Laurel Park picks and ponderings November 9, 2019

Anna’s Bandit. Photo by Laurie Asseo.

In which we pick the races from Laurel Park each day…

Post time: 12:25 p.m.

Carryovers: Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — None; Super High 5 — $759; Late Pick 5 — None

Notable: 

ANALYSIS

RACE 1

• 7-2-4-9
• The runners who’ve started all have questions to answer, so we land on first-timer #7 Rockin Anna Rollin (9-2) here. Trainer O’Dwyer has been knocking ’em dead with juveniles this meet and legs up go-to rider Russell on a filly that’s been training well enough… If #2 Owner’s Suite (3-1) can transfer her decent turf form — including a runner-up effort in special weight company at IND — to the main track, she’ll have something to say here; her only prior dirt try wasn’t good, but it was her career debut, and here she makes her second start with Lasix… 

RACE 2 

• 8-10-7-2
• Proctor-trained #8 Subdued (6-1) lands in right spot three races after breaking his maidne on the main track for $25,000; didn’t run poorly two back against $25,000 lifetime claimers when, though well-beaten for first, nearly held second after pressing early pace… #10 C M Runaway (9-2) ran pretty well last time out when second at a lower level in first start in over a year; can move forward today and picks up hot-riding Ruiz in the irons… Don’t sleep on longshot #7 Last Chukker (15-1), who switches back to the main track for first time since maiden-breaking score; three of five in that race came to run one-two next out, including two winners…

RACE 3

• 6-8-3-7
• Winner winner #6 Chicken Dinner (3-1) lands in right spot after tilting at windmills in last two; easier group can help her get back to better form, and trainer Wilson switches back to rider from maiden score, Angel Cruz… #8 Lady Rozina (6-1) ran a pretty good race last time out on the lawn, though her rider eased up when apparently misjudging the finish; can improve in second start off a long layoff, and though dirt form isn’t up to prior grass tries, the easier company might make up for it… Pretty game effort last out for #3 Come On Callie (7-2) against similar, and a repeat might be good enough here…

ANALYSIS

RACE 4

• 4-1-9-6
• The speedy #4 Fender Baby (9-2) showed speed and stopped last out in starter allowance company but should find this claiming group more congenial; she’s won her last two in claiming company and may be the speed of the speed here… #1 Case Dismissed (6-1) certainly fits in this group but her closing style figures to leave her a lot of work to do in this 5 1/2-furlong sprint… #9 Cocktail Waitress (5-1) loves this trip (6-for-7 in the money) and should appreciate the class relief today…

RACE 5 

• 8-10-7-3
• Could be a two-win day for trainer O’Dwyer if #8 Make Us Smile (4-1) lives up to his name in first try on the main track; his breeding says this is what he was meant to do, as sire Empire Maker was a monster on the main track and dam Her Smile won a G1 sprinting on dirt… We won’t hold that last start — at a mile and on the slop — against #10 Distilled Spirit (3-1); cutting back to sprinting and taking a double-drop to the $16,000 level should give him a good chance to get back to best effort… Similar move for #7 Two Doors Down (8-1), who showed little on debut but gets blinkers on today…

RACE 6

• 3-7-4-8
• Speedy #3 Kim’s Pet (6-1) ran a pretty good one in last, dueling for the lead and then winning the duel before emptying out late; she’s got a legit shot to sneak away with the early advantage in this one and may not come back… #7 Majorie Mugs (8-1) made a grinding run into third, just ahead of top pick, in last but will need help from the early pace to get there… #4 Crossingthevalley (9-2) has a better effort or two to run back to but is working on a streak of four straight clunkers…

ANALYSIS

RACE 7

• 6-10-12-4
• Trainer Kieron Magee sends out an uncoupled entry, with #12 Throw the Fade (3-1), in his first start in six months, likely to be forwardly placed in the early going and top choice #6 Jefazo (7-2) poised to do his best running a bit later; the latter won at this level (for the tag) last time out after getting a good setup and here runs for the condition; he’s won two of three at the distance… #10 Smart Step (6-1) ran credibly last time out at this level when third behind the very talented Top Line Growth…

RACE 8 

• 7-5-8-2
• If #7 Candy Asset (7-2) comes back off a nine-month layoff more or less the way he went into it, he’ll be a handful here… Look for an improved effort from #5 Super Buddy (20-1); he’s got much better efforts in his not-too-distant past, and last time out he encountered all sorts of early trouble, checked out after a half-mile and was eased; he is — or was — better than that, and the odds are enticing on the possibility of a bounceback… 

RACE 9

• 2-11-5-8
• First-time Lasix for top choice #2 Melisande (6-1), who makes her first start in the Mark Reid barn after two pretty dismal tries against much better at Saratoga and Belmont; ran seventh of eight in her debut against maiden special weight foes at SAR in a race that produced three next-out winners, including the lone horse this one beat… #11 Queen of Cause (9-2) makes her debut here, and trainer Cal Lynch is 6-for-27 with two-year-old runners making their career bow in maiden claiming company… #5 Courtesy Shuffle (5-1) can improve in her second start after a three-month break; her most recent was a rough outing in the Maryland Million Lassie…

LATEST IN HANDICAPPING