Race 1: Clm $8k 1M Turf
1st: #12 Zen’s Land, fresh off a decent effort in the MD Million Turf Sprint, Ness drops this one back into claiming ranks where he has proven competitive at the $16k level. With mid-to-upper 70s Beyers at the StrAlw level, this is the one to beat.
2nd: #10 Asset Allocation, red card for the name, throw out the last two that came off the turf, this one has registered mid 70s Beyers at the OC level in Delaware. Comes from too far back to be the pick, definitely a contender.
3rd: #3 Storm Net, love the two back effort going long over this turf earning a 70 Beyer at the Alw level. Long love the King (Leatherbury).
OTT: 1-7-2
Race 2: MdClm $16k 2 Year Olds 1M Dirt
1st: #7 Top Hat Warrior, the obvious standout in his debut for the McMahon barn. Two straight second place finishes at this level including last out beaten only a nose and was 6 lengths clear of third. Two back winner Vampa came back to win.
2nd: #3 Oy To the World, ran an even 4th in his debut at the $25k level with a running line that screams for more distance. Has been drilling well locally.
3rd: #5 Trion Wings, two back effort at Del at the $25k level was good although the time was slow. Trainer Shuman only 2 for 61 on the year, worry about his penchant (or lack thereof) for this surface.
Race 3: OC$25k F&M 7F Dirt
1st: #7 Lady Vicki, love this improving 3 year old, impressive pattern winning at the MdClm25k level up at Saratoga (!) came back and won at this condition over this surface for Danny Gargan in her first against winners. Now transfers to the Gaudet barn who is hitting at 35% at this meet. May need to improve on the last two Beyers and her to.
2nd: #1 Love’s Legend, going against this ML 8-5 favorite, no doubt she has the more impressive Beyers and she’s been running close at this condition all year. Has only won once this year and that was in an off-the-turf event against just 3 other rivals back in May.
3rd: #4 Sarah’s Treasure, out of the always dangerous Claudio Gonzalez barn, she’s got a win and a third place finish in her last two at this same condition. Only 2 for 20 at Laurel in her career.
Race 4: Alw $42k 5 1/2F Turf
1st: #2 Smile for Eternity, an opportunity for a price if this stays on the turf, last race popped an 87 Beyer over this same strip but finished second to Oldies But Goodies who came back to win. Speed of the field, owns field best and second best Beyers both at Laurel.
2nd: #14 Wet Your Whistle, put a line through the last out, previous two decent efforts in New York at the StrAlw level including an 84 Beyer three back at Sar.
3rd: #6 Love You Much, got an 81 Beyer back in August over this strip, don’t love the decelerating figures. Has 3 wins over this track.
OTT: 7-4-11
Race 5: MdClm $16k 5 1/2F Dirt
1st: #6 Petion Night, fantastic job by Jesus Cruz to have this one ready after the year long layoff running 2nd losing by just a neck at the $20k level on the Turf earning a 65 Beyer. We’ll see about the Ness improvement in his debut for the new barn going back to the dirt. Should improve.
2nd: #8 Via Castagna, the only other in the field with decent Beyers including an 81 last November in New York. Since coming back has raced decently with improving Beyers at the $20k level at Bel, definitely a contender.
3rd: #5 Any Darn Day, two in the money finishes in three tries locally, gets shortest distance of his career for one that tends to tire.
Race 6: MdSpWt $40k 2 Year Olds 7F Dirt
1st: #2 Into Temptation, Wow we’re not used to seeing $850k yearlings show up mid-week at Laurel but Delacour has one here. The colt out of Into Mischief is unraced but has been working excellently over at Del and Fair Hill showing competence and speed from the gate. Delacour hitting with 32% of his juvenile starters.
2nd: #6 Olympic Village, from the Trombetta barn this colt ran a 65 Beyer in his debut finishing a length behind V.I.P. Ticket.
3rd: #5 V.I.P. Ticket, this will be his third try and he’s improved after earning a 49 followed by a 65 Beyer both over this surface. Further improvement gives him a shot to win, I’m not sure about the added distance after tiring in both efforts.
Race 7: Alw $42k 1M Dirt
1st: #2 Under a Spell, this lightly raced colt debuted at GP in January and popped an 87 Beyer running 2nd behind some colt named Magnum Moon… That effort was strong enough to earn him 1-20 odds in his first back in 8 months over at Del earlier this month at the MdSpWt level where he did nothing but win by 8 lengths with the comment “With speed to spare.” The second place finisher in that one even came back to win. A $275k purchase as a yearling, Alan Goldberg trains for Colts Neck Stable. 5-2 on the ML would be the opportunity of the month; a wise man told me “even-money would be generous on this one.”
2nd: #7 Eagle Pass, Linda Rice claim out of a $75k event in Saratoga flattered the trainer from New York when this colt immediately won back over a sloppy Belmont track earning an 88 Beyer. She tried turf with him again last out and he didn’t fire so they go back to dirt. Rice is 3 for 14 shipping in so far this meet, strong contender.
3rd: #11 Bronx Sandman, can’t ignore this gelding out of the Capuano barn who popped a career best 81 Beyer last out in this same condition locally finishing second by just a length. He earned a 92 DRF Speed Rating for that effort.
Race 8: OC$50k F 2 Years Old 1M Dirt
1st: #6 Jennifer’s Dream, close readers of these pages will recall we correctly predicted this filly to win an off-the-turf event in her career debut back on Oct 11. She earned a 58 Beyer for that effort and Servis is adding the blinkers this time. Strong summer workouts indicated this $220k two-year-old-in-training purchase was ready to run. She’s the pick again here today.
2nd: #3 Abbo, trainer James Lawerence III thought highly enough of this filly to try the Grade 1 Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland earlier this month after her maiden-breaking win locally and she didn’t embarrass herself beating 7 of the 13 rivals. Great spot for her here.
3rd: #8 Gardenista, we don’t ignore Delacour’s 2 year olds, this one broke her maiden at first asking in an off-the-turf event at Delaware by a whopping 9 lengths although only beating 4 foes. Here’s your second reminder that Delacour is hitting with 32% of 2 year olds.
Race 9: MdClm $25k F 2 Years Old 1 1/16M Turf
1st: #5 Storm Raven, this filly out of the Motion barn is trying the turf again after a respectable attempt at the $40k level finishing behind Slide a Bit who came back to win.
2nd: #6 Full of Drama, only beaten 3 lengths at the $20k level, this filly stretches out and moves to turf for Hugh McMahon.
3rd: #12 Watchin the Wheels, Motion’s other filly here, this one tries turf for the first time after two modest attempts at the MdSpWt class.