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Race 1: OC$25k F&M 6F Turf

1^st: #2 Moravian Prayer, not sure about the 12-1ML, think this one will be more like 4-1 at post time. She broke her maiden last year on the turf right before the winter started and obviously waited a long time to get the chance to run back on the lawn. Her lone turf try this year resulted in an equipment malfunction and she had to be pulled up, followed by two tries that were taken off the turf. Like her running style, sit off the leaders and come with a run in her turf win last year at 14-1. Some solid speed to her outside which should allow her to gain late.

2^nd: #4 Defy Expectations, obviously going to take a lot of money coming from the Brittany Russell barn and having just broke her maiden over this strip beating 11 rivals at $25k. She should be out there setting the early fractions. She’s going to take some heat from her outside and for that reason I don’t love her to last 6F against this bunch.

3^rd: #7 Midship Lady, 8-5 ML, she’s been close in a number of open allowance events, burns a lot of money. Definitely the type to avoid when possible.

Race 2: Clm $5k F&M 6F

1^st: #1 Calypso Ghost, really like to see this one dropping in distance from the one mile to 6F and think the rail draw helps her in that Carrasco will have to be aggressive using some early speed to get into a solid position. There’s plenty of speed on the outside, and you can’t just disappear from the leaders going only 6F on this dirt course. She’ll be forwardly placed if a few lengths off a hopefully hot paced by some of the outside speedballs. 3 times she’s run 6F and all three she’s hit the board, including a win.

2^nd: #3 Silver Sides, here’s one that will definitely benefit from a strong early pace. She’s improved in each of her three starts this summer at this distance, including the two back a win at this distance and claiming tag. Will be making up lengths late.

3^rd: #8 Susikin, should be strong on the front laying down brisk early fractions but has proven she cannot sustain her speed going 6F.

Race 3: MdSpWt $40k F&M 1M Turf

1^st: #2 Pilot Episode, obviously well-meant filly by Speightstown out of a Malibu Moon mare tried much deeper waters up in her native Ontario last out in the Woodbine Oaks $500k going 9F. She did nothing to embarrass herself in that one finishing 6^th of 10 at 23-1. Her previous start against maidens at Bel also much tougher company and she beat half the field. Clearly she appreciates the turf earning her two best figures over the sod. Will graduate here getting in against softer company. Shuggy Bear and Forest Boyce hitting at a remarkable 36% together here at Laurel since 2019.

2^nd: #7 Begonia, absolutely eligible to improve today, she ran an even 6^th at Del in her first out this year beating half the field and was poised for better when the most recent was taken off the turf. Can draw a line straight through that one but she will likely be slightly overlooked because of it. Blinkers on and attracts Victor Carrasco today.

3^rd: #8 Good On Paper, Glen Hill Farm homebred filly by War Front has shown promise on the turf so far but that last race at Colonial when she was somehow sent away as the 3-10 favorite in a field of 9 and got crushed by Princess Grace is just ugly. In her defense, Princess Grace followed that up with a win in OC$16 company up at Monmouth but was the 6-5 favorite that day. Against at what will certainly be low odds.

Race 4: Alw $42k 1 & 1/16^thM

1^st: #6 Galerio, not going to try to get too cute here, think we’ll see 4-5 on this one again. Likes the two turns, has won so much recently, especially at Laurel. Always takes a lot of money. You get what you get.

2^nd: #4 Miami Mumbles, “getting too cute” in this case would’ve meant going here with my pick. This one obviously stepped up huge on a sloppy dirt track at Del in a race that got taken off the turf and he was sent away as the 6-5 favorite and won like it. Second place there followed that up with a win next out but on the turf, where he was originally meant anyway.

3^rd: #3 Paul the Waiter, the other Claudio, doesn’t seem to like Laurel as much and might be a little outclassed at this level. Parx specialist.

Race 5: MdClm $40k 1M Turf

1^st: #9 Colonial Boy, a number of really even MdClm’ing types in this one, I’m going to take a shot with this debuter. The dam, Rowdy, finished on the board on turf stakes at 2, 4 and 5, including multiple MdMill events here at Laurel and a second place effort in the Waya, at Saratoga. A daughter of Malibu Moon, she’s foaled 4 starters so far, 2 of whom have won. We all know what Seville did, the G1 winning son of super-sire Galileo. Excellent turf pedigree. Love the gate drill on July 7 from Fair Hill 48 and 4, an excellent drill over that surface. Attracts top local pilot Trevor McCarthy who’s agent Scott Silver always knows his way around the Maryland barns.

