• John Piassek
• November 7, 2022

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

Post time: 12:15 p.m.

Carryovers: Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $20,058 Super High 5 — $0 Late Pick 5 — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: CLAIMING $16,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 7 FURLONGS

3-2-5-6

The first of three Monday cards this November kicks off with a field of seven. #3 Hov Lane (7-2) crushed the field to break her maiden last out with a brisnet figure of 81, far and away a career-best number. She’s made good ground late in her last few starts and will once again be heard from in the final stages. #2 Musical Cat (4-1) goes third off the layoff and cuts back around one turn for Ferris Allen, who finally got off the duck at the meet yesterday. She lasted a long way on the lead last out before fading and will likely rate near the pace. #5 Fishers (7-2) broke her maiden impressively two races back, but didn’t show any of her customary early speed last out and was well-beaten. She’s had a good workout since that October 7 debacle, going five furlongs in 1:01 3/5 on October 22. She’s a contender if she finds her old self.

RACE 2: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE (GRASS)

7-12-5-3

In a race without much early speed, #7 Smile Bryan (3-1) could find himself in a very advantageous pace scenario. He wasn’t set to the front from the far outside post in his most recent outing, but he usually rates near the leaders and has run competitive recent races against these types. He lasted through stretch battles to win twice at Colonial Downs over the summer, showing the type of resilience he might need to win this one. #12 Golden Decision (5-2) has been in consistent form on grass all year; he hasn’t missed the board in five races on the surface this year, and has lost by more than a length just once. He overcame a wide trip to lose by a nose at Pimlico in his last grass race. He should also get a good trip near the pace. #5 One Two Kid (5-1) came from off a slow pace to get second last out and has gotten better with each grass start this year. He looks like the best of the closers.

RACE 3: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, 5 1/ 2 FURLONGS

6-5-4-8

#6 Get Them Digits (6-1) gets Charlie Marquez aboard for the first time and has lots of early speed. He’s raced “just” eight times, a positive in a race where a lot of the major contenders have racked up lots of also-ran performances. Then again, this type of race is a kind of spot where they might break through. #5 Connecting (2-1) has run his two best figures in his last two races, with a 77 and a 78 in back-to-back runner-up efforts. You’ll have to take a low price on him, but he’s in improving form and will be tough. #4 Robbedinthebahamas (4-1) has hit the board six times from nine starts without a win to show for it. He likes to sit off the pace and make a mild move for an exotics spot, and will likely do the same thing here.

RACE 4: CLAIMING $16,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 7 FURLONGS

7-5-1-8

#7 Union Fleet (5-2) has run in the 80s in each of his last four starts, while the rest of his rivals struggle to run that fast even once. He’s dropping to this condition after several starts against starter optional claiming foes and shouldn’t have any problem with these. #5 Mad Genius (5-1) is lightly-raced and is also dropping to this level for the first time. He was pressed on the pace and faded in his last dirt start but he looks fast enough to outrun these early on. #1 Bettheover (6-1) showed promise as a 2-year-old but hasn’t raced in almost a year. He returned to the worktab in mid-September, has a few decent drills in his lines, and races with lasix for the first time.

RACE 5: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

3-8-4-6

#3 Power Back (8-1) has been uber-consistent all year, with figures between 80 and 85 in his last six starts. He’s won three of his last four races while showing good tactical speed, but he’s getting a class test here. He can pull the upset with the right trip. #8 King’s Honor (7-2) won at this level on this track in August, ironically with his worst figure of the year. He ran in the uppper-80s in his other two starts this year. He’s going to be tough if he runs his race; the only problem is, he’s coming off a rather quick turnaround. The last two times he came back off less than six weeks’ rest, he ran poorly. #4 Street Copper (7-2) had all day to go by Wicked Prankster in the Maryland Million Turf but couldn’t get by and finished second. He likes closing from way out of it and falling short, and his running style makes him a serious exotics candidate.

RACE 6: CLAIMING $40,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 6 FURLONGS

3-6-8-5

After some flat efforts in her first two starts, #3 Blowthruyelowlites (2-1) went gate-to-wire in a very impressive maiden-breaking score at Delaware Park. She’ll try to build off that race here. #6 Liquidator (6-1) also ran an 81 last out, albeit after stalking the pace and catching a free-wheeling leader who stopped. If Blowthruyelowlites tires from a front-running excursion this one could do it again. #8 Creative Cadence (4-1), already a two-time winner, struggled last out when she dueled for the lead while wide. It might be a better idea to rate her and try not to get too caught up in the pace.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W3X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE (GRASS)

5-4-9-1

#5 Ever Dangerous (3-1) has raced just twice in the past fourteen months, but both races were promising performances. He didn’t do much when he got in over his head in the Monmouth Stakes, although he ran a decent 91, but improved to a 96 against a tough allowance field at Saratoga next out. He’s turned in two straight bullet workouts over the grass at Saratoga and should be ready to roll for George Weaver. #4 Passion Play (4-1) came from off the pace to win a second-level race at Pimlico last out with a career-best figure of 91. A two-time stakes winner against Virginia-breds, he can set the pace or rate just off it. #9 Anaconda (7-2) stretched out around two turns for the first time in a while last out at Aqueduct and made good ground to get third. He’s run in the 90s in six of his last seven tries; the only time he missed that mark was when he broke awkwardly at Saratoga.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

7-5-4-3

#7 Last Romance (7-2) stretched out around two turns for the first time last out at Monmouth Park, and handled it easily with a strong 2 1/2-length win and a career-best figure of 90. He gets Jeiron Barbosa aboard for the first time and should work out a great trip just off the pace. #5 Excellorator (4-1) has won four of seven starts on this track. He showed little going shorter in the Challedon Stakes last out, but this kind of race is more his speed. He runs in the upper-80s almost every time out, except for an attempt in the Pimlico Special where he was well-beaten. #4 The King Cheek (9-2) has gotten caught on the lead a few times this year, but I don’t think there’s anyone who can run with him early. The only ones who could seriously challenge are Monday Morning Qb, who has been in bad form lately, and Depository, who hasn’t raced since April.

RACE 9: CLAIMING $25,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/8 MILES (GRASS)

2-11-14-10

#2 Reconvene (7-2) goes first off the claim by Chuck Lawrence. He checked out of contention last out but ran some big races against better earlier in the meet. He hasn’t won since August 2020 but has plenty of competitive races under his belt in the interim. #11 Super E (8-1) came from the clouds to get second, beaten a head, in the Maryland Million Turf Starter Handicap. It was his best race of the year and he’ll try to build on it here. #14 Recycle (4-1) went gate-to-wire at Delaware last out and will try to clear from the front and pull that off again.