The GQ Approach – Laurel July 22
First turf race of the 2018 season at Laurel Park. Photo by Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club.
The GQ Approach features full-card selections from Laurel Park for the live summer racing meet, Post Time 1:10pm EDT including a daily Best Bet, Longshot Play, and multi-race wagers — including the 20 cent Rainbow Pick-6, 50 cent Early and Late Pick-5s, as well as Pick-4s and rolling Doubles, Pick-3s and the Super High-5.
- Rainbow Pick 6: $11,332
- Super High 5: none
- Late Pick 5: none[/su_box]
- Race 7 – 50-cent Pick 4: 6, 8, 9 w/ 3, 6, 7 w/ 1, 4 w/ 5, 7, 8 ($27.00)
- Race 9 – $2 Double 1, 4 w/ 5, 7, 8 ($12)
[su_heading size=”21″ align=”left”]Analysis[/su_heading]
- Weather: Scattered thunderstorms throughout the afternoon, high in the upper 70s
- Scheduled turf races: 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th
- Projected track conditions: Main – Sloppy/ Turf – Off
- NOTE: All races handicapped for dirt only
- Picks updated at 1:00 p.m. to reflect late scratches.
1st Race Post Time 1:10pm EDT
Race 1 is off the turf
- #9 – Pennyforyrthoughts (4-1): Four-year-old training well enough towards debut here, and trainer Trombetta can win first out of the box
- #4 – True Cat (6-1): Main-track only entrant gave credible effort last out in the slop
- #2 – Scoop N Nailz (8-1): Modestly bred sort has been training forwardly
Race 2
- #7 – Polarization (3-1): Clearly better sprinting and rises here off a victory
- #1 – La Contessa (9-5): Led throughout to post only victory, but presence of other speed types a problem; jock-trainer combo a positive
- #6 – Shecor (8-1): Closing sort might get pace scenario to his liking; steadied out of it past the half-mile marker in last but stuck with it to the end, and bug boy Hamilton, who’s won on him previously, returns
Race 3 is off the turf
- #10 – In Him With Him (9-2): One of four from last to run back has won; has a couple wins with Karamanos in the irons and catches a modest group here
- #2 – Publishanditerate (6-1): This one’s been away a year after Eppler claim; note she chooses to protect it in this spot, and mile work suggests she’s aiming for him to fire here
- #7 King Koa (9-5): First off the claim for trainer Ness, who’s 22 percent in that situation; gave this guy a bit of time after late May claim, and last work looks like he’s ready
Race 4
- #4 – Boss Boss (3-1): Young trainer Trimble’s been doing well since striking out on her own; solid work tab for this debut runner
- #6 – Blue Danube (10-1): Breeding is pretty fancy on this debut runner: by top sire Awesome Again, this is the first foal out a Grade 2-winning A. P. Indy mare; trainer Corrales 1-for-16 with debut maiden special weight runners
- #2 – Come Sundown (2-1): Great Notion gelding is a half to stakes winner Everything Lovely
Race 5 is off the turf; it is an amateur riders race
- #6 — Stillsexyatsixty (7-2): Improved effort in last even with a trouble line
- #11 – Janelle Dreams (3-1): Nothing wrong with recent form, but outer post poses a challenge for amateur jock: to avoid getting hung out in the parking lot without using too much horse too early
- #4– Whenallelsefails (12-1): Bit of belated action in last in season debut; added ground should help
Race 6
- #3 — Chinquapin (9-5): Has kept better company than these; had some trouble in last when steadied late; will try to get stalk-and-pounce trip here
- #1 – Poplar Avenue (7-5): Set fast early pace before stopping in last; looks like main speed here from rail post with bug boy up, and slight shortening of distance a positive
- #2 – Meo Desperado (6-1): Didn’t show much in last in first after freshening but has solid efforts to run back to; takes appropriate drop here
Race 7 is off the turf
- #6 – Sir Orinoco (7-2): Impressive effort in last in first try in almost a year; MTO entrant loves the trip, has won two straight vs. similar
- #8 – Fifty (3-1): Gotta respect anything Linda Rice sends out at LRL, and this one’s been gelded since last — but winner of last, at MTH, was jumping up off of win vs. maiden claimers; beware short odds here
- #2 – Arch Revenge (6-1): Toss the turf try and this looks like a 10k horse on the main track — just about fitting in this spot
Race 8
- #7 – Bye Bye Bertie (9-2): Good work tab for runner making her debut; trainer Smith has to shake out of doldrums sooner or later
- #3 – Helen (9-5): Ran a big one to just miss on debut after exhibiting unruly behavior at the gate, but foes from that day are 0-for-5 in their follow-ups; not a fan of raising a horse off a defeat
- #6 – Flatter Me Owen (3-1): Kinda wonder if this Flatter filly will want more ground than 5f on offer here; work tab showing three bullets
Race 9
- *** BEST BET #4 – Deep Red (2-1) ***: First after freshening for this Algorithms filly, an astute claim for trainer Damon Dilodovico; fifth-place finisher from last took a tougher Md-bred allowance than this one on 7/21
- #1 – Margie’s Money (8-1): Showed a new dimension in last when running into the pace to prevail against lesser; rivals from that day are 4-0-2-1 in follow-ups; can move forward in third of ’18
- #7 – Hot Friesia (8-1): Rider Gomez picks this one over #6; Friesan Fire filly just missed vs. lesser in last
Race 10
- *** LONGSHOT PLAY #7 — Broad Expanse (10-1) ***: Blinks on in third of the year for Curlin gelding who’s lightly raced enough to retain some upside
- #8 – Ticker Tape Parade (8-5): Two to run back from his maiden score last out have won and run second; figures to lead or be just off the speed early
- #5 – Bad Angle Burke (5-1): First off the claim for trainer McMahon; trainer and jockey Lynch click at 30 percent with a huge flat-bet profit
Yesterday’s News
- On Saturday, July 21 at Laurel had six winners from nine races (3 Top Selections; payoff in BOLD). In two races, all of our selections were scratched as a result of the late surface switch taking all but the first off the turf.
- Top Selections are 244 for 858 (28.44%). In 2017, Top Selections went 340 for 1,197 (28.40%). The payoffs of Sunday’s winners:
- R1: $17.00
- R2: $4.40
- R3: xxx
- R4: $16.60
- R5: xxx
- R6: NA (all selections scratched)
- R7: $17.40
- R8: xxx
- R9: $13.20
- R10: $11.00
- R11: NA (all selections scratched)
- Of the suggested multi-race wagers, hit the race one daily double, which returned $44.80 on a $2 wager (total of $18 wagered).
- BEST BET of the Day (87:22-23-8; in 2017 119: 39-25-19) Bungalow (5th race: 5-2 M/L; 8-5 PT) circled the turn, loomed a threat, but flattened out while easily securing the place, returning $3.60 to PLACE and $2.80 to SHOW.
- LONGSHOT PLAY of the Day (85:12-18-10; in 2017 107: 18-13-15) Coop Tries Harder (4th race: 8-1 M/L; 7.30-1 PT) attended the pace while three wide, took control in the lane, widening the advantage past the furlong grounds, and held sway to win by 1 1/2 lengths, returning $16.60 to WIN, $6.40 to PLACE and $3.60 to SHOW.