Laurel Park picks and ponderings September 9, 2021

Horses round the turn at Laurel Park. Photo: Allison Janezic/The Racing Biz

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

Post time: 12:40 p.m.

Carryovers: Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $0 Super High 5 — $0 Late Pick 5 — $0

ANALYSIS

RACE 1: CLAIMING $5,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 7 FURLONGS

• 1-5-4-6
• It’s been a long time coming, but now it’s here. After an unplanned five-month break, racing at Laurel Park is back, as we kick off the summer/fall meet. #1 Coral Summer (10/1) switched back to dirt last out, and ran a big race. She came from off the pace at Timonium, never easy to do, and made a strong, wide move after a bad break to win going away. She’s the only one in the field who has not lost multiple races against winners, and looks to have lots of room for improvement. #5 Supreme Blessing (9/5) drops from the $10,000 n/w2L level and closed well in the last eighth last out at Pimlico. She’s run back-to-back brisnet figures of 66, making her the only one in the race to run consecutive figures that high. #4 Moonlight Miss (12/1) has plenty of early speed and gets a much-needed cutback in distance. 

RACE 2: MAIDEN CLAIMING $25,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/8 MILES (GRASS)

• 10-12-9-13 (DIRT: 1-9-14-10)
• Whenever they get on grass here, it’ll be the first time they’ll have raced on that surface at Laurel in 2021. #10 Emphasize (9/5) drops in for a tag for the first time. In his lone grass start so far, at Churchill Downs in May, he made a bold, wide bid and lost by less than three lengths. Makes his first start since June 4 here, and has room to improve in just his fifth career start. Kendrick Carmouche, on the comeback trail, is named on a few horses for Graham Motion today, this is the first one. #12 Rip It (9/2) had plenty of chances to go by in his last start but couldn’t quite seal the deal and lost by a head. Drops from the $40,000 level into this spot. He’s got some of the best figures in the race, steadily running in the upper 60s and lower 70s, but he might lack the closing punch needed to win this one. #9 Leave Em Loaded (6/1) flashed speed last time before wilting in the final eighth. He had always been forwardly placed, but the plan here may be to try and take them gate-to-wire. There’s not a ton of speed in here, so he should have the opportunity. 

RACE 3: CLAIMING $5,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

• 5-2-4-6
• This might be too tough of a field to take a low-priced favorite like #2 Kingston Pike (7/5), who drops from n/w1x company at Charles Town and has figures that, while competitive in here, have been declining. I’ll try #5 Championship Alley (7/2), who has won his last two dirt starts and has shown good tactical speed. Although his figures are similar to those of Kingston Pike, he’s been ascending, while Kingston Pike has been descending. You’re almost certain to get better value as well. #4 Big Rinne (6/1) has hit the board in six of eight at Laurel and showed guts to win on dirt at Colonial Downs last out, albeit in a three-horse field. 

ANALYSIS

RACE 4: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/16 MILES

• 5-2-6-1
• #5 Arrio (6/1) got tons of action in his career debut for Brittany Russell, back in January, but showed no early speed whatsoever. He redeemed himself when he made good ground in the stretch and finished fourth. Makes his first start since then, and has a long, steady worktab under his belt, including a mile workout in late August. #2 Award Nominated (4/1) closed well last out at Delaware Park, in contrast from his debut where he looked menacing but flattened out. Interested to see how he handles the stretchout from six furlongs. The $2.5 million man, #6 Lidstrom (9/5), got plenty of attention in his debut at Colonial, but flattened out after pressing the pace. He stretches out from seven furlongs for his second career start, and it’s very possible that they wanted a longer distance with him all along. I remain intrigued. 

RACE 5 – CLAIMING $16,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE (GRASS)

2-9-5-8 (DIRT: 9-7-6-2)

• #2 Mosler’s Image (6/1) tried grass for the last time, and parlayed a great trip into an impressive two-length win, earning a very sharp figure of 79 in the process. She’ll look to sit another trip here, and has every chance to. #9 Maureenlovesfrank (6/1) drops in class from starter optional claiming company. She ran an even race and lost by two lengths against much better. She’ll look to press the pace here. #5 Mahkato (7/2) has run a 77 in each of her last three grass starts, and snapped a long losing streak with a win at Delaware last out. Cal Lynch and Charlie Marquez have been very dangerous when they team up as of late. 

RACE 6: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 6 FURLONGS

• 2-7-3-5
• #2 Determined Truth (3/1) has the most experience in this race, with three starts already under her belt. She’s battled hard in both her dirt starts, only to give way late. That’ll give her the edge over her rivals. Brittany Russell won seemingly every 2-year-old race last year, and she’ll send out her first of the Laurel meet in #7 Kymmies Chardonnay (4/1). She was purchased for $30,000 last year, and the worktab has been consistent, if not flashy. Watch the board. #3 Cost a Fortune (6/1) was shipped up to Saratoga for her debut, and ended up flattening out after rating near the pace. Tries dirt for the first time and should be helped by the experience. 

ANALYSIS

RACE 7 – ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE (GRASS)

• 16-10-9-14 (DIRT: 7-2-11-4)
• #16 Sigiloso (5/2) ran a big race at this level last out at Saratoga, rating off the pace and fighting on. He’s matched his lifetime top of 88 in that race, representing improvement in each of his last two starts. #10 No One to Blame (6/1) has had some time off since a dull June 24 race at Delaware. In his two prior grass starts, he ran figures in the 80s. Workouts have been sharp. #9 Bryce Canyon (9/2) showed speed last year at Fair Grounds, but hasn’t shown it off as of late. In his last grass race, at Churchill Downs in June, he broke awkwardly and was not involved. Looks to regain his best form here.

RACE 8- ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

• 4-5-6-2
• #4 Romp (6/5) won two in a row at Gulfstream Park and Aqueduct in impressive style, but showed little despite a good trip when last seen in the Sir Barton Stakes. Shug McGaughey’s given him some time off since then, and his recent workouts have been impressive. #5 Union Gen. George (5/2) is lightly-raced; this will be just his fourth lifetime start. He broke his maiden at Presque Isle Downs last out with a sharp figure of 80, and makes his debut on conventional dirt for Arnaud Delacour. An interesting choice in a field that, with the exception of Romp, is a bit unsteady. #6 Titan’s Will (4/1) won three in a row earlier in the year while ascending the class ladder, but has struggled in his last few at Charles Town. Perhaps returning to the big track will help. 

RACE 9- MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

•  12-8-3-5 (DIRT: 9-12-5-3)
• #12 Senson (5/1) ran far and away a lifetime-best mark of 70 in her grass debut at Colonial last out, running on well to get second. People may be drawn to some flashy newcomers and let her slide through the cracks. #8 Determined Star (10/1) got bet and showed speed on debut at Colonial (not in the same race as Senson), before giving way late. Phil Schoenthal is 23% with horses making their second career start. #3 Kit Keller (5/1) debuts on grass for Mike Stidham after some solid workouts at Delaware. Interesting that they chose to debut this one on the lawn, rather than test the waters on dirt first. 

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