Laurel Racing Analysis- Saturday, Feb 22, 2020- By Chris Woods

Race 1: MdClm $25k 1M

1st: #3 Dyna’s Knight, reluctantly going with this one who is 0-7 and has only hit the board in three of those attempts. The Beyers continue to move forward and he acquitted himself decently in a MdSpWt event in the last. Hasn’t really shown any type of passing gear, but if he continues to improve his figures deem him fastest.

2nd: #5 Burn and Turn, Scott Lake trainee who made the lead late in the last event but faded badly going only 6F. Not sure of the sprint to route angle.

3rd: #1 Power Back, under new connections, running lines suggest a desire for more distance.

Race 2: Clm $16k 3 Year Olds 6 & ½F

1st: #1 Little Harbour, Claudio Gonzalez trainee bouncing back since he lost his rider and was claimed from Trombeta in the three back. Clearly has the speed here and is cutting back in distance. Like this one a lot, nice little bullet drill Feb 14.

2nd: #6 Awesome At Riedes, the hot hand, came back after breaking his maiden at the lowest level and won in his first against winners at 17-1, very impressive. A closing effort going a half panel shorter than today. Gets a weight break this time out as well.

3rd: #3 Mucho Macho Danny, was gaining lengths in the last against Awesome At Riedes making up 5 lengths in a blanket finish at the wire.

Race 3: OC$50k 1M

1st: #6 John Jones, hard knocking 8 year gelding gets the nod here due to the quality of company he’s been keeping. Lost by just a length in the two back to Aveenu Malcinu who followed that performance with another allowance win and a third in stakes company in New York. In the last he battled Alwaysmining, who came back to win the John B Campbell last weekend against a really nice field of stakes horses. Stalking trip, just gets up at the wire.

2nd: #1 Harpers First Ride, can’t blame you if you take this 4 year old improving Claudio trainee who just registered the field’s highest Beyer in his last albeit over a muddy strip. Only won by a neck but comments “circled 6w, relentless” exactly what you want to see.

3rd: #5 Smooth B, wouldn’t hate playing this one at a bit of a price, probably floats up from the 6-1 ML. Lone speed angle on a track that tends to favor speed, especially in the winter. No shame losing by 4 lengths to Threefiveindia in the Dave’s Friend, and before that registered a 90 Beyer at Parx.

Race 4: StrAlw $5k 1 & 1/16thM

1st: #7 Cause He’s Western, tough post in this two turn event but hopefully he can cut the corner and organize himself towards the rear makinga  late run. Has shown desire to run late in each of his previous two and this race sets up with some pace to his inside.

2nd: #3 Ain’t Misbehavin, routinely hits the board and has won nearly $400k in his career! Just won at this condition and distance over at the bull ring at Charles Town in the slop. What does it mean? I don’t know.

3rd: #5 Federal Walk, definitely a bet back candidate off this performance regardless of what happens. Probably the classiest in this field and has the speed to get to the lead, maybe even easily in that short run up to the turn. Don’t think the stamina will be there in his first since last July.

Race 5: OC$25k 6F

1st: #4 Going to the Lead, here’s hoping he lives up to his name and goes right to the front. He has shown speed frequently and that should acquit him well in this 6F event. The last time he ran at this even twas his maiden breaking win. Great to see the trainer recognize this.

2nd: #7 Goodluckjohnathan, second back after a 7 month layoff is always an appealing angle, especially for a horse that has shown ability in the past. First time back he acquitted himself well finishing second on a muddy track earning  a 74 Beyer. Should improve.

3rd: #3 Outside the Box, not given a lot of credit for the lowly Md$10k performance, but coming back from 11 lengths behind going only 5 & ½F to win by almost 2 full lengths is nothing to sneeze at. The Beyer came back more than respectable for that level and the second place finisher came back to win. Must use in exotics.

Race 6: OC$25k 1M

1st: #4 Beyond the Victory, has some back class in there as a two year old. His first start back in over a year was fair. He was outrun but the Beyer came back OK and since then he’s been gelded and is now up for sale. Should improve significantly today.

2nd: #5 Wild River, Claudio trainee headed in the right direction. Was favored in the last out at Md$14k level and simply can’t pick that one on top here off that performance alone. Wouldn’t be surprised if he wins though.

3rd: #6 Galatians, solid in his first back, expect improvement.

Race 7: Alw $42k 3 Year Old Fillies 1 & 1/16thM

1st: #3 Miss Tap Dance, not thrilled with the idea of this one going two turns, but she’s shown a proper amount of speed in both her attempts and the 7 length loss to Princess Cadey is nothing to sneeze at. That one was far more experienced and came out of that one to finish 2nd in the Wide Country Stakes last weekend.

2nd: #1 One Last Trial, Kelly Rubley has a way of getting her horses from Waiver Maiden Claiming races to allowance wins. This one showed the correct improvement from first to second time out and won at this distance. Will be overlooked.

3rd: #8 Steady Love, 2 for her last three including a win over this track at the OC$25k level. Claudio.

Race 8: Clm $5k 6F

1st: #1a Bucked Tooth, hoping this one stays in and not the other half, two straight wins over a sloppy track but clearly this is his level and I don’t know why he’s even in for a tag and not in a StrAlw. Just hot horse, great trainer and rider. Nothing too complicated.

2nd: #5 Liquid Hero, back to sprinting today, this one has 2 wins at this distance and ran a nice 69 Beyer last out.

3rd: #2 Hot Mic, nice last out effort weakening at the end but got a 63 figure.

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