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Race 1: Str Alw $8k 1M

1^st: #3 Blow the Whistle, when you page through a race you try to have something in mind, something that you’re looking for when picking a winner. This one is exactly what you’d have in mind: 10 for 12 (!!) this calendar year including 3 for 4 locally, Beyers in the 80s in each of his past 4 races and winning no matter where he goes, usually at this level or the OC$25k level. Time Kreiser is 3 for 9 shipping to Laurel this meet.

2^nd: #5 how can you ignore Claudio Gonzalez at this meet (28%) and winning 30% first off the claim. Don’t like Parx shippers much but have to respect the Beyers.

3^rd: #2 Double Whammy, impressive horse claimed back by Mary Eppler after a brief stint out of her barn, she tried a restricted stake event at GP last out and he was competitive until the very end going longer. Gets class and distance relief here.

Race 2: Clm $12.5k F&M 1M

1^st: #5 Lonely Drifter, just about everything you’d want to see at this level: 3 for 7 locally, improving Beyers at 3 years old. Seems to win big at this level. Wouldn’t be surprised to see her change hands after this one.

2^nd: #6 Mrs. Rembrandt,  from the ever reliable Scott Lake barn, this one has thrown in some big ones among a couple awful performances. Has won on the lead and coming from behind. Depends which version shows up. 

3^rd: #4 Polarization, last out was ugly coming back to a level you’d think she’d be more competitive at but she didn’t fire. Once very highly thought of granddaughter of Tiznow. 3 for 8 locally.  

Race 3: OC$50k F&M 6F

1^st: #1 Adios Annie, another one who’s pattern I love. Lightly raced 4 year old showed her ability at 3 breaking her maiden and winning in the first level allowance company before shutting it down for nearly a year. She came back at 4 and has done nothing but improve finally getting through the N2X condition last out where she earned a career best 78 Beyer. Expect another step forward.

2^nd: #6 I Still Miss You, tough field here Englehart always so dangerous shipping down, no one hotter than this won winner of her last three up at the Finger Lakes in state-bred stakes company earning decent Beyers. Recent form so important in December.

3^rd: #4 Luz Mimi, was very surprised she didn’t fire in her last out locally in this same condition but she didn’t. Still, was highly competitive in classier OC events in New York, often attracting Jose Ortiz to ride. Owns the field best Beyer figs from earlier this year.  

Race 4: MdClm $16k 1M

1^st: #6 The Glominator, Steve Asmussen trainee who was claimed for $30k up at Belmont in October. Just one even try since the claim and Asmussen looking for a softer spot here.

2^nd: #10 Trion Wings, best last-race Beyer in the field earning a 40 narrowly missing last out locally. Definite contender. 

3^rd: #7 Roaring Ocean, tries the dirt for the first time (although the GPW turf course in October might look like dirt to some). Has shown ability, if he likes the dirt could be a player here.

Race 5: OC$35k 1M

1^st: #4 General Downs, two of my favorite races of the year have entries in this one. General Downs was narrowly edged by Adulator in the two back where they finished with 102 DRF Speed Ratings and he got a 94 Beyer for his effort. He finished 4^th to Tiz He The One last out which is nothing to sneeze at as that one earned a triple digit Beyer AND came back to win. Third place in that effort Divine Interventio also came back to win.  

2^nd: #5 No More Talk, hot one out of the Gaudet barn (32% this meet), two straight Beyers in the 80s including two back 88 in a win in restricted allowance company where he simply got away. Last drill Dec 18^th locally was fantastic blitzing 5F in 58 and 3 breezing. 

3^rd: #8 Regal Quality, Linda Rice claimed this one from the Pletcher barn last out for $40k up at Aqu where he was just edged while earning an 83 Beyer. Has a win over this course back in September in a first level allowance. Rice winning 29% off 1^st claim.  

Race 6: MdClm $25k 6F

1^st: #2 Kosher Kontract, they have clearly found his sweet spot at the $25k level going 6F. Post 2 helps him as there won’t be much inside speed to contend with in the early going. Like the improving figures.

2^nd: #10 Honor Run, if you can draw a line through the last try where he stumbled and was bumped, this one has the best figures in the field with two in the 50s and at higher claiming prices. Post 10 doesn’t help.

3^rd: # 11 Belmont Ride, last effort was not good but he’s getting class and distance relief today. As much a play on Claudio G as anything. 

Race 7: OC$35k 5 & ½F

1^st: #1 Shane’s Jewel, Ness tried open stakes company two back and he didn’t embarrass himself despite finishing 7th. Followed that up with a 79 Beyer at this condition where he led the whole way but was edged at the wire going 6F. Bit of distance relief for this improving 3 year old.

2^nd: #4 Cozy Lover, should be involved in the pace, if not setting it up front, hard to know how he’ll handle the track, has some big numbers at Parx, but that rarely seems to translate well at Laurel. 

3^rd: #3 Cheese On, one of my personal favorites, this one has shown ability to sit off the pace and he should have some speed to close into today. I question if he is fast enough.

Race 8: Clm $5k F&M 6F

1^st: #4 Holiday Magician, appears to be in peak condition at the moment with in-the-money finishes in 7 of her last 8. Most recently she won at this condition earning a 57 Beyer.

2^nd: #11 Chobee Girl, Mark Reid thought highly enough of this one to try one of the Maryland Million stakes last out in the first off his claim of her. She ran a decent third place there beating 8 rivals. That effort would probably be good enough to win this bottom level event. 

3^rd: #3 Special Risk, has shown ability in New York claiming events with some of the best Beyers in the field. Recent form is less than spectacular other than a win over a sloppy Parx track two back, whatever that’s worth. 

Race 9: MdClm $40k F&M 6F

1^st: #8 Lawn Dart, I don’t exactly understand the 7-5 ML on this one, although she did show some keenness in her first effort when sent away by Scott Lake but claimed by Keiron Magee. Some improvement is expected, but probably not worth a play at those odds.

2^nd: #6 Alibarbara, excellent slate of drills locally. A wise man has often told me that two year olds run to their workouts. The Nov 17 4F in 47 and 1 was phenomenal, the best of 79 horses that morning. Connections don’t inspire first time confidence.  

3^rd: #7 Bratt Stack, you would’ve liked to see more improvement in results in the move down from MdSpWt to the claiming ranks than we did in her last which is why I can’t pick her higher. Descending Beyer figures also not encouraging.