The GQ Approach – Laurel November 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 (w/ live racing every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through May 7, 2017; Post Time 12:30pm EDT), including a daily Best Bet, Longshot Play, and multi-race wagers — including the 20 cent Rainbow Pick-6, 50 cent Jackpot Pick-5, as well as Pick-4s and rolling Doubles, Pick-3s and the Super High-5.
- Rainbow Pick 6: $19,269
- Super High 5: $1,162
- Late Pick 5: no carryover[/su_box]
- Race 3: $0.50 Pick-3 11, 13 w/ 1, 8, 11 w/ 1, 7, 8 ($9.00)
- Race 6: $0.50 Pick-3 1, 6 w/ 3, 4, 9 w/ 6, 7, 12 ($4.50)
[su_heading size=”21″ align=”left”]Analysis[/su_heading]
- Weather: Afternoon thunderstorms, high of 70
- Projected track conditions: fast main track, yielding to soft turf for early races, OFF the turf for races 8 and 9
Race 1 is on the turf
- #10 – Fed Up Fired Up (9-2): Pre-election hunch play? Barr trainee caught a rugged group in last turf tilt, as three of five who ran back on turf emerged victorious; should find this company more congenial
- #7 – Meddybemps (7-2): First time in the McMahon barn after nearly besting similar at DEL in last
- #9 – Secret Temple (6-1): PRX shipper has been very competitive at this level
Race 2
- #1 – Fashion Faux Pas (3-1): Delacour trainee hasn’t made any a.m. missteps, as last six dirt breezes have been the fastest of the day; Flatter filly is half to graded stakes-placed Ire
- #5 – Needs Supervision (5-2): Good debut effort at PEN, parlaying a good trip into a runner-up effort while well clear of the rest
- #8 – Indigo Queen (4-1): First two tries are middling but trainer Gaudet keeps her in special weight company; showing four works since last
Race 3 is on the turf
- *** LONGSHOT PLAY #11 – Gray Granite (12-1) ***: Prior turf try was better than it looks; runner was pinched back at the break, green and a bit rank early before making steady progress outside during middle portions of race, was wrapped up late; improved effort likely today against lesser
- #13 – Crazy Magic (7-2): Wouldn’t be a surprise if he galloped here when dropping after acceptable efforts vs. special weight rivals
- #8 – Trappe Rocket (20-1): Hasn’t been a win-early family, but several of this guy’s sibs have been useful turfers
Race 4 is ON THE TURF
- #1 – Tree Shaker (5-1): Figures to want a stalking position from inner post and has won last two turf tries when not hung with an outer post; McBurney and Boyce have had success
- #8 – Berliner (12-1): Corrales trainee takes major drop from two-other-than company in second in trainer’s barn
- #11 – Intrepid Citizen (3-1): Took on similar two back in effort to shake ’18 winless blues and couldn’t quite get it done; trainer GCap and rider Toledo have solid record together and hugely positive ROI
Race 5
- #8 – Visual Effect (2-1): Has seen better company in recent efforts and competed willingly
- #7 – One Step Closer (8-1): Not totally sold that added ground is a great idea, but trainer Magee and rider Cedeno hitting at 43 percent
- #1 – Rare Candy (3-1): Hard to endorse in top spot, as trainer Gonzalez just 1-for-21 off similar layoffs, but note that he puts go-to rider Torres up
Race 6
- *** BEST BET #1 – Brahms Romp (3-1) ***: Terrific effort in last when part of early vanguard that slapped down a 22 2/5 second second quarter, and this one stayed on to the end; one of pace rivals returned to win next out
- #6 – Mucho Mas Grande (5-2): Acceptable effort vs. better in last and should appreciate dropping to this spot
- #4 – Federal Walk (4-1): Dusted never-won-two rivals like a good thing when loose on the lead in last
Race 7
- #3 – Rare Eagle (4-1): Sillaman trainee ran competitively vs. similar last out in first off the claim, and rival who bested him scratched out here
- #9 – Daystrike (15-1): Makes second start off a two-month break and finds an easier spot to do it; had a bit of trouble in last
- #4 – Here’s to Mike (6-1): Trainer Magee scratches favorite out but leaves this one in… hmmm…
Race 8 is OFF the turf
- #12 – Baccarat Fashion (4-1): Lightly raced sort has given solid accountings of herself to date
- #6 – In Jail (12-1): Makes third start off a six-week break and has competed with similar
- #7 – Majestic Won (5-1): Showed good speed before tiring in latest vs. BEL allowance foes
Race 9 is OFF the turf
- #7 – What What What (3-1): Makes first start in Farrior barn after trainer grabbed her out of 16k claimer at KEE; likes this short trip
- #12 – Trusty Roll (5-2): Main-track-only entrant won a second-level allowance at DEL in last and figures to be in the hunt here
- #4 – Bye Bye Blues (5-2): Adios Charlie filly has won four of seven in her brief career, and trainer D. Capuano has made good use of starter conditions after she debuted for sale for $8k
Race 10
- #4 – Angelinthemorning (5-2): Gonzalez trainee has been steadily moving through conditions; go-to rider Torres gets the call
- #8 – Value Added (4-1): Schoenthal trainee should appreciate return to lesser company
- #7 – Megstone (8-1): Last was a mess, but this miss should give a better showing back in against lesser
Yesterday’s News
- On Saturday, October 27, had 6 winners from 9 races, (3 top picks in bold).
- Top Selections are 395 for 1390 (28.42%). In 2017, Top Selections went 340 for 1,197 (28.40%). The payoffs of the day’s winners…
- R1: xxx
- R2: $3.20
- R3: $5.60
- R4: $3.80
- R5: $5.40
- R6: $6.20
- R7: xxx
- R8: xxx
- R9: $8.40
- Of the suggested multi-race wagers, hit the R4 Pick 3, which returned $8.20 for a 50-cent wager.
- BEST BET of the Day (137:43-33-11; in 2017 119: 39-25-19) Under a Spell (7th race: 5-2 M/L; 4-5 PT) was up close early, two wide on the turn for home, but had no answers in the drive, finishing sixth, beaten by 3 1/2 lengths.
- LONGSHOT PLAY of the Day (132:21-25-15; in 2017 107: 18-13-15) Lubricus Soror (9th race: 6-1 M/L; 8-1 PT) was shuffled back early, hugged the rail around the turn, came outside, but had no sustained bid and finished fifth.