The GQ Approach – Laurel December 23

Something Awesome ran through the snow to win the Grade 3 General George. Photo by Laurie Asseo.

The GQ Approach features full-card selections from Laurel Park for the live Fall racing meet, Post Time 12:35 pm 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.

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• Race 2 – $2 Double: 1, 6, 8 w/ 4, 7 ($12)
• Race 6 – 50 cent Pick 4: 8, 9 w/ 5, 6, 10 w/ 1, 2, 8 w/ 2, 6 ($18.00)

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[su_heading size=”21″ align=”left”]Analysis[/su_heading]

• Weather: Sunny with highs in the upper 40s
• Projected track conditions: Main – GOOD to FAST / Turf – NONE
• 1st Race Post Time 12:30pm EST

Race 1 

1. #3 – Zoo Yorker (3-1): Englehart trainee has kept good enough company at FL to compete here; shows a bullet work over the strip, and go-to local rider Vargas gets the call
2. #4 – Scout’s Honor (7-2): Drops off even effort vs. better, bested similar three back
3. #2 – Martywiththeparty (8-5): Fave has finished just behind #4 here in each of last two; usually takes plenty of action at the windows

Race 2 

1. #1 – Jaxbradenrishi (7-2): Trainer Gonzalez has a 37% strike rate on first-time-for-a-tag runners; has seen some rugged CT runners
2. #8 – Mr. Fixit (7-2): Magee trainee drops back to level he dominated earlier this season
3. #6 – Just Flashy (20-1): Speedster drops to appropriate spot, could be tough to reel in at generous price

Race 3

1. #4 – Do Share (2-1): G3-placed runner has been away eight months and was sold in the interim but owns significant class edge on these; has been working well and has fired fresh before
2. #7 – Sheikh of Sheikhs (3-1): Big effort in last to win at this level and shows up here for the condition rather than the tag; closing sort might wish for more speedy types before it’s over, though
3. #5 – Irish Colonel (8-1): Solid effort in last at this level against a plus group; cuts back to distance he’s won at four times and moves up on an off track

Race 4

1. #9 – Tickety Boo (6-1): Good enough effort last out at long odds in MVR allowance contest
2. #1 – Aiden’s Rag Doll (4-1): Even effort last out in first in seven weeks; shortens up here and barely qualifies — by a week — for this one-in-six-months condition
3. #4 – Gimme Kimmy (8-1): Has been in  the money in eight of 11 at the trip

Race 5

1. #6 – Oxhilirating (9-2): Most lightly raced filly of the group broke her maiden nicely last out
2. #9 – Rosy’s Rainbow (5-2): Fave has competed vs. similar, makes third start off a two-month break
3.  #1 – Leighla (7-2): Gaudet trainee makes first start in the barn, first in nine months; lone dirt try was credible

Race 6

1. #9 – Fifth Thief (10-1): Here’s what you have here: a horse who’s done his best work on the front end, a jock known for getting ’em out of the gate in a hurry, and a race light on early types; can take ’em gate-to-wire
2. #8 – Throw the Deuce (6-1): Magee trainee gave a decent account of himself last out vs. similar
3. #7 – Brahms Romp (2-1): Deserving chalk has been second four straight vs. similar — tough to love on top because of that

Race 7

1. #5 – Aweome Standard (5-2): Has been competitive at this level; winner and show horse from last both won their follow-ups; owns three wins at the trip
2. #6 – Guick (9-5): Can’t leave off the ticket — but, man, this is a quick devaluation of a runner who was second in a $57k allowance three back
3. #10 – Your Secret’s Safe (12-1): Runner who’d been fading in last several started to do so again in last — but then rallied for fourth; can get back to winning on slight drop-down

Race 8

1. #2 – Get a Valentine (3-1): Somebody probably will win this race, right? This guy drops for second straight race, from $25k to $12.5k all the way to the bottom here
2. #8 – Sventastic (7-2): Look for top local rider McCarthy to try to get this runner involved from the jump; badly compromised in last when stumbling start left him last in a field of 14
3. #1 – Mo Focused (8-1): Speedy sort makes third start off an eight-month break, figures to be on the engine from the get-go

Race 9

1. #6 – Rare Eagle (4-1): Moves up a notch off two straight wins; closer has five wins at the trip and has been ITM in five of 10 on off tracks
2. #2 – Worth His Salt (3-1): Trainer Lake does fine (20%+) on 1-7 days between races; this guy ran credibly vs. similar at PRX in last
3. #5 – I’m Mr. Blue (6-1): Bested similar two back, makes second start off a freshening here

YESTERDAY’S NEWS  

• On Saturday December 22nd at Laurel had 6 winners from the 9-race card (3 Top Selections; payoff in BOLD below).
• Top Selections are 457 for 1621 (28.19%). In 2017, Top Selections went 340 for 1,197 (28.40%). The payoffs of the winners…
  • R1: $13.40
  • R2: $4.80
  • R3: $8.60
  • R4: xxx
  • R5: $5.40
  • R6: xxx
  • R7: $5.00
  • R8: xxx
  • R9: $3.00
• Of the suggested multi-race wagers, none were hit.
• BEST BET of the Day (162:50-40-14; in 2017 119: 39-25-19) No More Talk (5th race: 3-1 M/L; 8-5 PT) sprinted to a clear lead down the backstretch, was pressured on the turn and came up empty when set down for the drive and finished sixth. BEST BET ROI = $1.45 ($268.00 / 162).
• LONGSHOT PLAY of the Day (155:24-28-17; in 2017 107: 18-13-15) I’mthetapitnow (4th race: 12-1 M/L; 5-1 PT) grabbed command early, set the pace towards the inside, was joined mid-turn, dueled into mid-stretch, battled on between foes, soon steadied after that, faded and finished seventh.