• John Piassek
• November 21, 2022

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

Post time: 12:15 p.m.

Carryovers: Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $1,189 Super High 5 — $0 Late Pick 5 — $21,008

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $30,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 7 FURLONGS

3-5-7-6

There’ll be eight races on this sun-splashed Monday card. #3 Peyton Elizabeth (2-1) returns to the Jamie Ness barn after getting claimed away from him three starts back. She ran in the 80s pretty steadily when racing for Ness, with her only efforts out of the mid-80s coing when she faced a tough allowance field and when she raced around two turns. She’ll be tough if she returns to her old form. #5 No More Mask (5-1) shipped to Churchill Downs for the Claiming Crown last out, and showed little over a snow-soaked track. Prior to that, she was in solid form, with brisnet figures no worse than 75 in her prior seven dirt starts. She also likes Laurel quite a bit, having won or placed nine times from 14 starts on this surface. #7 Behind the Couch (5-2) hadn’t won in a while prior to her last start, but she sat near the pace and got up to win against a similar field. She doesn’t have much of a closing kick, so she’ll have to grind if she wants to win this one. However, she’s likely to get a similar trip as last time, and that trip led to victory.

RACE 2: MAIDEN CLAIMING $40,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 1 MILE

7-2-5-1

#7 B West (8-5) scratched out of a two-turn spot yesterday, in which he would’ve been favored, to race here instead. He improved drastically second time out, running an impressive 82 while battling on the pace throughout and ending up second. Rather than stretch out a furlong and a half from his first start, he takes a slightly less dramatic step up in distance and stays at one turn. He’ll be hard to beat if he runs back to his last race. #2 Energy Efficient (7-2) finished third behind B West last out, running a 74 for his third consecutive improved figure. He raced wide that day but held on and managed to finish well clear of most of the field, although he was no match for the top two. #5 Alvy (7-2) has been working well since June for Brittany Russell and finally debuts here. He’s the first foal out of stakes winner Wilburnmoney.

RACE 3: CLAIMING $10,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 7 FURLONGS

3-11-9-1

#3 Appraisal (5-1) was claimed three starts ago by Brian Brooks. He didn’t run well when stepped up in price first off the claim, but rebounded with an 81 last out with a rail-riding move. He gets yet another new rider in Luis Batista and will try to save as much ground as he can. #11 Raise a Speights (5-1) won gate-to-wire to clear his n/w2L condition last out. The draw isn’t ideal but he looks fast enough that he could clear to the front even from that post. He’s also going first off the claim for Anthony Farrior. #9 Highland Dream (6-1) has run career-best figures in two of his last three starts, including a 78 last out when he came from off a fast pace to get third. He won two in a row at Timonium on the pace but usually rates off the pace when racing on bigger tracks.

RACE 4: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 1 MILE

9-4-7-8

The late pick 5, with a juicy carryover, starts here. If last Monday is any indication, the pool should hit the $75,000 mark. #9 Bode’s Heritage (5-2) was well-bet in her debut on grass for Arnaud Delacour, but she had an awkward start and showed little. Now she’s switching surfaces, dropping in class, and going out for a barn that generally does better with second-time starters. #4 Wicked Kitten (8-1) was well-beaten in two starts on grass, although she improved her figure significantly last out to a 63. That mark on dirt might win this. #7 Dunder Boss (3-1) had an awkward break last out and was compromised, but if she breaks cleanly this time, she’ll contend third time out as long as he can handle the extra distance.

RACE 5: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 7 FURLONGS

1-6-5-7

If you get knocked out of the pick 5 in the first leg, you can come right back with the late pick 4, which starts here and should also have an exaggerated pool. #1 Treasure Tradition (3-1) faced stakes company in his first two starts off the layoff, and although he ran solid figures of 90 and 87 in those races, he was no match for better rivals in those races. He should improve third off the layoff and will enjoy the class relief. #6 Critical Threat (6-1) cuts back from a mile. Last out, he fell far off the early pace and made a strong late rally, but flattened out late. He ran his best race of the year at this distance two races ago at Saratoga. If he stays close to the lead he’ll be a serious threat. #5 Magic Mule (9-2) almost pulled off a 33-1 upset at this level last out, coming from off the pace and holding on for second after briefly leading. He’s run an 88 in back-to-back races, but rarely makes a winning move, often closing for an exotics spot.

RACE 6: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE

5-10-11-9

#5 Just One More (10-1) has no early speed at all first time out, but churned on well in the stretch and just missed fourth. I’m interested in how she does stretching out from six furlongs second time out. Worth a look at good odds. #10 Fire at Midnight (6-1) is also lightly-raced and switches back to dirt while dropping for a career-low price. #9 Unbridled Irish (8-1) has been running decent figures at Charles Town, running in the 60s in three of her last five starts. Jevian Toledo gets aboard for her first dirt start in Maryland, which is encouraging, but it remains to be seen if this Anthony Farrior trainee can stretch out her ability.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W3X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

1-2-5-7

#1 Kadri (6-1), like many Norman Cash trainees, has been kept busy this year. This’ll be his 20th start of the season, but he hasn’t lost a beat. He ran a season’s-best 94 last out in a game performance at Mountaineer. Ideally, he’ll work out a similar trip to what he did last time, where he stalked the pace and pounced. #2 Karan’s Notion (7-2) was second in the Maryland Million Sprint last out after battling with Heir Port, who faded that day but came back to win yesterday. This one hasn’t won in a while but has been in improved form in his last few starts and will be a pace factor. #5 Nuclear Option (6-1) crushed the field at Parx last out and goes first off the claim by Silvino Ramirez. I’m not sure how he’ll do first time out of the Jamie Ness barn, but if he can get away with an uncontested lead he could prove dangerous.

RACE 8: MAIDEN CLAIMING $20,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

4-3-1-7

We’ll wrap thing sup with what looks like an ordinary maiden claimer, but will be a very important race for anyone still alive in the pick 5. #4 Jebster (4-1) battled on the lead throughout last out and held on for third, losing by a half-length to his dueling partner, Awesome Dynamo, who came back to finish third as the favorite yesterday. This one ran a career-best 72 that day and has improved with each start this year. #3 Imagine It All (3-1) has run no worse than a 62 in three starts on dirt and drops to this low a tag on the surface for the first time. He was flat after a wide trip in his last dirt start but shouldn’t have that problem here. #1 Rennie (6-1) was fourth behind Imagine It All last out and now switches back to grass fourth time out. He’s likely to show speed from the rail.