• John Piassek
• April 15, 2022

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

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: MAIDEN CLAIMING $40,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 1 MILE

4-3-5-6

There’s ten races on the Good Friday card. #4 Hardspun Reason (9/5) closed from way behind to get fourth in his first career start and should improve with added distance. #3 Scintillo (3/1) consistently runs brisnet figures in the 70s and made decent ground after a wide trip last out. He improved three points in his second start off the layoff that day. #5 Blameitonthefun (6/1) has been slowly improving in his last few races and will likely hang around for a piece.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $16,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

5-3-6-2

#5 No Money Down (7/2) handily won his last start at six furlongs and should improve cutting back to this distance. #3 All for Love (9/5) drops from the $40,000 level and looks for a rebound off two sub-par races. He ran consecutive figures in the low 80s earlier in the year. #6 Mugsy Malone (5/2) has been slowly rounding back into form and closed well after a wide trip in his last start.

RACE 3: MAIDEN CLAIMING $25,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

4-3-2-1

#4 Smart Eulee (8/5) improved sharply in her second start and should be flying from behind. #3 Island Philo (9/5) also stepped up in a big way in her last start, with a figure of 79. She also showed speed in that race, a change of pace from her usual style. However, her 0-for-10 career mark makes me a bit wary. #2 Silver’s Girl (9/2) couldn’t get to the lead in her last start, and it cost her. This time, she has easily the best early pace figures in the race and shouldn’t have much trouble getting to the front end.

RACE 4: STARTER ALLOWANCE $5,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE

7-6-1-3

#7 Tweet Away Robin (7/2) won at this level going a mile four starts back and has potent early speed. She hasn’t run a bad race since encountering some traffic in mid-December. #6 Breviary (3/1) sat the trip and crushed the field at this level last out, beating a few of her rivals here in the process. She’ll try to work out another good setup from just off the pace. One of the horses she outfinished that day was #1 Acadian Girl (2/1), who set the pace and faded in the last eighth. She’ll cut back around one turn and try to protect rail position on the lead.

RACE 5: CLAIMING $16,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/8 MILES

3-2-1-6

#3 Jack Gave Back (7/2) ran a solid race in his first start off the claim by Fenneka Bentley, making mild ground off a slow pace and getting up for third. He’s run in the 80s in each of his last three starts, and has shown aptitude around two turns. #2 Albertano (5/2) overcame a wide trip to get second against these types last out, outfinishing #1 Dr. Ferber (2/1) in the process. That rival was claimed out of that race by Rodolfo Sanchez-Solomon, and will try to finally put it all together after some stalled rallies in his prior few.

RACE 6: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $25,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

2-6-7-10

#2 Little Ms Scarlet (7/2) made a strong move up the inside to win going away last out, with a figure of 85. She might have a three-race win streak going if her move wasn’t blocked two starts back. #6 Baci (8/5) was claimed off a sharp gate-to-wire win last out by Jamie Ness, and went to the sidelines following that start. This will be her first race since February 6. Her recent workouts have been sharp, and she has a chance to wire them again. #7 Rutabaga (10/1) narrowly missed at Turfway Park last out and comes in here with career-best form. Should sit just off the pace and get up for a piece at a good number.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE

1-2-6-5

#1 Foggy Dreams (4/1) makes her first start of 2022 in this spot. She has dangerous early speed and will be at her best if she can get control of the early pace. There’s not much other speed in the race, so that shouldn’t be too difficult. #2 Misty Taste (3/1) ran some big figures last year but has struggled to find her best form this year. Claudio Gonzalez gave her some time off after a wide, flat trip on February 21; we’ll see if that did her some good. #6 Daria’s Angel (1/1) has also not been able to find her best form so far this year, having not run better than an 80 in four starts. She showed lots of speed last year, and a solid fourth-place finish at Aqueduct last out might woo some bettors, but she’s likely to be overbet.

RACE 8: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

6-8-9-10

This race is kind of a guessing game except for #6 Fly Me Home (5/2). She showed speed and hung on gamely for third in her debut at Fair Grounds last out. Should be tough on the lead once again. #8 Looks Don’t Lie (5/1) crossed the wire first on dirt last April, but was disqualified for interference. Makes her first start of the year in this spot. #9 Willing (15/1) showed brief speed but flattened out on debut at Penn National. Has room for improvement here.

RACE 9: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

3-1-2-4

#3 Behind the Couch (4/1) finally cleared her n/w1x condition in her last start. She got a great stalking trip and drew off professionally late. She’s shown some potential this year and should be a good value. #1 Proper Attire (2/1) has blazing early speed and could prove tough to catch on the lead. She won two in a row by a combined 8 3/4 lengths earlier in the year but struggled after a bad start last out. Last year’s Sorority Stakes winner, #2 Runup (5/2), makes her 3-year-old debut in this spot. She set the pace in the Darley Alcibaides Stakes at Keeneland last out but stopped badly. She’s been working very impressively in preparation for this spot, but I’m a bit wary of horses at low odds making their first start in a while. If she wins this one, she’s likely bound for the Miss Preakness Stakes.

RACE 10: MAIDEN CLAIMING $10,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/16 MILES

6-4-5-7

#6 Uncle Johnny (7/5) has improved drastically since returning from a layoff in early March, with back-to-back marks in the mid-70s. He drops back to the $10,000 level here. #4 Aftermath (4/1) recovered nicely from a slow break at Turfway Park last out and goes first off the claim for Anthony Aguirre. #5 Shanghai Candy (4/1) has been getting closer with each start and should take full advantage of the extra distance.