The GQ Approach – Laurel November 23

Something Awesome. Photo by Laurie Asseo.

The GQ Approach features full-card selections from Laurel Park, 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.

• Weather: Overcast, high in the mid-30s
• Projected condition of main track: FAST; Turf: None
• Post time: 12:30 p.m. EST

Race 1

1. #1 – Dazzling Okie (8-5): Dropped down to bottom for an easy win and some confidence-building; makes the date cutoff by just 11 days
2. #4 – Rare Candy (9-2): Second off a layoff for Gonzalez trainee (27% strike rate)
3. #6 – Rare Eagle (7-2): Defeated lesser last out; has four wins at the trip

Race 2

1. #5 – Smart Step (9-5): Significant equipment adjustments — blinks added, runner gelded — since back-to-back show efforts vs. similar
2. #6 – Tom Hagen (15-1): Fitness not likely to be a problem for a runner who made his debut last month going 12 furlongs on soft turf; breeding suggests this trip more likely to fit him
3. #2 – Home It Tiz (2-1): Nothing wrong with debut effort when second at this level — but that was over a year ago, and on turf

Race 3

1. #3 – Stakes On a Plane (3-1): Ran evenly in decent return to action last out following two-month break; blinks come off for a runner who has three previous graded stakes tries under her belt
2. #2 – Setubal (9-5): Led late but couldn’t hold in last and figures to get a similar pressing trip here vs. mostly the same rivals; cutback a plus for a runner whose two wins both came at this trip
3. #1 – Queen Nekia (2-1): Game effort in last when beaten a head for all the money, but note she got away with sluggish early fractions and still couldn’t seal the deal
   

Race 4

1. #5 – Aiden’s Rag Doll (9-2): A bit of time off and a drop to an easier group ought to do this miss some good
2. #3 – Neyami (6-1): Speedster has been beating up on lesser with four straight wins
3. #1 – Doinwhatshelikes (6-1): Closing sort has five wins at the trip and finds easier company today

Race 5

1. #1 – Samadi Blue (7-2): Decent try in last when rallying to be third and has had trip troubles in both prior tries; drops down a notch here
2. #6 – Liar (6-1): Hasn’t been terrible in prior tries; not sure the added ground is a plus, but this is a middling group       
3. #5 – By the Bay (6-1): First time in the Gonzalez barn for a runner who ran evenly in debut vs. maiden special rivals at CT last out

Race 6

1. #3 – Publishanditerate (7-2): Form has been inching forward; winner from two-back runner-up effort repeated at $5k level
2. #4 – Runabout (5-2): Has lost at this level three times; good try in last when leading at the furlong grounds but failing to hold on
3. #1 – Conquest Falcon (2-1): Drops to the bottom here but is winless in four tries on the main track
   

Race 7

1. #5 – Taking Aim (9-2): Eppler trainee gave a credible accounting of herself going seven-eighths and should appreciate the added ground here; Eppler has good record with second-start maidens, and this one’s a half-sib to BC Dirt Mile winner Tapizar
2. #1 – War of the States (10-1): Like #5, this one gave a decent effort in debut and should appreciate added ground; Trombetta-Pimentel combo has been lethal at the meet
3. #3 – Turing Machine (5-2): Perhaps change of scenery will get this 12-race maiden to the winner’s circle after repeated failures in SoCal

Race 8

1. *** #4 – Papacho (20-1) LONGSHOT PLAY ***: Presence of plenty of early speed might give this closer the trip he needs
2. #1 – Stone Bandit (5-2): PRX-based runner has done well at LRL and brings jock with him; speedster has won at this level
3. #6 – Saratoga Wildcat (2-1): Another likely to be involved in the early running, this one has seen better company in last couple

Race 9

1. #14 – Miss Philly Dilly (3-1): Keeps running into tough customers but running well; runner-up from Md. Million won her follow-up, and the winners of this one’s first two races returned to be second in an allowance at KEE and second in the Sorority at MTH
2. #1 – Fashion Faux Pas (6-1): Delacour trainee disappointed when fourth at 2-1 in debut, but trainer has a stellar record with second-time starters and adds Lasix today
3. #2 – Orbiting the Moon (15-1): Orb filly has been training forwardly towards her debut here for trainer Maldonado

Yesterday’s News

• On Thursday, November 22 at Laurel had 3 winners from the 10-race card (2 Top Selections; payoff in BOLD below).
• Top Selections are 431 for 1494 (28.85%). In 2017, Top Selections went 340 for 1,197 (28.40%). The payoffs of the day’s winners…
  • R1: xxx
  • R2: xxx
  • R3: $5.40
  • R4: $13.20
  • R5: xxx
  • R6: xxx
  • R7: xxx
  • R8: xxx
  • R9: $6.80
  • R10: xxx
• Of the suggested multi-race wagers, did not hit any.
• BEST BET of the Day (148:48-35-13; in 2017 119: 39-25-19) Cordmaker (9th race: 4-1 M/L; 4.90-1 PT) broke through the starting gate before the race, relaxed towards the rear of the field, and rallied inside to earn the place, paying $5.40 to PLACE, and $3.80 to SHOW.
• LONGSHOT PLAY of the Day (142:22-25-17; in 2017 107: 18-13-15) Im Charming (6th race: 20-1 M/L; 25-1 PT) lagged well off the pace and rallied to be sixth, beaten by 4 3/4 lengths.