The GQ Approach – Laurel August 2
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: $428.47
- Super High 5: $1,090.11
- Late Pick 5: none[/su_box]
- Race 1 – $2 Double: 1, 3, 5 w/ 4, 5 ($12.00)
- Race 3 – $2 Double: 4, 5, 6 w/ 2, 3, 6 w/ 1, 4, 5 ($13.50)
- Race 5 – 50-cent Pick 5: 1, 4, 5 w/ 4 w/ 5, 7 w/ 4, 6 w/ 3, 6, 8 ($18.00)
- Race 1 – $2 Double: 4, 6 w/ 3, 6, 8 ($12.00)
[su_heading size=”21″ align=”left”]Analysis[/su_heading]
- Weather: Cloudy w/ chance of showers, high in the mid-80s
- Scheduled turf races: 1st, 3rd, 5th, 9th
- Projected track conditions: Main – FAST/ Turf – OFF
1st Race Post Time 1:10pm EDT
Race 1 is OFF THE TURF
- #1 – Darter (4-1): Late-blooming VA-bred daughter of Dance With Ravens out of a During mare hails from P. Schoenthal barn who wins with 11% of debut runners; wanted turf but all works came on Lrl dirt; others have already proven their lack of ability at this level
- #3 – Holiday Hopes (9-5): 0 for 14 in her career but just 0 for 2 on the main oval, both “even” efforts; look for D. Centeno to dictate a pace that could be measured with a sun dial
- #5 – Wolverette (9-2): A third-place finish from three starts on the main track makes her a threat a earn diploma in this off the turf event as the BRIS# earned then (67) ties her for career best with the fav.
Race 2
- #5 – Questionoftheday (3-1): Adds blinkers on return to home state after giving synthetic at Pid a go in $100k stakes event (6th by 6) when used early to get position after slow start
- #4 – Knock Out Kid (12-1): $1k purchase at Tim Oct. ’17 Sale was a surprise winner in debut (12-1) did it very professionally with the look of wanting more distance and gets an additional furlong here
- #3 – Helen (9-5): Well-backed (3-2) runner just missed in debut then made amends in next start despite traffic trouble over Lrl mud; quick 11 day turn around
Race 3 is OFF THE TURF
- #4 – Partisian Divide (4-1): Exits turf sprint in debut where he failed to flash the early speed he displayed in the A.M.; stretch out fits bloodlines; owner/breeder is longtime client of trainer H. Smith and brother of KY-based trainer Dale Romans (a nugget for your cocktail conversations)
- #5 – Scaramucci (7-5): Trainer R. Jenkins does well with “Second career start” runners (27%) as is the case with this son of Flatter who gets added distance; this $220k Kee yearling purchase stays in despite off the turf because pedigree suggests he’ll handle it just fine
- #6 – Glad Dad (5-2): MTO entry is 0 for 3 burning bettors money as Post Time favorite in each start sprinting, twice on an off track; adds Blinkers and the ultimate equipment change… gelded since last start
Race 4
- #6 – Another Broad (5-1): *** BEST BET *** Bred to go two turns and has shown in both career starts sprinting at the $40kMCL level, it takes her a half mile to get out of first gear; connections must like her based on short odds in first two
- #3 – Timeless Curls (3-5): On paper deserves to be prohibitive favorite but seems to be still trying to figure out her role in life; her numbers tower over today’s foes but have seen these type before continue to underachieve; maybe first time going two turns will help turn the lightbulb on
- #2 – Frankly J’ray (8-1): Second career start following an ugly turf try in debut at Mth when sent off a modest 5-1 with Chad Brown as the listed trainer; this gal didn’t last long under his care as she’s now M. Nevin’s project
Race 5 is OFF THE TURF
- #5 – Mokheef (6-1): $$$ LONGSHOT $$$ Of those left to run on the Lrl main oval in here, he’s faced better in the past; like how J.D. Acosta, who was scheduled to ride trainer C. Lynch’s scratched runner (#11) bumps A. Cruz of to get a leg up
- #1/1A – Conquest Falcon/City Gold (9-2): “Falcon” just 0 for 1 on main track where he was late on the going 6f, added distance should help; “Gold” draws in from AE but tough to endorse if not coupled
