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Laurel stats to date
W%=41%
R.O.I.=+19%
Race 1: Clm $16k F&M 5 1/2F Turf
1st: #5, Romantic Babe, David Donk’s shipper down from New York, she broke her Maiden in a MdSpWt event at Saratoga last August and has ran decent at the allowance level and upper level claiming events. Shortens back up to the distance of her lone win, gets big time class relief.
2nd: #7 Feelin Foxie, this miss struggled in her debut for the Gaudet barn off a 5 month freshening after some decent tries in MdSpWt company under Tom Proctor. Gets the blinkers and her lone win came over this turf at the MdClm40k level back in May. Owns the field-best Beyer 4 back a 71.
3rd: #2 It’s a Doozy, has decent attempts at the OC25k level over this turf. Returns to this course from a couple off-the-turf events should find herself in the mix near the end.
OTT: 2-12-6
Race 2: MdClm $16k 1 1/16M Turf
1st: #6 Robbie, fresh off a second place finish at the 12.5k level here, he lost by only a nose showing massive improvement. Owns the best last-race Beyer in the field.
2nd: #1 Electro, going against this 7-5 ML favorite. Once highly thought of ($400k son of Ghostzapper) has descended the class ladder since his days in the Baffert, Hendriks, and Maker barns now finds himself in the Trombetta string at the lowest level of his career. Don’t like the pattern but owns the field best Beyer an 81 last fall. Seems to run to his competition.
3rd: #8 Makeanentrance, like the last out try at Suffolk where he was edged by less than a length. Don’t love the ones coming out of races at Suffolk, but showed decent speed earning a 55 Beyer.
Race 3: OC25k F&M 1 1/16M Dirt
1st: #7 Untaken, 0 for 4 at Laurel, but all 4 were second place finishes including last out at this same level Sep 15 making up 4 lengths in the stretch run to lose by just a half. Gets added distance here. 3 back at the Spa in an 87k Allowance ran a close 2nd. 2-1 would be generous here.
2nd: #1 Unlucky Hillary, 1 for 4 locally, she was nosed at the wire last out at this same level when the race came off the turf facing 5 rivals earning a 64 Beyer. Was 3 1/2 Ls behind Untaken in the 2 back event Sep 15 here. Gonzalez barn hitting at a ridiculous 41% clip at this meet.
3rd: #4 Setubal, also in that Sep 15 event right with Unlucky Hillary. Two straight 68 Beyers including the 2 back a win at Del at the 40k level.
Race 4: MdClm $16k 2 YOs 6F Dirt
1st: #7 Unequivocal, owns the field best Beyer a 40 last out when he ran at this same level and lost by just 3/4 of a length. Has been drilling really well in the morning all summer and into the fall locally. A day of Uns.
2nd: #10 Drosselmoon, they thought highly enough of this one to try open stakes company in the Jamestown last out and he didn’t embarrass himself. Gets blinkers here and worked really well from the gate at Pim recently. Expect big improvement.
3rd: #3 Top Hat Tune, ran decently in last out locally, just a couple Ls behind Unequivocal. 2 decent tries already for the always reliable Potts barn.
Race 5: Clm $16k 5 1/2F Turf
1st: #10 Dark Roast, the hot horse coming off two nice efforts at the Meadowlands earning 84 and 76 Beyers. Last out was a win at the allowance level. Has found his game going short on turf. Gets a top pilot Danny Centeno hitting at 20% on the year.
2nd: #11 Call Wil, was running decently in OC25-30 level last year and earlier this year. Was claimed from the DeMasi barn for 20k and didn’t run great in the debut for the new barn but ran respectably behind some horses that came back to win. Don’t love the pattern.
3rd: #9 Odlum, has the speed here and should appreciate the shorter distance. Has a win and a second over this strip last year and two back ran well earning a 70 Beyer in a win at Pen.
Race 6: MdClm 16k 1 1/16M Turf
1st: #9 Fleet Admiral, came down to Laurel last out after running decently in upper level claiming events in New York and ran second in this same condition behind Redeemed Gentleman who came back to win.
2nd: #8 Sir Smarty, here’s an interesting one; has attempted hurdles in two of last three tries which should be good for his stamina. Sandwiched in between was an attempt at this condition where he finished a good second by a length and a quarter.
3rd: #3 Lovely Games, has shown ability on grass and dirt, last out earned a 51 finishing second at this level on dirt. Katharine Voss still trying to get a win for this 5 year old, 0-22 so far lifetime.
Race 7: Alw $42k 6F Dirt
Opportunity for an exacta play on the top two picks here.
1st: #8 Forced, ran respectably last out for half the race against Breeders Cup horses Firenze Fire and Seven Trumpets in the G3 Gallant Bob at Parx, no shame in losing there. Previous two earned 92 and 90 Beyers before the freshening. Stakes placed in the two back at Belmont. Has been working reliably at Monmouth last 6 weeks. Love this spot.
2nd: #10 Polar Jet, Linda Rice shipper has two second place finishes at Laurel last winter–and they were two of the best starts of his life earning a 94 and a 92 Beyer. Stakes placed at Aqueduct after that, was tough to pick against this one. Tried turf with him last out, now back to his preferred surface, will be very tough to beat.
3rd: #1 Bo Vuk, 4 wins locally, in the money in 13 of his 18 tries, always reliable over this strip usually earning mid 70s Beyers. Runs into stiff competition in this one.
Race 8: OC35k F&M 5 1/2F Turf
1st: #4 Misericordia, Goldberg tried stakes company last out and he ran well only 4 lengths behind earning a field-best 81 Beyer. Love the pattern of improvement winning an allowance at this strip back in July. Should get decent price due to large high quality field.
2nd: #5 Bye Bye Blues, 12-1 ML a heavy overlay, all this one does is win (or come really close) 4 for 7 lifetime. Last out wins by 4 although in the slop in an off-the-turf event here. Shows decent Beyers on both surfaces, should be in the mix at the end.
3rd: #1 Not In Jeopardy, throw out last try in off-the-turf event, 3 times in the money in 4 starts locally, consistently mid-70s Beyers in eluding a third place finish in a Stakes event at Monmouth in July. Quality filly.
OTT: 12-13-2
Race 9: Clm $5k F&M 6F Dirt
1st: #3 Tidy Stripe, last out broke her maiden by 4 lengths at this strip at the 10k level. First against winners should be more difficult, but her form is right. Best tries all on dirt and she gets it again here.
2nd: #1 Petticoatsnpistols, tricky name, last out a decent try at 7F locally earning a 44 Beyer in a second place finish. Consistent performer for Maryland legend King Leatherbury.
3rd: #9 Rightupyouralley, Mary Eppler’s always competitive here, has shown ability on both surfaces, should be on the lead and you never know if she gets away with an easy pace.
Race 10: Clm 16K 5 1/2F Turf
1st: #8 Looking Ready, second try for the red hot Gonzalez barn, this time back on the turf where he has shown ability in the past up in New York. As a two year old was competitive in G3 company. We’ll see if the barn+surface change will be enough.
2nd: Forthegreatergood, throw out the two back on the dirt at Tim and this one has solid local form including last out 62 Beyer at this same level. 1 for 5 locally with two second place finishes.
3rd: #2 Zig Zillion, trying the turf for the debut for the new barn, has show quality in OC events, earning 70s Beyers multiple times. Another one to monitor on the barn+surface change angle.