• John Piassek
• December 18, 2022

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

Post time: 12:25 p.m.

Carryovers: Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $2,914 Super High 5 — $0 Late Pick 5 — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: CLAIMING $40,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE

7-2-1-4

There’s nine races on the final Sunday card of 2022. #7 Glowsity (5-2) switched to grass for her first start off the claim for Jamie Ness and stopped badly. Take out that line, and her form suddenly looks much better. She’s run a brisnet figure no worse than 85 in her last four dirt starts. After a (relatively) slow start to the meet, Ness has been on a tear lately, winning with seven of his last 16 Laurel entrants. He also sends out #2 Cashing Big Checks (7-2), who went off favored against better last out at Parx but stopped badly. She ran in the upper-80s in her two prior recent races and has a good recent workout since that poor effort. She’s likely to be on the lead early on. #1 Unadulterated (4-1) came from off the pace after a bad start to win going away in her most recent, She’s had gate trouble in her last few races, but should be able to work out a trip from the rail.

RACE 2: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

5-3-1-4

#5 Northern Thunder (5-2) made a premature move last out at Penn National and ended up second, though he ran a game race. He has in-and-our form, but should at least get a trip stalking the pace on the outside and keeps Jeiron Barbosa in the saddle. #3 Monyinthebanskey (5-2) cruised on the lead to win in gate-to-wire style last out, and without much other confirmed speed in the race, he should get another trip. #1 Paradise Pride (9-5), half of a a Jamie Ness-trained entry, has a closing kick that’s much more potent when he stay somewhat close to the pace. Last out, he came from well off fast fractions and got up for second.

RACE 3: CLAIMING $40,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 6 FURLONGS

5-7-1-3

#5 Blowthruyelowlites (2-1) looks the better of the two Brittany Russell entries in this one. She was pressed hard by #7 Laramore (8-1) on the lead, but held well until getting collared in the final sixteenth. She was an impressive maiden winner two starts back when she got a less contested early pace, Laramore was sharp in victory that day, but stopped badly without an apparent excuse against these types next out. She’s the only one in the field with a win against winners, and you’ll get a good price here if you still believe. #1 Sicilian Grandma (6-1) broke her maiden in impressive fashion at Saratoga, drawing off to run an 84. She was flat in her lone dirt start since then, but has had time since that race and looks for improvement for Tom Morley.

RACE 4: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $25,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 7 FURLONGS

5-7-3-6

#5 Moon Warrior (8-1) has been slowly improving since returning from a long layoff in mid-October, including a maiden-breaking win at Penn National last out. He’s getting a class test here, but he has the figures to win this at a good price. #7 Mailman’s a Flyer (9-2) has had a busy month; this’ll be his third start in December. He just missed against similar last out at Charles Town and has run no worse than a 77 in his last three starts, right in the range he needs to be a contender. He also has some of the best late pace figures in the field. #3 Natagar (9-5) showed promise earlier in the year, running figures as high as 86, but hasn’t raced since Black-Eyed Susan day. He’s been working well recently for Damon Dilodovico, but still, it’s hard to take low odds on a horse who hasn’t raced in seven months.

RACE 5: CLAIMING $10,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

6-7-4-8

#6 Dolice Vita (5-2) didn’t do much at Charles Town last out, but ran some big races on this track earlier in the meet, including a win against these types two races ago. #7 Souper Emperor (8-1) couldn’t make the lead at first last out, but managed to hang around the pace and just missed second. Two of his best races have been within his last two starts. #4 Mischievous Jones (4-1) won easily against n/w2L types at Parx in his first start off a long layoff two races ago, but was no factor against Pennsylvania-bred allowance horses last out. His usual race contends in here, but that last effort is somewhat off-putting.

RACE 6: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, MD-BRED/SIRED, 7 FURLONGS

3-4-5-7

My top two picks exit the same race at this condition on November 14, where they were beaten by One Ten, who came back to finish second in the Bender Stakes. He beat them with a big, swopping move, and I don’t think there’s anyone in here as good as him. #3 Gallant Gold (8-1) raced wide throughout and won a photo for second, running at least an 87 for the second consecutive race. #4 Jackie A (6-1) got a similar trip to One Ten that day, and though he was no match for that rival, he ran on well while wide in the stretch and lost a photo to Gallant Gold, as he continues to improve since returning from a long layoff in mid-July. #5 Hemp (5-1) has finished second at this level twice in a row, including a solid second behind Heir Port last out, who came back to win at Penn National in his next start and has won three of four starts total. He’s another one who’s rounding into form after a break.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE (OPEN), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 7 FURLONGS

2-3-7-8

#2 Alwaysinahurry (5-2) turned in a breakthrough performance last out, coming from off the pace to win the Bender Stakes going away with a career-best 96. He was previously a strong-closing third in the Maryland Million Sprint. Karan’s Notion, who finished second that day, came back to win a third-level race last Saturday. Rather than test the waters of the Dave’s Friend Stakes, Alwaysinahurry’s connections decided on this spot, and it may be a smart move, as he looks like a stickout in this one. #3 Yodel E.A. Who (3-1) has run at least 90 in his last five starts, and ran a career-best mark of 102 last out when he finished a strong-closing fourth in the Let’s Give Thanks Stakes at Parx. He’ll be especially tough if he can stay close to the pace for the potent Ness barn. #7 Fast Bob (8-1) also has a strong closing kick and could be interesting for the underneath spots. He was a hard-charging second at this level at Parx two races back and made decent ground in the Let’s Give Thanks, although he was too far behind early to seriously contend late.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W3X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

1-2-4-3

#1 Paisley Singing (5-2) was beaten to the punch for the lead in the Politely Stakes last out and backed up. When she got to the front two races back, she went gate-to-wire. She looks like the main speed in this race and should benefit from the class drop. #2 Prodigy Doll (9-5) has held her own against stakes company for a while and finds a softer spot for her first start since mid-June. She hasn’t shown the closing punch needed to win against better; we’ll see how she does against better. #4 Hollywood Walk (7-2) chased the pace in the Politely and got up for third. She has good tactical speed and should at least hang around for a slice.

RACE 9: CLAIMING $5,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

6-4-2-3

#6 Mojac Kat (2-1) had no chance to beat the odds-on choice Quick Tempo last out, who cruised to the lead and won going away. However, Mojac Kat grinded on wide and got up for third while forced to come from further off the pace than usual. He usually runs in the upper-70s and low-80s. #4 wall (6-1) ran on well for second in his lone recent two-turn start, which came on this track two races back. He broke awkwardly and raced wide throughout in his last start, which explains the figure slide. #2 Boondoggle (7-2) sat the trip last out off a duel, but proved unable to convert and finished third. He’s run no worse than a 78 in his last three starts on a fast track and might have found a field he can beat.