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Race 1: Clm $5k 1M

1^st: #3 Runabout, definitely wants to get to the front earlier than others in this field devoid of pace, but has stamina issues. Slight distance relief over last out should help. Like the improvement in fall of 3 year old campaign.

2^nd: #1 Disco Express, just beat Runabout in the last as Runabout  faded at the end. Bullet last workout but he just doesn’t want the lead and that’s why I went Runabout on top in this shorter distance.

3^rd: #5 Third Son, always have to pay attention to Englehart here but he’s probably just trying to get rid of this one. Tried $16k and got no bites as horse ran 20 lengths behind the winner.

Race 2: MdClm $10k F&M 6F

1^st: #3 Malabar, decent first effort, Claudio Gonzalez already has 3 winners thus far at this meeting and is hitting 36% on Mdn2ndstart. First try at $16k was even until tiring at the end, expect improvement. Gonzalez gets the nod.

2^nd: #5 Vinaigrette, can’t blame you if you put this one on top he earned a higher Beyer in his debut and was closer at the end finishing just 4 lengths behind the winner and 3 ahead of Malabar.  

3^rd: #8 Gateau St Honore, 3 in the money finishes in 4 tries locally, last just missed at this level by 2 lengths while favored. Decreasing Beyers during fall campaign is not what you want to see. 

Race 3: The What A Summer Stakes $100k F&M 6F

1^st: #2 Late Night Pow Wow, lovely stakes sprint here, unfortunately for the bettors this one figures to be an overwhelming favorite. 4-5ML figures to turn into 2 or even 1-5 by post time. All this miss has done is win 9 of 10 lifetime so far including 1 for 1 locally in her last out try in the Willa On The Move Stakes which she won by 5 over a sloppy track against open company. She earned a 90 Beyer fig there although margin of victory probably increased by the wet surface. 3 back she won the G3 Charles Town Oaks by a neck after being sent off at nearly 10-1. Last out drill shows she’s ready after brief freshening going 5F in 58 and 3 breezing.

2^nd: #4 Devine Mischief, she should be a beneficiary like Late Night Pow Wow of a lot of early speed in the field and you have to like her last try on the synthetic up at Woodbine. Recent works indicate she’s ready, but don’t think she’s quite good enough.

3^rd: #5 Moonlit Song, some of the early speed in the field and she has shown ability to last at 7F albeit over at Charlestown. Think this group a little bit over her head, but a neck behind Ms Locust Point in the last effort on mud is something to note. 

Race 4: OC$35k F&M 6F

1^st: #6 Margie’s Money, here’s a 3 year old turned 4 that has really figured it out and I’m all in on her. 5 for 12 locally is impressive but the recent form is what sets her apart. Two back she topped 70 Beyer for the first time finishing 3^rd at the OC$25k level and she followed that up with a win going away earning a 76. All that combined with the most recent drill—4F in 46 flat—wow! Should have some speed to close into with Barley Jack getting away from the rail. If he gets away on his own and eases through the first half she may not have time to finish, but with some good pace she should be ready to blitz the final quarter.

2^nd: #1 Barley Jack, that speed from the rail draw will be tough to beat, especially with the distance relief that seems warranted after a couple recent second place finishes at 1 mile. It was very hard to not place this one on top, not least of all because he has been right behind some really quality horses notably Isotope and Timeless Curls (entered in the Nellie Morse Stakes later today).

3^rd: #2 Majestic Won, definitely like the last two efforts locally a win two back in a first level allowance and a narrow defeat at this condition to Adios Annie who is a real nice one. Beyers put her in contention for sure and seems to take well to the surface.  

Race 5: The Native Dancer Stakes $100k 1 & 1/16^thM

1^st: #6 Stan the Man, it was a really huge 2018 for this gelding as he broke his maiden back in March and in December he finished just 5 lengths behind Patternrecognition in the G1 Cigar Mile. That race was excellent as he earned a 97 Beyer and was just 3 lengths behind the leader as late as the 3/4^th call. Terranova seems very keen on this one’s ability as he jumped him from the first level allowance win two back to G1 company and he was proven right to do so. This event should be right in his wheelhouse.

