The GQ Approach – Laurel October 7

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 Fall 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.

• Weather: Partly cloudy, high in the mid-80s
• Scheduled turf races: 1st, 2nd, 4th, 8th on turf; 5th, 7th, and 10th off turf
• Projected track conditions: Main – FAST / Turf – Yielding

1st Race Post Time 1:10pm EDT

Race 1 is ON THE TURF

1. #9 – She’s Divine (2-1): Stuck with it to the end in 6f debut after showing plenty of speed; reunited w/ jockey Lynch and showing a quartet of 5f works in the interim
2. #2 – Lubricus Soror (15-1): Two-month break since last, when showing a bit of a trouble line in turf bow; show horse from last returned to win the Sorority at MTH
3. #1 – Ask Stacy (7-2): Stidham trainee got Lasix for the first time in last, but race came off the turf; credible debut when running greenly through the lane

Race 2 is ON THE TURF

1. #6 – Thanks Mom (9-2): Competed well enough vs. similar in last two at DEL; show horse from last returned to beat open claiming company
2. #8 – Baby Isabella (3-1): Last two at this level good enough to compete here; trainer Breen wins at 26% clip at LRL in the last five years, including three-for-five this meet
3. #10 – Megstone (6-1): Ran credibly vs. similar earlier this year; first off the claim for trainer Farrior and third off a two-month break

Race 3

1. #8 – Scarlet Tanager (4-1): Showed a bit of promise when rallying in debut after a bad start; drop to bottom a plus, and added ground might have her a little bit closer to contention early
2. #3 – Our Anthem (3-1): Shows two works, one at 6f, since fourth-place finish in last; trainer Capuano switches to go-to bug rider W. Hamilton; not likely to find an easier group than this one
3. #2 – Donna’s Delight (7-2): Sheds the blinks for 17th career try here; has competed vs. similar but demonstrated disinterest in winning races makes her tough to endorse on top

Race 4 is ON THE TURF

1. #6 – O’Malley (9-2): Didn’t run a bad race last out over yielding ground in minor stake at SAR, and the winner came back to be fourth in G2 event; hoping to beat the chalk in here, and this filly with two-turn experience offers best hope 
2. #7 – Helen (1-1): Addition of blinks a good move on a filly who was looking around and wandering a bit in the lane in the Selima last out but who re-rallied anyway; added ground shouldn’t be a problem, but even-money’s tough to take on a horse trying it for the first time
3. #2 – No Mo Lady (6-1): Uncle Mo filly was much the best in Md-bred maiden race on debut, and breeding says added ground should be no problem; working well for first start in two months; Trombetta-Pimentel combo struck three times on Saturday

Race 5 is OFF THE TURF

1. #13 Tale of E Dubai (5-2): Veteran looks to have this group at his mercy
2. #10 My Enigma (15-1): Won in similar circumstances four back
3. #3 Benefactor (8-1): Belmont shipper figures live in here

Race 6

1. #3 – Bodega Bay (7-2): Bested allowance foes two back at TIM and finds easier spot here; sophomore has three wins, one more than many of her rivals; jock Carrasco 5-for-15 when riding trainer Farrior’s runners
2. #5 – Claravoyant (10-1): Eppler trainee drops to easier spot after a couple poor outings and makes second start after a seven-week break here; figures to be either on the lead or just off it early and try to take ’em as far as she can
3. #7 – Emma’sdiamonddiva (9-5): Even effort last out vs. better but settled for runner-up spot two back vs. similar at DEL

Race 7 is OFF THE TURF

1. #5 Discreet Deceit (6-1): In top form now and just missed in similar circumstances last out; regular pilot Acosta remains aboard
2. #6 Everlasting Secret (12-1): Makes first start in over three months; was competing vs. similar when last seen
3. #2 Enchanted Ghost (15-1): Stakes winner makes first start in eight months here; trainer Smith 0-for-23 off similar breaks

Race 8 is ON THE TURF

1. *** BEST BET #10 – Brickyard Kitten (9-5) ***: Big year for this 8yo Kitten’s Joy gelding, who has been pummeling starter allowance foes; finds an easier spot for first try in two months and note that trainer Magee is prepping her just as he did for her victorious season debut: with two sluggish works
2. #6 – Berliner (8-1): Huge drop out of ALW company to this spot, and that was a rugged group he faced in last, topped by G3 winner Just Howard — should appreciate major class relief
3. #7 – Matador (8-1): Bested similar two back in most recent turf outing: Ole!

Race 9

1. *** LONGSHOT PLAY #5 – Looking Ready (6-1) ***: Connections had higher aspirations for this More Than Ready gelding, evidenced by three stakes tries last year, including a placing in the Awad on turf; first time in the Gonzalez barn and drops to easiest spot yet; Gonzalez is 30 percent with a flat-bet profit in “first with trainer”
2. #1 – Vineyard (5-2): Two of his beaten rivals from maiden score graduated next out; one of four here from last tilt, when just bested by #6 here in slop; Karamanos a new addition
3. #6 – Tambora (3-1): Speedster in good form now

Race 10 is OFF THE TURF

1. #3 Gloria’s Gal (15-1): Improving sort gave good accounting of herself in two tries at the Big T
2. #2 My Chesa Charm (8-1): Huge effort in last when winning by seven while ridden out
3. #9 Nightmare (20-1): Was third vs. similar last out

Yesterday’s News

• On Friday October 5th at Laurel had 5 winners from the 10-race card (0 Top Selections; payoff in BOLD below).
• Top Selections are 359 for 1254 (28.63%). In 2017, Top Selections went 340 for 1,197 (28.40%). The payoffs of the day’s winners…
  • R1: xxx
  • R2: xxx
  • R3: $12.80
  • R4: $5.20
  • R5: xxx
  • R6: $6.00
  • R7: $22.80
  • R8: xxx
  • R9: xxx
  • R10: $2.80
• Of the suggested multi-race wagers, none were hit.
• BEST BET of the Day (125:36-31-11; in 2017 119: 39-25-19) Sheikh of Sheiks (7th race: 3-1 M/L; 4-5 PT), in a race taken off the turf, was bumped at the start and ran evenly to finish fourth.
• LONGSHOT PLAY of the Day (119:21-21-14; in 2017 107: 18-13-15) Glad Dad (9th race: 12-1 M/L; 14-1 PT) raced up close for a half-mile and faded to finish sixth.