• John Piassek
• January 16, 2023

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

Post time: 12:25 p.m.

Carryovers: Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $0 Super High 5 — $595 Late Pick 5 — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: CLAIMING $16,000 (N/W3L), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

2-1-4-8

We’ve got a nine-race card on this special Martin Luther King Jr. Day of racing. #2 Sweet Talia (5-1) made her first start in almost two months last out, and closed well in the last eighth to get third, matching her career-best brisnet figure with a 79. In fact, she’s run in the 70s in four of her last five starts, with the exception coming at Timonium, where the figures are generally lower. #1 A Girl Named Jac (3-1) has closed and hit the superfecta in her last two starts against similar, with figures in the 80s both times. She figures to get a similar trip as Sweet Talia. #4 Hot Lookin Royal (4-1) is lightly-raced and comes in off by far a career-best race last out. She sat near the lead and crushed a n/w2L field with contemptuous ease.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $25,000 (N/W2L), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

6-1-2-5

#6 Pharaoh’s Triumph (8-5) got into a speed duel against better two starts back, then had a bad start and lost key forward position in his most recent. In spite of that, he still ran figures better than those of most of his rivals. With a clean trip, he’ll be tough to beat. #1 Aristocrat (7-2) lasted through a duel last out, and while he outfinished his dueling partner, he faded late and settled for second. He’ll get pressure from Pharaoh’s Triumph and is stretching out around two turns, but at least he’s shown heart. #2 Federal Offense (3-1) has improved in his last few starts and was a solid second last out, although he didn’t have much chance behind a loose leader.

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

6-3-7-1

#6 Royal Thunder (2-1) has run well in his last few starts at this level. Last out, he had no chance behind 1-5 favorite Quick Tempo, who ran the rest of the field off their feet and came back to win a starter optional claiming race next out for his third straight win. This is a much easier field. #3 Pit Stop Man (7-2) set very fast fractions against better last out and held on for third. He’s won in gate-to-wire fashion on this track before, but never before against a field like this. We’ll see if Jeiron Barbosa can manage his speed enough to make it last. #7 Boondoggle (5-1) also drops out of that race, where he raced near that very fast pace and stopped. In his prior start, he wired a conditioned claiming field. This race is somewhere in between those two spots in terms of quality. He’s likely to prompt the pace on the outside.

RACE 4: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

4-3-1-6

#4 Proper Attire (9-5) went gate-to-wire at this level as the favorite last out, her second win at this level in her last four starts. There’s gonna be competition for the lead, but she looks fast enough to outrun the rest of them early on. #3 Awesome View (9-2) chased Proper Attire last out and fended off the rest to get second. if the pace indeed proves fast, she’ll take full advantage. #1 R Averie Lynn (5-1) has struggled in her last two starts over sloppy, sealed tracks. She’s getting a fast track here and would also take advantage of a fast pace. She ran an 86 and a 93 in back-to-back starts last fall.

RACE 5: MAIDEN CLAIMING $30,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 7 FURLONGS

7-6-2-8

#7 Levisa (5-2) goes first off the claim by Richard Sillaman. She dropped in for a tag for the first time last out, and rallied for second as the odds-on choice. You’ll get a better price here if you still believe, and you should, as her upper-60s figures are among the best in this field. #6 Lil Spinner (9-2) has hit the board in her first two starts after racing near the pace at this level. She didn’t move forward from a figure standpoint off her debut, and might have to improve a few points to win this one. The best race run by #2 Donna’s Courage (4-1) ran so far was two starts back, when she set the pace and got caught late. She didn’t make the front last time and didn’t show much, so the front end might be where she wants to be.

RACE 6: CLAIMING $10,000 (N/W2L), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/8 MILES

6-3-4-5

#6 Bettheover (7-2) makes his third start off a long layoff here, and improved sharply to a 75 second off the bench last out. He broke his maiden going two turns at Delaware Park in the fall of 2021. #3 Love Machine (8-1) broke his maiden impressively two starts back, but was flat in his first start against winners last out. He’s raced going long in the past, and is one of the most lightly-raced horses in the field. #4 Only Child (10-1) is the main early pace threat and gets a rider switch to Jaime Rodriguez, who will try to do a better job of rationing his speed.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 7 FURLONGS

3-1-7-8

#3 John the Bear (3-1) was clear in the stretch last out, but tired and was caught by Savoy, who returned to finish third in the Dave’s Friend Stakes next out. I’m not too concerned about his ability to get the distance despite that last race, considering he has a win at the distance. #1 Jackie A (5-1) came from off the pace to get up in a Maryland-bred race last out, his third win in his last four starts. He has the best late kick of anyone in the race. #7 Bigmancan (12-1) ran a career-best 93 last out when he got up for second behind a runaway gate-to-wire winner. He should get a more honest pace to close into here.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, MD-BRED/SIRED, 6 FURLONGS

1-5-7-3

Seventh time was the charm for #1 Brilliant Ice (9-2) last out, as he broke his maiden in dominant fashion. He ran a 97 that day, a career-best figure by almost 20 points. There’s definitely a risk of regression off that race, but he had been moving forward in his prior races and can win this one even if he regresses a few points. #5 Hemp (2-1) has finished second at this condition three straight times, including a nose defeat to Jackie A. in his most recent when that rival outkicked him. He’s gotten better with every start since returning from a year-plus layoff in September, but he’s a hard horse to take at low odds. #7 Rad Paisley (9-5) will be able to press the pace from the outside and can get a jump start on his rivals if he can wrestle away the front end for himself.

RACE 9: CLAIMING $10,000 (N/W3L), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES,1 1/16 MILES

2-4-5-1

#2 Redwhitentacos (7-2) cleared her n/w2L condition easily last out going a mile. She was dull in her lone start at this distance, which came last spring, but she’s improved since then. #4 If Then (5-1) came from further off the pace than usual in her most recent but closed strongly late to get third. She’s turned in a good account of herself in both of her starts at this level. #5 Abidale (9-5) was scratched out of a shorter spot yesterday to run here, an interesting maneuver by Jamie Ness. Both of her wins have come around one turn, including a sharp gate-to-wire one two back. However, she’s unproven at a route.