LAUREL PARK PICKS AND PONDERINGS: NOVEMBER 13, 2022
In which we pick the races from Laurel Park each day…
Post time: 12:15 p.m.
Carryovers: Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $29,679 Super High 5 — $942 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, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)
13-9-7-3 (DIRT: 16-8-7-10)
Nine races on the Sunday card. #13 Quick Power Nap (8-5) will likely start the day as a heavy favorite if she draws in. She handily beat a New York-bred maiden field on the final Saturday of the Saratoga meet, running a career-best brisnet figure 87. She was flat in her dirt debut last out at Aqueduct, but now faces winners on grass for the first time and will be impossible to beat if she runs back to that maiden race. #9 Chromeplated Heart (2-1) has been competitive against better all year and now drops to a season’s-low price. She’ll sit near the pace and should at least hang around for an underneath spot. #7 Americas Woman (6-1) closed well to lose a stretch battle last out in her second start off a long respite. She hasn’t won on this track yet but also has never run a bad race on it.
RACE 2: MAIDEN CLAIMING $30,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES
2-6-5-4
#2 Victorian Riviera (4-1) showed little on debut, but improved sharply to a 75 last out when she closed and missed by a neck. That race was at six furlongs, so it’s no guarantee she can handle the extra distance, but at least she’s shown some ability. #6 Oh Mrs. Maisel (8-1) has been well-backed in both of her local starts and has narrowly missed in each race. You’ll get a much better price here if you still believe. #5 Luminist (9-5) has been competitive on grass in recent starts and ran figures of 79 and 77 in her two most recent grass starts.
- This week’s Midlantic stakes scheduleWhich stakes are taking place this week around the Mid-Atlantic? Answers within.
RACE 3: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/8 MILES (GRASS)
9-2-3-6 (DIRT: 3-7-6-9)
#9 Prowling Tiger (9-2) was in an impossible pace scenario in his debut. The early leader, Candidate, set extremely slow early fractions and was impossible to catch. Prowling Tiger rated near the pace and outkicked the others to get second by a neck. With even somewhat respectable fractions in front of him, he should improve second time out. #2 Tidewater (6-1) faced a very experienced field in his first start; all but one of his rivals had raced before. However, he still came from off the pace and got up for third. He’s stretching out from 5 1/2 furlongs here but will be tough if he handles the extra ground. #3 Collection Day (7-2) adds blinkers second time on the grass after overcoming some early trouble to get third in his surface debut.
RACE 4: STARTER ALLOWANCE $5,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 7 FURLONGS
6-8-2-5
#6 Mavilus (9-5) was a bit out of her element in her last start, drafting way off the pace early on in the Maryland Million Distaff Starter Handicap. However, she gobbled up ground late and won going away, for her third win of the year. She’s run in the 80s all year long and should once again have her way with this field. #8 Watch Your Tone (6-1) was pressed on the pace last out but held clear and won, beating some of the horses she’ll see here. She took ten weeks off during the summer and has gotten better with every race since coming back from the layoff. #2 Betcha By Golly (7-2) was flat last out in the Distaff Starter but won at this level three starts ago and should be forwardly placed.
RACE 5: CLAIMING $16,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)
5-7-12-14 (DIRT: 8-9-5-2)
#5 Dixie Cannon (2-1) has raced just once on grass this year, but it was a promising performance. In her first start off a long layoff at Saratoga, she set the pace and led most of the way before being collared late. She returns to grass and adds blinkers in this spot. #7 Pounding Music (5-2) saved ground and got up to win the Maryland Million Turf Distaff Starter Handicap last out, running an 82 for the third time in her last five starts. It’ll be difficult to work out that good a trip again, but she’s been consistently good all year and looms as a threat. #12 Kemba (9-2) ships here from New York for Ray Handal and was a solid pace-setting third at Aqueduct last out. Two starts back, she went gate-to-wire to win at Saratoga, and she’ll likely be on or near the pace here. The key will be to save as much ground as she can from the outside post.
RACE 6: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS
8-4-2-1
#8 Tap N Glo (7-2) makes her third start since late January for Brittany Russell and drops further in class from the $20,000 level. She improved slightly to a 68 in her last race, and as long as she doesn’t move backwards here, she shouldn’t have much trouble with these. #4 Seems to Whisper (6-1) showed some speed against better on grass in New York and intrigues in her dirt debut for Mike Trombetta. #2 Ashara (5-1) has been competitive at this level all year long, but generally sits near the pace and then tires while hanging on for a slice. She was forced to check early two starts back and stopped badly on grass in a contested pace last out, but these circumstances should be more favorable for her, and the bad races are likely to drive up her odds.
- The story of Post Boy, the great Maryland horseIn the nation’s early days, horse racing was its only organized sport, and one of its biggest stars was Post Boy, called “the great Maryland horse.”
RACE 7: CLAIMING $25,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/8 MILES (GRASS)
14-12-11-1 (DIRT: 12-7-10-11)
#14 Mr. Connecticut (7-2) broke his maiden last out at Aqueduct with a career-best figure of 81, coming from last with a rail-riding move. That was the first time in a while he didn’t get stuck behind a very slow pace. #12 Rocket One (4-1) drops for a tag for the first time for Brittany Russell. He was visually unimpressive in a tough first-level field last out, but has run in the 80s in his last two grass starts and goes second off the bench. Stablemate #11 Drakon (5-1) finally got in after a string of washed-off races last out, and powered away to win impressively. He came from off the pace that day but is usually near the lead.
RACE 8: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES
2-1-4-8
#2 Intrepid Dream (9-2), one of two promising Maryland-bred siblings currently in training (along with full sister Intrepid Daydream). She made her first start in more than a year at Delaware Park last out, and drew off to win impressively with a 91 after rating off the pace. #1 Sofia’s Secret (3-1) is also coming off a sharp first-level allowance victory, lasting through a pace duel while racing wide. The runner-up and the third-place finisher (Mavilus, who will race earlier today) came back to win their next starts. She should have an easier time on the lead there from the rail. #4 Fool Yourself (6-1) has run in the 80s in her last five starts, and had a tough trip in the Maryland Million Distaff when she raced wide on the pace. She stalked the leaders and drew off to win three races back, and will try to get a similar trip here.
RACE 9: MAIDEN CLAIMING $30,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS
10-4-2-9
#10 Guaponess (5-2) has hit the board three times in a row for Jamie Ness, and now cuts back around one turn. He ran an impressive 78 in his last sprint start. #4 Victim of the Nite (7-2) had a wide trip in his debut at Santa Anita Park, and now makes his local debut. He last raced against Cal-bred maidens; this is likely a class drop and he has room to improve second time out. #2 Elusive Image (10-1) was well-bet in his debut and made mild ground after hitting the gate before flattening out. Lauralea Glaser, who rode him in his debut, doesn’t ride much, but makes the most of her chances, with a 3-for-8 strike rate at the meet. #1
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