2^nd: #5 Jestful, has found his way over the turf in the last three starts increasing his Beyers and approaching the leaders at the MdSpWt level in each of the previous two. Class relief here.

3^rd: #1 Strolled On By, two respectable turf tries so far and adds blinkers here today. Strong breeze on 9/9 locally.

Race 6: Clm $16k 6F

1^st: #6 In the Loop, a well-bred, well-meant son of Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver, this one tried graded stakes company last year after breaking his maiden at GP. Was eventually claimed away from Jorge Duarte and Colts Neck by John Robb for $25k in June, and now drops to the $16k level. Last time he raced at $16k he was a winner against better up at Belmont in June beating 11 rivals. Based on last performance, in which he added blinkers, he looks to be back to his better form.

2^nd: #7 Willmakeyouhappy, early speed component who has previously won at this distance. There’s not a lot of speed in this field—dare I say this one is lone speed? Probably not, but close.

3^rd: #5 Twixy Cat, Claudio Gonzalez takes the blinkers off this one which looks like the right decision based on the two performances with them. Dropping to lowest level of his career, will be bet heavily.

Race 7: Clm $12.5k F&M 5 & ½F Turf

1^st: #8 Caterina One, she tried the level above this in the two back and won at 7-2 in a field of 10 stalking the early pace which was solid and outfinishing late. They followed that up with a try in open allowance company which wasn’t great but wasn’t awful, especially considering she was 25-1 that day. Has earned a figure in the 70s in the past.

2^nd: #10 Eifs, late closing type which should set up well for him given a considerable amount of early speed contenders in this field. The two back event was a nice win at the $10k level but note he was 1-10 that day in a field of 3.

3^rd: #1 Britesideoftheroad, been competing in much tougher going two turns and usually being on or close to the early pace. Expect stiffer fractions than the ones she’s used to setting going longer, but she should be close and has won at the $25k level in 2020.

Race 8: Alw $42k 1M Turf

1^st: #10 King’s Honor, hasn’t achieved the Beyer figures of some of the others in this field, but the belief here is that this gelding has started to figure things out. Obviously a well meant Irish Bred son of noted sire Kingman, he broke his maiden for $50k at Aqu last fall and got his second win just last month at Sar at the $40k level beating 8 rivals at 10-1. Probably a decent comparison between first level allowance horses here and $40k claimers at Sar, Brittany Russell definitely has this one headed in the right direction.

2^nd: #2 Tom Hagen, I’ve seen what this horse can do on the turf, specifically last September when he rallied to win at 13-1 going this trip. This will be his first try on turf this year after two attempts were washed off.

3^rd: #4 Mr. d’Angelo, the two back was a really impressive race between two very high quality allowance horses in Papal Law and Artemus Bridge. Believe this mile to be a bit too short for him.

Race 9: [R] Alw $35k F&M 6F Md-bred/Md-sired

1^st: #2 Coconut Cake, sort of a no-brainer here and don’t think you’ll see 9-5 at post time. Broke her maiden over the turf and then tried open allowance company which came off the turf but still had 9 in the field and she won. Here she goes against restricted allowance company, great spot for her to cash another quick check. Beyers certainly headed in the right direction as well.

2^nd: #3 Quiet Imagination, saw this one in person win at Del in the two back with Trevor and surprised that she didn’t follow it up with a win in restricted allowance company. Another shot here today, definite contender. Needs to be closer to the pace.

3^rd: #5 Combat Queen, could be the early pace setter here, doesn’t look like she has the class to hold her speed against this group.

Race 10: MdClm $16k F&M 1 & 1/16^thTurf

1^st: #3 Dancing Til Dusk, two really solid Beyers and when they found her level she really ran close. After being 92-1 and finishing almost last in MdSpWt company she tried Md10s in a big field down at Colonial and she beat 10 rivals for a really nice second. Not a strong field in here. Noble mission filly.

2^nd: #4 Ellipsis, Niall Saville has been absolutely en fuego 5 for 7 at the current meet and this one has the breeding and some nice breezes. Tough to debut a winner.

3^rd: #6 Sister Seville, big day for progeny of Seville, this one hasn’t been great but perhaps she bled last out, Chuck Lawrence adding Lasix for the first time today.