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Race 1: Clm $5k 1 & 1/16^thM

1^st: #2 Battle Ready, going with the Ness horse here, it’s a real mixed bag of claimers. With Laurel’s short run to the first turn you almost have to take an inside horse unless you have one on the outside you know can save ground and make up a ton of lengths in the stretch, which you don’t have in here. This one has won 3 times in 7 tries at this distance. Mixed bag though.

2^nd: #7 Dazzling Okie, the 9-5ML fav, has the highest Beyers in the field and gets slight class drop, I just don’t like the post position, he’s going to have to go wide.

3^rd: #1 Chief Tarhe, has shown some closing ability, gets the good post.

Race 2: Clm $16k 3 Year Olds and Upward 7F

1^st: #4 Crush It, Mary Eppler’s 4 year old has improved significantly since breaking his maiden at three in November, even earning a win at the OC$25k level. Material step down in class here with 2 wins over the strip, wouldn’t be surprised to see this one claimed here.

2^nd: #2 Zip Van Winkle, 2-1 ML second choice has recent Beyers in the 70s in his last two, stamina appears to be a concern although does have a win at this distance.

3^rd: #5 Gringo Star, two local tries both in the money since being claimed out of California. Skeptical as he didn’t win under first time for Claudio two back, when Potts claimed him.

Race 3: MdClm $16k 3 Year Olds and Upward 1M

1^st: #4 Grand Oasis, almost everything you want in a pick, Claudio Gonzalez horse that nearly won at the $40k level last out while trying to close on a heavily speed favoring track. Has highest Beyers in the field. Expect even money or less.

2^nd: #2 Broker’s Reward, third time out for Mike Trombetta, don’t like the decline in Beyer but he got caught in a decent speed duel going longer and at the $40k level. Slight distance relief should help.

3^rd: #5 Kustaafu, last out effort was solid when he got the added distance. This will be his first start as a gelding too.

Race 4: Clm $5k F&M 5 & ½F

1^st: #10 Big Momma, really tough outside post, she has shown ability to close numerous times including the last out effort where she made up 12 lengths, including 5 in the stretch run, despite narrowly missing. Could be stuck very wide on turn.

2^nd: #2 Greeley’s Striker, another mixed bag of lowly claimers, I’m going with this one who should improve in her second off the layoff. She is 4 for  8 with 2 seconds on this strip. That’s about it.

3^rd: #7 Polarization, will be involved early on in the pace scenario which is a must when looking at any $5k claimers sprinting. Depending how the surface is playing, she could be there at the end.

Race 5: Alw $42k 6F

1^st: #7 Won and Done, another second timer for Claudio G that just missed after setting the fractions but getting caught at the wire by a neck. That was a 7F attempt, should appreciate the distance relief. Another even money type.

2^nd: #2 Correjon, did not appreciate the mud last time out, was tempted to put this one on top due to the back to back wins in the 2 and 3 back where he earned mid 80s Beyers. Draw a line through the last and play this horse in your vertical exotics.

3^rd: #1 Dirtyfoot, an obviously improving 4 year old (still actually 3 years old at this moment) just threw the highest Beyer of his career. Couldn’t blame you for putting this one on top.

Race 6: Clm $5k F&M 6F

1^st: #7 Two Carat, these $5k claimers are tough, I’m extremely luke-warm here. The Beyers are consistently the highest in the field, but I’m wary of the 3 month layoff. Has shown some ability to close which should help here.

2^nd: #9 Angelinas Star, 7 times in the money in 8 local efforts including 5 seconds. Tough post position for one that probably wants the lead.

3^rd: #1 Lolli, steps down in class, second time out locally.

Race 7: MdClm $10k 3 Year Olds and Upward 1 & 1/16^thM

1^st: #2 Too Much Time, bottom level maiden claimers here going two turns is not easy, this one hasn’t raced in nearly a year and with only 2 published works for a trainer I’ve never heard of, I would normally stay far, far away. But there’s not too much else in the race, the debut effort screams desire to go longer, and he gets Lasix this time. Drawing close to the rail is a must at this distance.

2^nd: #5 Escrow Friendly, the tepid 5-2 ML favorite because…he adds blinkers back? I guess. He ran some good races with blinkers and some bad ones. Post 5 not what they were hoping for I guess.

3^rd: #1 Yes Means No, decent Beyers, rail draw. That’s about it.

Race 8: StrAlw $5k 3 Year Olds and Upward 1M

1^st: #2, Watch My Dust, really fun condition here, Laurel doesn’t usually run the $5k Starters. At first I threw this one out because he just has to close from so far back and rarely doesn’t he get there on time. But after analyzing the pace scenarios here, I think he can get a really strong pace to close into. The one turn mile will have some sprinters trying to get to the front, specifically the 1, 5, & 7 will all be vying for a lead. Race is just long enough where a far back closer does have a shot with the extra-long stretch run. This ones Beyers are some of the best in the field and the two back effort making up 4 lengths in the stretch on a speed favoring track is legit.

2^nd: #4 Super Vision, another closing type that should benefit from the effects of a serious speed duel up front. Always a threat in the claiming ranks, hard to tell how he stacks up against this caliber. That’s what makes these conditions such a fun challenge.

3^rd: #6 Runabout, another one stepping up in class, he didn’t handle the mud last out, we’ll see how he handles the allowance company. I like that he’s able to rate as opposed to being directly on the lead, I wonder if his Beyers are strong enough.

Race 9: Clm $5k F&M 6F

1^st: #2 Sharon’s Thunder, lot of these $5k races today huh? This one is just 1 for 20 locally but the last out effort in the mud was really good making up numerous lengths and just narrowly missing after going “5-6 wide”. Maybe she’s just a wet track type.

2^nd: #4 Roman Holiday, first try on dirt, first out since last September for a new barn. A lot of reasons to stay away, but has shown ability at much higher levels, including breaking her maiden at the $25k. Only one published work. Impossible to know if she’s ready.

3^rd: #3 Nerai, another off a long layoff, this one hasn’t been out since November of 2017! But she broke her maiden at the MdSpWt level way back when, this is probably an easy spot to tune up in, no one will claim off that layoff.