• John Piassek
• February 24, 2023

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

Post time: 12:25 p.m.

Carryovers: Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $2,523 Super High 5 — $0 Late Pick 5 — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: CLAIMING $16,000 (N/W3L), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 7 FURLONGS

1-5-7-2

#1 Call Me Maestro (7-2) has won twice in two starts, both times going away, since returning from a long layoff in mid-December. Last time out, he was engaged in a duel while racing on the outside, but held clear late and ran a career-best brisnet figure of 80. #5 Ampersand (2-1) makes his second start for the Anthony Farrior barn, which has been on fire just about the whole meet. He ran a solid 81 against better last out, despite breaking slowly and rushing up. In fact, he’s had gate problems in his last few starts, but had a solid gate workout on Monday, an encouraging sign. #7 Oro de Moro Moro (9-2) takes a drop in class after some tries in first-level allowance company, where he closed well but was no match for the leaders. His late kick should play better against these types, but it would still serve him well to be closer to the pace.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $40,000 (N/W2L), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 7 FURLONGS

1A-6-3-2

#1A Practical Sense (5-2) rallied well and just missed last out behind Forth, who returned to win a starter optional claiming race at 14-1 two Fridays ago. This one was claimed out of that last race by Hugh McMahon and has equaled or surpassed his career-best figure in his last five races, peaking at an 83 last out. #6 Patriotic Party (3-1) got chewed up on the lead in his most recent start and stopped badly, but now finds himself in a race where he’s the primary speed. He showed a lot of promise in an impressive maiden win last October and will try to find that form again here. #3 Natagar (3-1) goes third off the layoff and cuts back around one turn. He runs in the low/mid-80s pretty steadily.

RACE 3: MAIDEN CLAIMING $45,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 6 FURLONGS

2-1-4-3

With the 8-race card, the rainbow pick 6 starts here. #2 Stormin’ Amanda (3-1) pressed the leader all the way around last out at Tampa Bay Downs, and though she could not get by, she managed to hold on for second with a career-best 73. This is her first start in her home state, and she’s posted a good recent workout since arriving here earlier in the month. #1 Maria From Miami (5-2) also chased the leader in her most recent start, and managed to hold on for second while fending off first-time starter #4 Tinseltown Tina (4-1) throughout the stretch. She’s run at least a 75 three times, something no one in the field has done even once, so if she runs her usual race, she’ll be tough. The aforementioned Tinseltown Tina ran easily the best race of the three first-time starters last out, and merits a chance if she steps up a bit second time out.

RACE 4: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE

3-6-1-4

Today’s late pick 5 begins here. #3 Izzybella (9-5) went to the sidelines after a disappointing race towards the end of the Delaware Park meet, but returned to the races on February 3 after getting plenty of workouts under her belt. She rated off the pace drew off to win by open lengths with a career-best 86. #6 Unadulterated (5-2) went off favored against better last out, but showed little after a wide trip. It was an abrupt reversal of form after running in the upper-70s/low-80s for months. She’s looking for a rebound here and should once again go off at short odds. #1 Dulce Kiara (9-2) battled with Shackleford County on the lead last out and was defeated by a neck. She has early speed and keeps Jaime Rodriguez in the saddle, but she’s done her best racing on wet tracks, and she won’t get that here.

RACE 5: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

3-6-1-4

This race was split up into two divisions; this is the better one. #3 Doppelganger (8-5) returned first off a long layoff last out and made a nice move to the front to chase down next-out winner Nostalgic Run for an impressive victory. He was graded stakes-placed twice last year and should only get better second off the bench. If he wins this impressively, look for him in stakes company next. #6 Shaft’s Bullet (2-1) ran huge in his first start at this level last out. He raced wide most of the way and fought gamely in the stretch, losing by an extremely close nose to Excellorator. He’s run in the mid-90s in both of his starts this year. #1 Nautilus (9-2) was forced to check last out and was disinterested thereafter. He ran exactly a 90 in his three prior starts, and has two good workouts since his last race on Jan. 15.

RACE 6: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

6-1-8-2

Lynn Cash loves to claim upper-level older males, and he took another one on Feb. 17, when he claimed #6 Dixie Drawl (5-1) for $30,000. Although he was visually unimpressive, chasing the pace on a wet track and losing by eight lengths, he ran a respectable 88, his third consecutive improved figure. He’s been looking for a more ground-saving trip and a more honest race flow; he’ll get at least the latter here. #1 Mr. Hustle (7-2) ran a career-best 93 last out when second to the promising Al Loves Josie, who is in tomorrow. This one has shown good late speed in his last few starts and should enjoy more distance. #8 Classier (2-1) fits a similar mold as Doppelganger. He won the 2021 Los Alamitos Derby for SF Racing et al. and Bob Baffert, but has raced just three times since then, all losing efforts. He joined Brittany Russell’s barn a few weeks ago and put in a good recent workout, going four furlongs in 48 1/5 seconds on Feb. 15. He has loads of back-class, but he’s raced just once in the past 13 months, and you’ll have to take a low price.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE (OPEN), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

2-4-5-3

#2 Response Time (2-1) wouldn’t have been out of place in the Barbara Fritchie Stakes last Saturday, but Hammy Smith decided to wait a week and drop in her in this spot. She rated off the pace and got up to win against a tough field last out despite drifting out late. There’s lots of speed in here, but she showed she can rate last time and might employ a similar strategy here. #4 Shesalittle Edgy (7-2) ran a game race on the lead last out in Aqueduct in her first start off an eight-month layoff. The winner, Rossa Veloce, was stakes-placed as a 2-year-old and has won three of her last four starts. #5 Princess Kokachin (5-2) led most of the way last out in her 2023 bow, but was caught by Response Time late. Much like her stablemate, Fille d’Esprit, she loves this track, having won seven of 12 here including a stakes race, and is also eligible to move forward in her third start since mid-May.

RACE 8: CLAIMING $16,000 (N/W2L), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE

2-6-5-7

#2 Gwynedd (7-2) briefly pressed victorious Dotada on the lead last out, and while she couldn’t catch up to that rival, she held clear over the rest, matching her career-best figure with a 77. Dotada returned to win a starter optional claiming race on Sunday around two turns. This one should get a more ground-saving trip here near the pace. #6 Red Wine Time (5-2) has run no worse than a 75 in her last three starts and drops to this level for the first time. Look for her to roll late. #5 Anileate (2-1) was fourth behind Red Wine Time in her most recent and has some back-class. She broke her maiden impressively on grass last fall but hasn’t been as visually impressive on dirt.