2^nd: #5 Bonus Points, I really wanted to pick this one on top due to the connections (Todd Pletcher trains) and his affinity for the surface (3 for 6 locally with 3 seconds), but I decided he doesn’t quite have the class as Stan the Man. The two back effort was fantastic at the OC$50k level where he earned a 91 figure and got a 102 DRF Speed Rating coming from 20 (!) lengths behind after an excruciatingly poor break. If he’s 17 lengths behind this group after the break he will not win, and I wonder if that number is even half what it was in the most recent events if he can catch up. 

3^rd: #2 General Downs, close readers of these pages will recall my affinity for this one after the three back effort against Adulator that got a 102 DRF Speed Rating. He rewarded my affinity last out at the OC$35k level one a sloppy surface that was causing a lot of funny results. He clearly enjoys the surface and I wouldn’t expect him to finish much farther behind than third, a definite must use in both verticals and horizontal exotics.

Race 6: StrHcp $16k 5 & ½F

1^st: #3 Mandel, checks all the boxes, Beyers in the upper 80s in the last two is superior for this level, 3 wins in 5 tries locally with 2 seconds. O’Dwyer claimed for $16k Oct 21 and turned him into an allowance winner. Last effort equaled the fastest time at Laurel in the past 3 years at 6F wiring the field. Will be very tough to beat.

2^nd: #7 Tradfest, the rare horse that seems to do better at Laurel than at Parx, he is 4 for 5 locally including beating a couple in this field last out which was this exact condition. He stepped up for that one and won at 7-1 while earning a 106 DRF Speed Rating but you have to wonder how frequently Laurel even runs at 5F. Still, very in form and should contend here. 

3^rd: #9 Big Bella Brown, very high quality mare that runs into a tough field here  in an event that she should probably be one of the top two choices in. 4 for 11 locally including last out win in a $16k claimer where she was bought by Trombetta and earned an 85 Beyer.  

Race 7: The Fire Plug Stakes $100k 6F

1^st: #3 Do Share, second off a layoff is a good angle when they run as good as he did in the first. Mike Maker had him working exceptionally leading up to it where he was bumped at the start and was quickly 9 lengths behind the field. To come back to finish 2^nd and earn an 88 Beyer is a really nice performance and you have to expect even better (and maybe some better luck as well).

2^nd: #2 Home Run Maker, I love this one that Englehart has shipping. Winner of two in a row satisfying first and second level allowance conditions, he looks to rate slightly. If the pace is really strong up front he might be able to pull this out. 2 for 3 locally.

3^rd: #6 Sheikh of Sheikhs, strong name, the two back performance was notable as he closed strong to win by a length and a half after the leaders set blistering fractions. Would need that type of speed duel again to close into here.

Race 8: The Nellie Morse Stakes $100k F&M 1 & 1/16^thM

1^st: #4 Timeless Curls, winner of 4 of his last 5 including 3 locally, that last out featured one of the toughest allowance fields I’ve ever seen. She got the perfect trip there, but the fact remains that she wanted to run even longer. Breaking from the 4 hole should mean no problem getting over towards the rail and rating going into the first turn which is exactly what she wants to do. The Beyers aren’t huge but don’t be fooled by her class.

2^nd: #6 Face It, many will probably take this one on top, she has the pedigree, the connections, and is lightly raced coming down from New York for Kiaran McClaughlin. Owned by Godolphin, sired by Tapit, she attracted Jose Ortiz in both of her Aqueduct wins. She’ll be breaking from the outside post and will need that lead immediately on the short run into the first turn. If she’s left wide it’ll be tough to recover and won’t what she wants. If she gets away easy and sets sensible fractions, she probably wins, but the post is tough.

3^rd: #1 Blue Union Rags, probably not up to this task but does have 2 wins locally and Servis thought highly enough of her to try a couple Graded stakes last summer. Would be surprised to see her win this one however. 

Race 9: MdClm $25k 3 Year Olds 6F

1^st: #3 New Stones, obviously have to like this one out of the Claudio Gonzalez barn for the first time. Englehart had him competitive in a couple MdSpWt events up at the Finger Lakes, so this is a bit of a drop in class. Beyers still improving. Somewhat surprised by the jockey choice.

2^nd: #2 Honor Run, James Lawerence is taking the blinkers off which should be an improvement as this colt’s best races all came before the addition of blinkers, and they were at higher claiming prices. Owns the field-best 55 Beyer in the 4 back event at Del. 

3^rd: #5 Perfect Heir, Hamilton Smith trains this one who will get it done sooner rather than later. Love the improvement on second asking. Similar improvement could win this one. McCarthy stays on to ride.