• John Piassek
• February 18, 2023

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

Post time: 12:25 p.m.

Carryovers: Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $1,492 Super High 5 — $0 Late Pick 5 — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: MAIDEN CLAIMING $30,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 1 1/16 MILES

4-5-3-7

It’s a great card for General George/Barbara Fritchie day. #4 Voodoo Mama Juju (6-1) impressed me in her debut last Friday. After lethargically lingering along in the early stages, she picked it up in the back half and closed well for fourth. She should get better with more distance. #5 Donna’s Courage (7-2) has run a brisnet figure no worse than 66 in her last three starts, but has not raced beyond seven furlongs. She led most of the way three starts back, then made decent ground late to snag third two starts ago. #3 For Cryin Out Loud (4-1) has gotten better with each start, peaking at a 65 third time out in her most recent, and adds lasix for her two-turn debut.

RACE 2: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/8 MILES

7-6-5-4

#7 Jardani (3-1) has some of the best late pace figures in the race and closed well for third last out at this level, losing to graded stakes-placed Doppelganger and one of his rivals here, #6 Nostalgic Run (8-5). That one has coughed up clear early leads numerous times in his last few starts. However, there’s absolutely no other early speed in here, so he’ll be able to coast along as comfortably as he’d like. This is a “now or never” moment for him. #5 Luigi’s Spirit (4-1) came from mid-pack to break his maiden in an impressive effort last out. He should also be heard from late.

RACE 3: WIDE COUNTRY STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 7 FURLONGS

2-6-4-1

The first stakes race of the day is named for the 1991 Maryland-bred Horse of the Year. #2 L Street Lady (2-1) broke her maiden impressively on this track two starts back, then drew off to win the Xtra Heat Stakes last out with a career-best figure of 91. She should just just off the pace once again, and based on her last win, she shouldn’t have any trouble with the distance. #6 Stonewall Star (5-2) ships in from New York off a gate-to-wire win in the Franklin Square Stakes last out, her second stakes win of her career. However, she’s slowed down late in her last few starts, and flattened out going seven furlongs in the Gin Talking Stakes here two starts back. She’s fast early, but we’ll see if she can last. #4 Chickieness (7-2) held second in the Xtra Heat last out but was outkicked by L Street Lady in the stretch. She hasn’t run a bad race recently, but also hasn’t been as impressive as she was when she won the Maryland Million Lassie in October.

RACE 4: MIRACLE WOOD STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 1 MILE

3-1-4-5

This one is named after the solid Maryland-bred of the late 1980s. While these races are often considered preps for the Federico Tesio Stakes and the Preakness Stakes, if #3 Prince of Jericho (7-5) wins this race impressively, his connections will have to consider a Kentucky Derby points race. He made a powerful four-wide move to win the Spectacular Bid Stakes going away last out, for his third consecutive figure in the 90s. Unless someone in here steps up by a few points, this is his race to lose. #1 Feeling Woozy (6-1), one of five Maryland-breds in the field, has shown flashes of brilliance in his seven-race career, including an impressive first-level win last out where he shook off pace pressure and held on to win at this distance. He ran a career-best 89 that day. #4 Seven’s Eleven (15-1), another Maryland-bred and a Triple Crown nominee, turned in a similar much-improved performance to break his maiden at fourth asking last out. Runner-up No Easy Days came back to break his maiden around two turns on Sunday. This one is getting a class test here, but you’ll get the right price if you believe.

RACE 5: STARTER ALLOWANCE $5,000, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 7 FURLONGS

8-10-6-2

#8 Our Hoisted Mast (10-1), usually a pace-setter, came from off of it last out to get second behind the much-the-best Oxide, matching his career-best mark with an 85. He’s in ascending form and has shown multiple dimensions. In a competitive field, he gets the nod at (hopefully) a good price. #10 Jump Shot (4-1) ran in the 90s in back-to-back starts at Parx before a dull effort last out in which he was never involved. It’s worth noting that he threw in a clunker four starts back and bounced back instantly next out with a 90. #6 Bahama Channel (15-1) made a solid closing rally and got fourth in his first start off a six-month layoff last out. He ran in the mid-80s fairly consistently last year; that type of race contends in here.

