• John Piassek
• February 26, 2023

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

Post time: 12:25 p.m.

Carryovers: Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $4,936 Super High 5 — $857 Late Pick 5 — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: MAIDEN CLAIMING $45,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

3-5-2-9

#3 Mr. Houghton (7-2), one of four first-time starters in the race, has had three consecutive bullet workouts for Ben Perkins at Pimlico. Him and jockey Forest Boyce teamed up to get off the duck at the meet on Friday. #5 Disputed Claim (8-1) broke awkwardly on debut, but recovered and made a solid move before flattening out. With a cleaner start, he might be able to time his move better and improve. #2 Starstreet (5-2), a son of stakes winner Walk of Stars, who has produced two winners from as many starters, go first out for Brittany Russell. He’s had a lot of five-furlong workouts, so he’ll at least be battle-tested for this one.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $5,000, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES

3-4-1-5

#3 Ravenel (7-2) closed decent ground at Charles Town last out to get fourth. She’s stretching out to a route for the first time in a while, but she ran well in her two most recent starts going a mile or longer on this track. #4 Congress Hall (3-1) also made her last appearance at Charles Town, and gets Arnaldo Bocachica to ride. It’s rare to see him on a horse here not trained by Anthony Farrior. This one surged to victory last out and will be a serious factor if kept close enough to the pace. #1 Love is Strong (4-1) ran in the 70s consistently last year, but showed little last out in her first race off a 7 1/2-week break. A return to form contends in here.

RACE 3: MAIDEN CLAIMING $30,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

1-8-4-5

#1 Mystic Seaport (5-2) went off favored on debut last out, and battled hard in the stretch only to fade late in the seven-furlong contest. The fourth-place finisher, Voodoo Mama Juju, came back to win last Saturday. #8 Six the Hard Way (9-5) couldn’t chase down free-wheeling first-time starter And Whistle last out, but she made a move for second on the turn and stayed there in the lane, running in the low-70s for the second time in as many starts. None of the two first-timers here look that interesting, and no one in here looks fast enough to pull off that kind of pace-compromising trip against her. #4 Hidewright Away (4-1), a homebred for Lynn Cash, showed brief speed on debut and tired. It was a good race to build on (no pun intended) and she should improve second time out.

RACE 4: CLAIMING $10,000 (N/W2L), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

1-2-4-6

#1 Grand Manner (2-1) broke his maiden at 11th asking last out, grinding away after a wide trip to win with a 77. It’s the second time in the last three races he’s run that high, and the best last-out figure in the field by nine points. #2 Bode Lynx (4-1) ran in the 70s three times at the fall meet, and has had some time off since a dull effort to cap his 2022 season. He faced much better n/w2L fields in his last two starts and should benefit from the class relief. #4 God is Love (3-1) has been well-beaten in his last few, but his recent best is just a few points below the standard of the other contenders, and he showed some promise on the lawn last year.

RACE 5: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

9-1A-6-8

#9 Oxide (3-1) crushed a slightly softer field two starts back at a mile, then struggled a bit when he stretched out around two turns (although he still has the second-best last-out figure). He’s cutting back around one turn and looks very live. #1A Northern Thunder (10-1) is one of two in here who has run in the 80s in each of his last three starts, along with Oxide, but will go off at a much higher price. He flattened out after a wide trip last out and will try to work out a more ground-saving journey here. #6 Bahama Channel (5-2) goes third off the layoff and drops out of a very evenly-matched starter allowance field. Not sure if he’d be worth his morning line price, but his best contends in here.

RACE 6: CLAIMING $10,000 (N/W3L), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES

1-5-8-6

#1 Shaolin (5-2) went in a bit over her head at Aqueduct last out and was well-beaten, but ran a game race two starts back here with a career-best 83. She’s had some excellent workouts at Fair Hill getting ready for this spot. #5 Esperannna (8-1) makes her second start for the Anthony Farrior barn. Last out, she led most of the way and tired late, which was an improved effort from her last few starts. Without much other speed in the race, she should be able to get loose. #8 If Then (3-1) has hit the board four times in a row at this level without winning. She got stuck in traffic two and three back, and got fanned very wide last out but kept coming and missed by less than a length.

RACE 7: MAIDEN CLAIMING $45,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

9-5-1-6

#9 Dialer (5-2) was well-bet on debut and ran big, dueling for the lead and hanging on for second with an impressive 78. It’s a step up in class on paper, but it’s a largely inexperienced group. #5 Left Hand Thread (2-1) ran a 75 on debut, when he finished fourth in what ended up being a productive maiden race. However, that was last May, and he hasn’t raced since then. He’s worked well since mid-November getting ready for his return. If he improves from his form in May of last year, he’ll be tough. #1 Spectrier (15-1) has improved with each recent start. He’s cutting back from a mile, which will make his early speed even more potent.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE (OPEN), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

2-4-7-1

#2 Steinbeck (3-1) went first off a brief layoff for Lynn Cash at Aqueduct last out, and won going away with a great trip, running by far a career-best 106. He’d take full advantage if the leaders tired here. One of those leaders is #4 John the Bear (5-2), who chased the pace in the General George Stakes and tired. He had won three of his prior four starts, racing well on the lead every time despite constantly drifting out late. #7 Backnthewoods (10-1) goes first off the layoff for Jose Corrales, with this being his first outing since early December. The post isn’t ideal, but he has some great recent early pace figures and could be fast enough to clear them.