- #4 – Barin (6-1): Disappointing run when 4-1 in latest; positive jock switch gives reason to think this 1 for 21 runner has a legit shot to find Winners’ Circle in this off the turf event
Race 6
- #4 – Belles Orb (7-5): Three-time winner eligible based on wins at age 3; has had a pair of rough starts since trainer H. McMahon dropped the Claim slip at CD in June for $30k; extra 1/16th will help
- #6 – Close the Deal (6-1): Determined run to win by a neck after being compromised at the start in first start in W. Komlo barn just 2-months after pulling up after the start at GP; can repeat v. these gals
- #7 – Miss Jak (3-1): First start for trainer C. Gonzalez (25%) after 6 career starts at GP, no worse than fourth; field lacks a need the lead type so she seems to be the candidate to get first call with ability to make every pole a winning one
Race 7
- #5 – Ridgemont High (4-1): Fast Times? Not so much but a brief, decent two-year-old campaign provides hope coming off a 9-month vacation; quartet of works indicate she’s ready to fire
- #7 – Setubal (6-1): Second of two runners on Lrl card for trainer K. Rubley, both with E. Esquivel listed to ride but this is the only one he’s been aboard prior to today
- #1 – Justa Scoch (3-1): That’s about measurement of his last loss on dirt when wide throughout; Turf-to-dirt angle in play here as Acosta takes over for bug boy
Race 8
- #6 – Forever Liesl (2-1): Ran evenly in minor stakes at Mth in latest; likes Lrl (4:1-2-1) and would benefit from some late-afternoon precipitation; V. Carrasco opts to reunite with trainer M. Nevin instead of the meets leading trainers longshot (#7)
- #4 – Blue Strike (4-1): Must respect trainer J. Servis (32% at Lrl the past year) shippers especially when J. Navarro makes trip in from Prx just for this mount; draw a line through G3 Del Oaks try
- #1 – Bluegrass Flag (7-2): Sprinter stretches out to a mile once again three races after tiring in NY-bred stakes at Bel; runner-up effort in latest locally v. similar will likely go for a gate-to-wire score
Race 9 is OFF THE TURF
- #6 – Coop Tries Harder (8-1): Looks to repeat in same scenario of off the turf and over a sloppy Lrl surface at same level; second start with blinkers back on
- #3– Seeking the Sunset (8-1): BRIS#s continue to climb with each career start, makes #5 while blinkers come off after runner-up effort at 32-1 sprinting on turf
- #8 – Maru’s Raven (3-1): Game effort when runner-up on turf but switches back to dirt, scene of maiden score three back at bottom level; seems lightbulb came then
Yesterday’s News
- On Sunday July 29th at Laurel had 7 winners from the 9-race card (3 Top Selections; payoff in BOLD below).
- Top Selections are 256 for 906 (28.26%). In 2017, Top Selections went 340 for 1,197 (28.40%). The payoffs of the day’s winners:
- R1: $3.20
- R2: $8.80
- R3: $7.60
- R4: $6.40
- R5: xxx
- R6: $3.60
- R7: $6.00
- R8: $3.60
- R9: xxx
- Of the suggested multi–race wagers, hit the R1-R2 DOUBLE which returned $15.20 on a $2 wager (total of $18 wagered).
- BEST BET of the Day (91:24-24-9; in 2017 119: 39-25-19) Zen’s Land (4th race: 9-2 M/L; 5-2 PT) well back early while saving ground, started a run near the far turn, progressed along the rail into the lane, shifted out for room in mid-stretch, bid between rivals with a sixteenth remaining, could not match strides with the winner but managed to save the place under steady handling and returned $3.60 to PLACE and $2.80 to SHOW.
- LONGSHOT PLAY of the Day (88:12-18-11; in 2017 107: 18-13-15) Corvid (5th race: 8-1 M/L; 6-1 PT) in the six-path turning for home, raced on her left lead in the drive and gained between horses to get worst of a four-way photo, finishing fourth by two noses and a head.