As a reminder, you can follow Chris on twitter at @kingcwoods
Chris Laurel Stats
Win % 2-9 22%
R.O.I.=-20%
W/L=-3.60 (1Day)
Race 1: MdSpWt40k for Fillies, 2 Years Old, 1 Mile on the Turf
If this race stays on turf
1st: #1 Dakota Ready, Keith Nations’ filly has a nice try over Delaware’s turf just 3 lengths behind the winner Monkey’s Uncle, who came back to win. Throw out the most recent try. Two sharp works at Monmouth recently.
2nd: #6 Money Fromheaven, her best try came in her only attempt on turf when she finished just 3 lengths behind the winner earning a 50 Beyer here at Laurel. She gets her preferred surface here again. Like the two most recent drills locally.
3rd: #3 Sanguine, Graham Motion’s filly switches from dirt to turf and adds distance. She has an even try on dirt in her debut where she earned a 51 Beyer here at Laurel. Should appreciate the surface switch
If this race moves to the dirt
1st: #8 Jennifer’s Dream (MTO), $220k buy this spring, she has some speedy drills over at Parx. Servis barn hitting at 24% clip this year.
2nd: #2 Cherry Not (MTO), another that may want to try this out on the dirt, Delacour’s filly is a daughter of Malibu Moon. Barn is hitting at 33% with 2 year olds.
3rd: #14 Change of Control, could get the nod with a couple scratches, $95k buy at OBS last fall gets the blinkers and some class relief after debuting respectably at Saratoga in August.
Race 2: Claiming $8k 5&1/2F Turf
If this race stays on turf
1st: #3 Scout’s Honor, the 9 year old is in good form, finishing in the money in each of his last 5 tries, all here at Laurel. Has earned two 80 Beyers among those 5. Likes the Laurel turf especially.
2nd: #1 Padilla, this gelding should improve second off the freshening. Can’t say for sure what to expect but his last came in the slop. On turf he’s done his best work earning an 88 Beyer two back this spring in Gulfstream. Can only wonder if he’s back to peak form.
3rd: #10 Indian Bucks, 5 for 15 locally. Two back he got a 73 Beyer and his numbers are consistent. Like the most recent drill.
If this race moves to the dirt
1st: #8 Pachi Cruz (MTO), 4 for 11 on the Laurel dirt course, consistent Beyers and has 3 wins at this distance.
2nd: #5 Reedini, just won at this level and distance in a race that came off the turf here in September earning a 66 Beyer.
3rd: Pacific Ridge (MTO), first out since May when he bled at Pimlico, speedy horse would appreciate a wet track but probably needs a race or two.
Race 3: Claiming $12.5k 1 Mile Dirt
1st: #7 Double Whammy, 9-5 on the ML, he’s 9 for 19 with 5 seconds here at Laurel, 5-10 at this distance. Earned a 76 and 77 in most recent two tries at the Starter Allowance level, should appreciate class relief. The clear bet here.
2nd: #2 Bungalow, 3 for his last 3 earning 75 Beyers in all 3, 2 of which were here at Laurel. 3 for 4 at the distance, was claimed for $8k out of his last by a trainer that’s 0-33 so far in 2018.
3rd: #6 Top Prospect, this one has shown consistent ability in the past, banking on a return to form after a 6 length victory off-turf try just a week ago. 6 for 14 here at Laurel.
Race 4: Maiden Claiming $16k 1 Mile on the Turf
1st: #5 Troopingthecolor, best tries are on turf including last out loss by a nose at earning a 57 Beyer
2nd: #2 Wise Men, consistent mid-50s Beyers last 4, just missing by less than a length last out at Del. Has been close at this class level twice.
3rd: #6 Optical Illusion, has shown recent improvement, even going off as the favorite in last out in August here. Needs to improve more to have a shot to win.
Race 5: MdSpWt $40k 2 Year Olds 6 Furlongs Dirt
1st: #9 Passcode, broke his maiden by 3 and 3/4 lengths before being disqualified back in September over this same strip earning a 69 Beyer showing big improvement off his debut. Could see improvement again and a decent price at 7-2 ML.
2nd: #5 Ocean Monarch, Stidham hitting with 21% of 2 year olds, this one has multiple bullet works. $180k purchase, grandson of Pioneerof The Nile. Guess is he’s ready to run.
3rd: #11 Irish Roar, Englehart shipping this one down after a close 3rd at Parx last out earning a 66 Beyer. Gets blinkers for the first time after drifting out last out.
Race 6: Claiming $8k 5&1/2 Furlongs on the Turf
If this race stays on turf
1st: #1 Anytime Anyplace, just won going away earning a 79 Beyer for Cannizzo at the bottom class level at the Meadowlands. Showed excellent form last summer in Optional Claiming events in New York before going off form. Even some semblance of that form should win this one.
2nd: #3 Starship Thor, this one out of the Ness barn just won over this course and distance earning a 78 Beyer. 8 for 23 at this distance and 1 for 3 at Laurel.
3rd: #10 Adversary, showed really solid form this spring and summer at the Starter Allowance level earning an 81 and a 76 Beyer. In the money in 5 of 8 tries here at Laurel.
If this race moves to dirt
1st: #6 King’s House (MTO), clearly wants the dirt and shows early speed. Solid Beyers.
2nd: #10 Adversary, showed really solid form this spring and summer at the Starter Allowance level earning an 81 and a 76 Beyer. In the money in 5 of 8 tries here at Laurel. Two recent solid efforts on the dirt.
3rd: #12 Vicksburg Bluffs (AE), has shown ability on dirt winning a bottom level event this past winter. Most recent effort leaves something to be desired.
Race 7: Claiming $5k 6 Furlongs Dirt
1st: #1 Midnight Cry, 2 for his last 2 earning a 64 and 60 Beyer, and 2 wins over this strip in 5 tries. 3 for 9 lifetime.
2nd: #6 Excelisberg, earned a 70 Beyer last out at $25k level. Should appreciate class relief, best surface is probably the synthetic up in Erie.
3rd: #7 Young American, has a win on this strip earning an 88 Beyer in an Optional Claiming event back in March. Claudio Gonzalez barn winning at 32% so far at this meet.
Race 8: Fillies and Mares Claiming $16k 5&1/2 Furlongs Dirt
1st: #3 Angelina’s Star, she’s 1 for 2 with a 2nd place finish over this strip and just recently won at the Maiden $16k level earning a 47. Trainer John Robb 3 for 11 so far here at this meet.
2nd: #2 Rein Supreme, has a win over this surface and most recently a 2nd place finish at this class level. 3 times in the money in 7 tries over the track.
3rd: #7 Bourbonstreetlady, has been closer dropping into claiming company including 2 thirds in 3 tries here at Laurel.
Race 9: Claiming $16k 5&1/2 Furlongs Dirt
1st: #4 Poplar Avenue, getting class relief and has 2 in the money finishes over this track. Owns field-best 62 Beyer 3 back over this strip when he came within a length of the victor. Nice local drills.
2nd: #6 Mediterranean, wanted to pick this one on top, $125k son of Pioneerof the Nile, just broke his Maiden up at Pen earning a 53 Beyer. Could improve.
3rd: #1 True Cat, has a win over this course but it was in an off-the-turf try.