• John Piassek
• October 23, 2022

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

Post time: 12:40 p.m.

Carryovers: Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $10,856 Super High 5 — $8,577 Late Pick 5 — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

2-15-14-5

There ain’t no rest for the wicked. After yesterday’s big Jim McKay Maryland Million card, we’re right back at it with a tremendous 10-race Sunday card. Note this is the last day of the fall meet with a 12:40 p.m. first post. Starting with Thursday, first post time goes to 12:20 p.m. #2 Harbor Moon (7-2) has been washed off twice in her career so far, but will now finally get to run on grass for Mike Trombetta. She’s a half-sister to five winners, including Sky Writer, who won a stakes race on grass in 2018. She’s closed well on dirt in her first two starts and should relish this surface. #15 Good Rapport (5-2) faced much better maidens at Aqueduct last out, and improved her brisnet figure ten points to a 78. Taking a drop in class to these maidens should help. #14 Collection Day (7-2) closed well for third after a wide trip at Delaware Park last out and adds blinkers second time out for Brittany Russell.

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

1-2-3-6

This is one of several great allowance races on today’s card. #1 Paisley Singing (3-1) ran well in her first start off a brief layoff last out, dueling on the lead and holding second at this level. She hasn’t yet won this year but has been competitive against these types, and gets to face a field in which some of her biggest opponents are coming off long layoffs. One such horse is #2 Hydra (5-2), who won twice this spring at Aqueduct with big figures, but has yet to run since April 23. She started her season slowly but has rapidly improved with each race, peaking at a 90 last out. Worth noting that she did not run well in her first start of 2022, which was her first appearance in three months. #3 Mattitude (4-1) raced well int he Shine Again Stakes at Pimlico last out, racing wide on a rail-favoring track but holding fourth.

RACE 3: CLAIMING $25,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE (GRASS)

8-10-7-14

#8 Sebaray (7-2) broke his maiden in exciting fashion two starts back at Saratoga, with a career-best figure of 80. This will be his first grass start against winners. #10 Trash Talkin Larry (6-1) has run in the upper-70s consistently this year. He chased down some loose leaders and was a fast-closing third at Pimlico last out. #7 Consultant (6-1) gets back to dirt for Bob Klesaris and has run decent figures in his last two despite some not-great trips.

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

5-4-6-2

Charles Frock claimed two horses out of a race here on October 6, and both are in action here. #5 Lightfoot Miss (6-1) was one of those claimants, and finished a solid second on the one-turn mile after racing wide. She has good late speed and should be a threat once again. Her style plays well at this distance. #4 Gold Time Vixen (5-2) has run in the mid/upper-70s all year and made a strong move for second last out. Alex Crispin, now based at Delaware Park, comes in for the mount. #6 Love Is Strong (4-1) has won two of her last three at Penn National and will be forwardly placed.

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

4-3-8-2

A great field has lined up for this race, and it’s not even the best allowance sprint for grass fillies and mares on the card! #4 Stony Point (7-2) cleared her n/w1x condition last out on this track, winning in a game performance over Royal Engagement, who won at this level next out. She hasn’t raced since that July 2 effort but Shug McGaughey should have her ready to go here. #3 Hollywood Walk (9-2) didn’t do much against stakes company last out at Woodbine, but she had success against slightly lesser types over the summer in the Mid-Atlantic. She’s going to be on the early pace. #8 Ellanation (4-1) ran figures as high as 96 over the summer, but has struggled in her last two against better rivals. She should enjoy the class relief and should charge on late.

RACE 6: MAIDEN CLAIMING $45,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, 7 FURLONGS

1A-6-8-11

Both halves of the Jorge Duarte entry tower over these. If he only runs one, that one will be a big favorite, and if both show up, they’d be a value bet even at odds-on. #1A Late Call (2-1) gets the slight nod for me between the two, having run a career-best 87 a few starts back and having sharply improved in his second start off the layoff last out. He doesn’t have much early speed but should still be able to work out a trip. #6 Brilliant Ice (12-1) chased the pace in the mud and got third in his most recent dirt start, a positive development after having shown little in his first two starts. He switches back to dirt and gets Will Humphrey aboard for the first time. #8 General Strike (6-1) showed little going long last out at Delaware but has run competitive races with these at shorter distances.

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

14-5-6-4

This race was washed off a little while ago, so it’s been written back and drawn an interesting field. Chad Brown doesn’t send too many horses here for overnight events, but he has #14 Poet of Life (4-1) ready to go on the also-eligible list. Hector Diaz, who rides for Brown a lot at Tampa Bay Downs and Monmouth Park but usually doesn’t come here, A recent European shipper, he ran a respectable 84 in his first American start at Belmont Park in July. He has some wins going long in England and should be able to handle these if he runs back well first off the layoff. #5 Nathan Detroit (6-1) has been in over his head for most of the year, including an outing to Remington Park. However, he’s run in the upper-80s in those races, which is right in the range where he needs to be to win a race like this. He should fit in against a group like this. #6 Border Town (5-1) won first off the claim for Mike Maker at Del Mar last out with a powerful late kick. He’s been very consistent this year, with a figure between 85 and 89 in his last seven starts.

RACE 8: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

10-7-8-9

There’s lots of horses who don’t like to win in this race, but you gotta figure one of these days one of them will find a field they can beat. #10 Hov Lane (4-1) ran a 65 in back-to-back starts earlier this season and was a solid-closing fourth last out. She spun her wheels most of the way but made up ground well in the last eighth. #7 Good Story (5-2) drops to this level for the first time and has run in the 60s in her last four starts. She also made good ground late after a wide trip last out. #8 Doomscroller (4-1) showed promise earlier in the year and was well-backed at this level last out, but never got involved. It’s possible she didn’t like the off going, something she won’t have to worry about here.

RACE 9: ALLOWANCE (OPEN), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

6-8-3-10

An excellent field has been assembled for today’s feature. #6 Can the Queen (8-5) s a multiple stakes winner this year, having won The Very One Stakes and the Sensible Lady Turf Dash Stakes at Old Hlltop. She does her best running over there but does have three wins on this track and was a strong second in a front-running effort in the All Brandy Stakes in June. #8 Spun Glass (7-2) has also won a pair of stakes races this year, including the Jameela Stakes on this track. She’s struggled whenever she’s left the region this year, but has done well around here as of late. Her best races this year are a tad below the best of Can the Queen but she should still close for a minor spot at least. #3 Dontletsweetfoolya (6-1) hesitated a bit at the start last out and lost her usual position on the lead. She ran in the 90s three straight times earlier in the year and will be tough if allowed to get loose on the lead.

RACE 10: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 6 FURLONGS

1-5-6-4

#1 Dunder Boss (5-2) makes her first career start in here for Brittany Russell. Usually, it’s not great when a horse is debuting for such a low tag, but she’s been working well and gets to face a field without much aptitude to start her career. She has a shot if she can run at all. #5 Cami Rachelle (6-1) made mild ground last out and got third with a 57, the second-best figure of her career. This spot might be her time to deliver. #6 Grass Cutter (8-1) exits the same race as Cami Rachelle and ran on well in the last eighth after racing flatly most of the way.