first to second race. The fourth place finish last out at this claiming level at Belmont is a good race despite finishing 11 lengths behind. Contender.
Race 8: Clm $12.5k 1 & 1/16M Dirt
1st: #1 Kopper Wired, two back he crushed the field up at Pen by 8 lengths earning a 72 Beyer. Last out earned a 69 but didn’t get out to the lead and this one really needs the lead. He’ll have his go breaking from the rail if he can get it.
2nd: #2 Whirlin Curlin, obviously a son of Curlin, this one was winning restricted stakes events here as a 2 year old. Hasn’t had a terrific 3 year old season but has been facing much tougher rivals in multiple stakes tries in Maryland and Delaware. This will be the most class relief of his career, should do well.
3rd: #7 Federal Walk, two straight wins at the $5k level locally earning a 60 and 65 Beyer. Love the progression at the end of his 3 year old career, definitely a competitor here.
Race 9: MdClm $40k F&M 6F Dirt
1st: #7 Mia Gift, putting this one on top based on the stiffer Beyers including field-best last out 49. Since adding blinkers has proven ability to run early. Improving each race.
2nd: #1 Ellanation, has come close twice previously including her last out beaten just a length earning a 40 Beyer besting 11 rivals. Would need some Beyer improvement but has shown appreciation of the track.
3rd: #5 Swing, Motion filly ran evenly in first out earning a 30 Beyer. Should improve.