• John Piassek
• July 31, 2022

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

Post time: 12:40 p.m.

Carryovers: Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $19,147 Super High 5 — $0 Late Pick 5 — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: CLAIMING $16,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE (GRASS)

10-2-8-9

Nine races wrap up the racing week, and the racing month. #10 Ready Reward (5-1) ran his two best career brisnet figures in his last two starts. He was visually unimpressive two races back, but he closed strongly at Delaware Park last out against similar. It looks like he’s rounding into form. #2 Yowza Yowza Yowza (4-1) is also rounding into his best form after returning from a layoff. At his level last out, he raced wide throughout but hung in well until late. He should work out a better trip here. #9 Express Pharoah (7-2) will be almost impossible to beat if he runs back to his Florida form from last year, which included several figures in the 80s. However, this is his first race of the year.

RACE 2: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 7 FURLONGS

1-5-3-4

Five of the six horses in this race already have experience. #1 Quincy Cafe (5-2) ran a 66 and a 67 in his two starts so far, both of which came under similar circumstances at this track. He made decent rallies in each of those starts and shouldn’t have much trouble with the extra distance. #5 General J R (2-1) outfinished Quincy Cafe in that race, with a lifetime-top figure of 69. He chased the pace on a very wet track and held on for second. He can’t be overlooked but I don’t know if I could take those morning line odds. #3 Tall Order (3-1) has been disappointing at low odds in his first two starts, but did improve a bit last out.

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

5-8-4-7

#5 Winked (6-1) set very fast fractions in her last grass start, but held on well and got third. She tends to set very fast fractions on a loose lead and hold on for a piece. Without much other apparent early speed, she’ll be able to work out her usual trip on the front end. She went off at 5-2 in that last race and should be an even better value here. #8 Point Well Taken (5-2) races for Shug McGaughey and Forest Boyce, who are always dangerous when they team up down here. This filly might want to go longer but has lots of back-class. #4 Determined Hope (12-1) closed well to get fifth two starts back, despite being forced to check off heels. She has a recent bullet workout and looks to fire a big rally at good odds.

RACE 4: STARTER ALLOWANCE $5,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

6-4-2-1

#6 It’s Game Time (7-5) has run at least an 86 in each of his six starts this year. He battled on the lead and hung on to win in his last start at this condition. He looks fast enough to clear to the lead from the outside post. #4 Krachenwagen (9-5) improved last out when he stretched back around two turns and dropped back to this level. He pressed It’s Game Time throughout but couldn’t get by him. I figure a similar scenario is likely to play out here. #2 Lost My Vowcher (9-2) races first off the claim for Anthony Farrior and will be running on late.

RACE 5: MAIDEN CLAIMING $20,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

10-1-9-2

#10 Hey Boss (6-1) goes third off the layoff and ships from Indianapolis for Danny Ware. He chased a loose leader in this last start and didn’t have much chance of catching up, but managed to outfinish the rest and held on for second with a career-best mark of 75. #1 Brown Delivers (8-5) was a promising fourth in his American debut at Keeneland last fall but hasn’t raced on grass since then. He has lots of promise but is certain to be overbet. He’s also shipping from the midwest, going first off the claim by Emmauel Geralis. #9 Captain Quint (8-1) keeps dropping down the class ladder and is fairly lightly-raced. Races second off a brief layoff and should at least rally for a piece.

RACE 6: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

4-7-5-1

#4 Brunella (9-5) made her first start off the claim for Anthony Farrior last out and fought hard on the rail for second. She went off at 3-5 that day; the price here should be better if you still believe. #7 Miss Old Bay (5-1) impressively won in gate-to-wire style last out, and now gets a class test here. The runner-up in that race, Dulce Kiara, won against conditioned claimers next out. #5 Mi Cleopatra and I (9-2) has lots of early speed for the Farrior/Bocachica dream team and gets a much-needed distance reduction to seven furlong.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

2-1-4-6

#2 Megayacht (5-2) ships down here for Christophe Clement, who has enjoyed lots of success with his grass starters at Saratoga so far. This Maryland-bred raced wide off slow fractions against better last out and showed little. He’ll get a more honest trip here, and has run figures in the 90s in the past, marks good enough to win this one. #1 Audacious Quality (3-1) has won two of his last three starts and sandwiched a near-miss in the Find Stakes in between. He’s going to roll late. #4 Soulmate (4-1) is another New York shipper who has been uber-consistent as of late. He just missed two starts back at Belmont Park in what proved to be a fruitful n/w2x race. The horse he lost to, Yes and Yes, was in the midst of a three-race winning streak, while the third-place finisher, Artemus Citylimits, won his next two starts.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 7 FURLONGS

1-3-2-6

#1 Texian (4-1) lasted through pace pressure in her 3-year-old debut last out to win going away. She’s been working very strongly for the McGaughey contingent. #3 Charming Way (2-1) scratched out of the Miss Disco Stakes to run here. She’s cutting back in distance and has lots of early speed. I’m interested to see how she’ll last going seven furlongs, considering she flattened out late after setting the pace going a mile and 1 1/16 miles. #2 Glowsity (5-2) was a distant third in the Caesar’s Wish Stakes in her last dirt start, and returns to this surface after a disappointing try on the lawn. She’s run in the low-80s in her last three starts and is likely to prompt Texian from that one’s outside.

RACE 9: CLAIMING $40,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE (GRASS)

9-8-6-2

#9 Mary Jane Chrome (2-1) has run her two best races in her last two starts, rallying and finishing second against better both times. Should get it done if she runs her race. #8 Surreal Fantasy (9-2) has early speed and gets a much-needed return to grass. This looks like a spot where she can finally put it all together. #6 Golden Effect (3-1) sat the trip and broke her maiden impressively last out at Colonial Downs. She’s one of a few in here who has never lost against winners, but she has the best figures of that group.