Eight stakes races are offered on the day after Christmas card at Laurel. The highlight is this Grade 3 contest, which is usually a staple on the Preakness or Black Eyed Susan undercard, but for at least this year, it has been shifted to the end of the year.
- Alittlelesstalk: This Emerald Downs based filly has come east to compete at Churchill and Turfway in her last two starts. She was third beaten five at a big number in the Holiday Inaugural last out, which lost some of its shine due to scratches. She comes back to dirt racing and stretches out from 6 Furlongs to 9 Furlongs, which isn’t a concern, as she’s run well in two turn races. My main concern is that most of the others in here are a bit faster and bit classier.
- Another Broad: She’s been a staple in races like this for awhile, but you have to go back to April of 2019 to find her last win (in the Top Flight Invitational at Aqueduct). She has stepped up and run big races from time to time, and she is at her best when she gets a fast pace to close into. She was beaten 9 lengths by three year olds Envoutante and Bonny South most recently in the Falls City at Churchill. While I’m not sure how any of these ladies would stack up against that pair, I still think she’ll come up a little short here. Her best shot will likely be underneath.
- Landing Zone: She appears to be pacesetter in this contest and she might be a sneaky play here. Her last three starts at two turns, she led gate to wire and won each contest by open lengths. She tried stakes company in the Safely Kept last out, and was a dull 3rd. However, that race came at 7 Furlongs, and she’s clearly better going longer. I think she’ll offer good value and I think she has a decent shot to take them gate to wire.
- Eres Tu: She’s the morning line favorite, and definitely the one to beat in this race. In 2019, she was taking the Louisiana path to try to get to the Kentucky Oaks, before facing an injury after a 4th place finish in the Fair Grounds Oaks. She returned well at Keeneland while joining the Delacour barn, and she’s coming off a win over the track in the Thirty Eight Go last month. She figures to sit a stalking trip just off Landing Zone. If she takes another forward move, she’ll be tough to beat.
- Ice Princess: She’s second choice on the morning line, and I’ll be trying to beat this New York based filly in this spot. She put up a big figure, despite being dusted by Mrs. Danvers in the Comely last out, facing three year old fillies. She faces older horses for the first time in graded stakes company, and her figures prior to her last don’t really stack up with these. She could have taken a big step forward last out, and she will be tough to beat if she runs back to that race. Her only other trip out of New York did not go well, as she was crushed in the Fantasy behind Swiss Skydiver earlier this year. This isn’t as long of a trip, but traveling and facing older horses off a career figure, seems like a recipe for a bounce to me.
- Wicked Awesome: She had a nice string of races going before running a dud in the Thirty Eight Go last time out. She had an outside draw and a short run to the first turn, leading to a wide trip that day. She’s drawn outside again, but should be able to get better position early on here. She’ll be coming late, and I except her to rebound after her last race.
- Needs Supervision: She’s been on a steady stakes diet, running all of her races in Maryland this year. She’s been on the board in three of those four races, but this is a big stretch out for her as she most recently went 6 Furlongs, finishing third in the Primonetta. This is a tough spot to travel further than she’s ever gone before, and I’m not seeing her calling out for more distance.
My Picks: 3-4-6