The GQ Approach – Laurel November 25

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: Clearing, high in the 50s
• Projected condition of main track: GOOD; Turf: None
• Post time: 12:30 p.m. EST

Race 1

1. #9 – Candy Asset (7-2): Mid-pack runner has found success at one-turn mile and on off tracks; enters off a win vs. lifetime and beaten rivals
2. #5 – Forty Acres (5-2): Decent effort last out when closing for show dough in first start in four months
3. #8 – Blarp (8-1): Makes first start in Maldonado barn after even effort vs. better last out

Race 2

1. #1 – Crazed (6-1): Disastrous trip in last when steadying three times in the lane behind erratic front-runner; makes second start off six weeks and shows a couple of interim works
2. #2 – Readytotapit (9-5): Good tries in last couple without finding the winner’s circle question is whether the cutback in distance moves him up, or…
3. #4 – Lippi Lorenzo (2-1): Has done best work when put in the action from the very first jump; makes first start for a tag for trainer Robb (5-for-40 first-time claiming)

Race 3

1. #5 – Final Fear (5-2): Ran on willingly in last to earn the place; added half-furlong should be to her benefit
2. #3 – Andthentheresthat (7-2): Caiazzo trainee dusted CT maiden special weight rivals last out to graduate; lands in right spot here and fitness should be no issue after two-turn win
3. #4 – Towson (15-1): After backing up badly in two prior, closed some ground in last

Race 4

1. #13 – Justanarch (4-1): No match for the winner last out in MSW at CT but held the place; runner has won previously, though was DQed after easy score at the Big T
2. #1 – Astrea (6-1): Tepid group opens up all sorts of possibilities
3. #11 – Oddseverinurfavor (6-1): Makes a two-level drop after credible try in first in blinks; adds Cintron in the irons 

Race 5

1. #14 – Queen to Checkmate (4-1): Six-time winner galloped at this level two back, did not disgrace herself last out vs. better
2. #2 – Slewzer (7-2): Front-runner easily bested similar last out
3. #10 – Holiday Magician (8-1): Would be a nice trick if Thanksgiving hunch play closes to win for what would be just third W in 26 career starts

Race 6

1. #4 – Disco Express (7-2): Trombetta trainee had an eventful trip last out when on the engine early, steadied back and then re-rallying; cleaner journey could make all the difference
2. #3 – Andrew’s Game (9-2): Last out against allowance foes at CT wasn’t terrible; big drop in second try in Brooks barn
3. #11 – Port Louis (10-1): Makes third start off five-month break after runner-up try vs. similar last out; note rider Toledo jumps ship

Race 7

1. #6 – Salinger (9-2): Stuck with it last out when outfooted a bit in 5 1/2-furlong dash; one-turn mile ought to hit this one right between the eyes; rider McCarthy stays aboard
2. #8 – Sandy Lane (5-1): Closter makes first start in Sillaman barn after claim (15% first claim); rider Russell has had good success with trainer’s horses
3. #7 – The Walk (8-1): If runner could manage to get out of the gate cleanly, that sure would aid his cause; best efforts not out of range with these

Race 8

1. #4 – Wild Rider (7-2): Decent effort last out when third against better; drops to spot where he’s competed before, and he owns three off-track wins
2. #3 – Cobh (8-1): Makes third start of sequence and last might have been better than it looks; winner Oldies But Goodies returned to be third in the City of Laurel Stk.
3. #8 – Blue Y Gold (5-1): Just a length behind top choice in here last out; has competed with better

Race 9

1. #7 – Star Seed Child (8-5): Figures to be a handful after respectable try last out against better in first in Gonzalez barn and first with Lasix
2. #1 – Nevisian Sunset (5-2): Didn’t show much last out — but that turns out to be a super-productive heat, having produced four next-out victors, including winner Thesweetesttaboo, who took an ALW contest in follow-up; first time in McMahon barn
3. #5 – Oxhilirating (6-1): Blinks on for a runner who gave a good accounting of herself when second in debut vs. MSW rivals at MNR; trainer Gorham 3-for-13 making maiden special-to-maiden claiming move

Yesterday’s News

• On Saturday, November 24th at Laurel had 6 winners from the 9-race card (3 Top Selections; payoff in BOLD below).
• Top Selections are 436 for 1512 (28.84%). In 2017, Top Selections went 340 for 1,197 (28.40%). The payoffs of the day’s winners…
  • R1: $9.00
  • R2: xxx
  • R3: xxx
  • R4: $4.00
  • R5: $15.00
  • R6: $4.20
  • R7: $9.60
  • R8: xxx
  • R9: $14.00
• Of the suggested multi-race wagers, did not hit any.
• BEST BET of the Day (150:48-36-13; in 2017 119: 39-25-19) Shimmering Aspen (1st race: 4-1 M/L; 8-5 PT) lacked speed, raced in the three path on the turn, was inside horses in the stretch and failed to rally while finishing fourth.
• LONGSHOT PLAY of the Day (144:23-27-17; in 2017 107: 18-13-15) Hero’s Hope (3rd race: 10-1 M/L; 23-1 PT) rated back after an alert break, hugged the inner rail around the turn, had a mild advance to mid stretch then weakened in the final furlong to finish fourth.