• John Piassek
• October 13, 2022

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

Post time: 12:40 p.m.

Carryovers: Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $5,075 Super High 5 — $0 Late Pick 5 — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: MAIDEN CLAIMING $20,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 7 FURLONGS

1-3-4-6

Both of Claudio Gonzalez’s entries loom large in today’s opener. #1 One Las Olas (9-5) raced wide throughout second time out at Pimlico, but ran on well in the stretch and lost a photo for second. She ran a career-best brisnet figure of 66 in that race and would be tough to beat with a similar effort. Her stablemate, #3 Luv U Mary Jane (5-2) was fifth that day behind One Las Olas, and showed more speed than she did first time out and has worked well since that race. #4 My Third Charm (5-1) has also worked well for her debut for Lacey Gaudet, recently going four furlongs in 49 seconds. She’ll be a serious contender if the other two falter.

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

5-10-11-7 (DIRT: 9-8-12-5)

There’s a lot of speed in this race. #5 Peace With Honor (7-2) went gate-to-wire to win at Penn National two starts back, but came from off the pace and kicked away to victory here last out. She’s run in the 80s in both of her victories this year, and although she may prefer two turns, the pace setup here might be too sweet for her not to take advantage of. #10 Bath and Tennis (6-1) has hit the board seven times from eight starts this year but has not yet won. She’s a confirmed closer who often looks like she’ll take advantage of fast paces on paper, but always come up just a bit short. Nonetheless, she’s very consistent and always tries hard. She has to be respected for the underneath positions. #11 Claire’s Darling (8-1) has won twice on this track this year and ran well late last out despite a wide trip. She’ll try to sit just off the lead and save as much ground as possible.

RACE 3: CLAIMING $20,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

3-1A-7-8

#3 Com On (6-1) showed little on debut, but skipped through the slop to break her maiden in impressive style at Pimlico last out. There’s the possibility of a wet track here as well, and she looks fast enough to cross to the lead and the rail without much trouble. That could set up a similar type of victory. #1A Laramore (7-5) looks like the better half of the Jerry Robb-trained entry. She broke her maiden at Pimlico in May and has run back-to-back figures in the 70s against better company at Delaware Park. If Com On doesn’t run away from them, this one will be right there, lying in waiting. #7 Condescending (3-1) looked like a beast in her first two starts at Parx, winning them by a combined 4 3/4 lengths. However, she lost her next two races by a combined 41 lengths. She’s taking a big drop in class here, but those two recent performances wouldn’t win anything. Can she recover and run a big race? Her glimmers of form make me think she’s a contender but I can’t be sure.

RACE 4: MAIDEN CLAIMING $45,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/16 MILES

7-1-3-6

The late pick 5 begins here. #7 General J R (5-2) is one of two in this field who has raced around two turns before. Going 1 1/8 miles last out, he sat on the pace and hung in there until the last eighth. This son of Holy Boss has had his chances this year and hasn’t converted, but he should be able to handle these unless one of his rivals really likes the extra distance. #1 Energy Efficient (5-1) has closed well in each of his two starts, both of which came around one turn. He’s a half-brother to four winners, including No Mo Lady, who is graded-stakes placed around two turns, albeit on grass. #3 Master of None (3-1) chased impressive maiden winner Roan Burgundy and Landon Jack, who would be odds-on in here, in his debut and got third. He’s stretching out from six furlongs but should enjoy the class relief.

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

13-1-4-5 (DIRT: 13-8-5-6)

The complexion of this race will be determined by if #13 Drakon (1-1) draws in off the also-eligible list. If he does, the rest of these are running for second. He finished in the superfecta twice against much better maidens in New York earlier in the year, running figures of 78 and 81 in those two races. By contrast, the rest of this field struggles to get into the low-70s. #1 I’m Not a Baby (5-1) ran a respectable 67 in his debut at Colonial Downs, finishing fifth behind a blanket finish. He’ll add lasix for the first time. #4 Lightning Lad (12-1) was flat in his first four starts on dirt but made good ground when coming from the clouds in his grass debut last out. This will be his first start since that June 25 outing.

RACE 6: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/8 MILES

6-8-9-5

#6 Uncle Irish (9-2) has more than held his own in his two starts at this condition. He raced on a fast pace last out and pulled away, only to get caught late. Still, he has lots of early speed and runs in the upper-80s and low-90s very consistently. He’ll have to outrun a few speed horses drawn to his inside, but his early pace figures suggest that he can clear them. #8 Dixie Drawl (9-2) outfinished Uncle Irish in that race but could not get by Benandjoe in the stretch. He likes to sit in mid-pack and close for a slice in these types of races, and is likely to pull something similar here. His best hope may be if Uncle Irish cannot clear to the lead and the pace is fast. #9 Treasure Trove (5-1) takes a much-needed drop in class after facing stakes-quality competition in his last several starts. He improved to a 93 last out at Delaware, his best mark in a while, and enjoyed success against these types on this track earlier in the year.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/8 MILES (GRASS)

9-8-3-10 (DIRT: 8-5-9-4)

#9 Attentive (9-2) has bounced around quite a bit this year. He’s gotten claimed three times in each of his last three starts. Ray Handal took him for $32,000 last out at Saratoga. In that race, he closed off a very slow pace to lose a three-horse photo and run an 85. That’s a bit below what he usually runs, but considering the pace dynamic of that race, it was very impressive. He’s back in for $40,000 here, in a race probably similar in quality to the one he saw at the Spa. #8 He’spuregold (4-1) had a great Monmouth Park season, with two stakes wins against Jersey-breds. He didn’t do much after a wide trip on the synthetic at Presque Isle Downs, although he ran a big figure, but now returns to the grass. Notably, Paco Lopez is coming here to ride him. #3 Border Town (5-1), part of the new Mike Maker contingent stabled here, got up to win at Del Mar last out with a frantic late rally. He very consistently runs in the mid/upper-80s and should sit close to the pace.

RACE 8: MAIDEN CLAIMING $20,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, 1 MILE

7-5-6-2

#7 Grand Manner (5-2) has shown speed and faded in his dirt starts, but he does run in the 60s consistently and drops to a career-low level on this surface. #5 Calipari (3-1) ran some promising races at Churchill Downs earlier this year and is also dropping down the class ladder. He had poor starts in his first two local efforts; can he finally break cleanly here? #6 Auspicious Lad (6-1) was no match for odds-on winner Brown Delivers in his last start, but did overcome a wide trip and missed second by a length. He’s making his second start off a brief layoff.