RACE 6: JOHN B. CAMPBELL STAKES, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

3-2-1-9

A wide-open field of ten starts the late pick 5 in this contest named for the legendary racing secretary. Lynn Cash has three in here, and I’ll take one of them, #3 Treasure Trove (6-1) has won two allowance races in a row in impressive style, both times coming from off slow paces. He’s in career-best form and should be heard from late. #2 Nimitz Class (5-1) overcame a wide trip to win the Robert Manfuso Stakes last out. He’s run his two best figures in his most recent two-turn starts and should sit a much better trip than last time, near the pace on the rail. #1 Plot the Dots (10-1) made a powerful rally to win the Jennings Stakes two starts back, defeating some of the horses he’ll see here. He raced wide throughout last out in a third-place effort, but made some mild ground in the last eighth and should rebound at a price here.

RACE 7: NELLIE MORSE STAKES, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES

2-5-6-4

This race is named for the first filly to win the Preakness. She did it in 1924, three days after she won the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes. #2 Hybrid Eclipse (2-1) won two stakes races on this track last year, and most recently was third in the Carousel Stakes when stuck in a very difficult pace scenario. The most likely one to sneak away here is #5 Pistol Liz Ablazen (9-2), one of two coming in here for Butch Reid. She made her two-turn debut two starts back and ran a game race on the lead, pulling clear in the last eighth for a decisive win. She was a mild fourth in her first start off a two-month layoff last out, but should improve with the race under her belt and the stretch-out back to two turns. #6 Award Wanted (5-2) enjoyed a great trip on the rail and kicked away to win the Geisha Stakes last out. She has tactical speed and would likely get first crack if Pistol Liz Ablazen falters on the lead.

RACE 8: BARBARA FRITCHIE STAKES, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 7 FURLONGS

8-3-6-1

The first graded stakes race of the Maryland racing season is named for a Civil War folk hero. #8 Fille d’Esprit (5-2) became a folk hero of sorts last year, as this one-time $10,000 claim won five stakes races and placed in five others. After a dull performance in the Willa On the Move Stakes to cap her 2022 season, she roared back with a dominant performance in the What a Summer Stakes, where she won going away ran a career-best 100. This is a tougher field than she’s used to, but she loves the track and should sit her usual trip in mid-pack. If she makes her usual move, she’ll be hard to hold off. #3 Pass the Champagne (3-1) ships up from Florida for George Weaver. She has a lot of back-class, having finished second to Malathaat in the Ashland Stakes as a 3-year-old. However, she’s raced just three times since that spring 2021 affair. Most recently, she returned off almost a year layoff in the Wayward Lass Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, and finished second after a determined, race-long duel. She’s a bit of a question mark, but has lots of upside. #6 Union Lake (3-1) won an allowance at Aqueduct going away last out after rating off the pace, and ran in the upper-90s twice at Saratoga over the summer. She was flat in the Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland two starts back, a race where she competed without lasix, but apparently the lack of lasix was not the problem there; she clipped heels up the backstretch and showed little thereafter.

RACE 9: GENERAL GEORGE STAKES, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 7 FURLONGS

8-7-3-6

Today’s co-feature is, of course, named for the first president of the United States. #8 Factor It In (5-2) has found his best self as of late, winning three stakes races on this track in his last five starts. In his last start, he sat off a hot early pace and kicked away. With lots of speed in here as well, he should get a similar trip and parlay it into a victory. If he wins, #7 Eastern Bay (4-1) would become the newest Maryland-bred millionaire. He closed his 2022 season with back-to-back stakes placings at Aqueduct, including a runner-up finish in the Bold Ruler Stakes in which he looked to have the winner dead to rights but couldn’t get by. He’s had some time off since then and has been working very well for Lynn Cash. He’d also take advantage of a fast pace. #3 Beren (3-1) won the DeFrancis Dash here last July after lasting through hot early fractions. He’ll show speed on the rail and will try to fend off the closers.