• Joseph Aiello
• March 5, 2023

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

Post time: 12:25 p.m.

Carryovers: Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $$8,929 Super High 5 — $0 Late Pick 5 — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

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

3-4-7-5

An evenly matched seven horse field kicks off this Laurel Sunday with #3 Classic Lynne (7-2) as the top choice after a tough effort here last month, but cuts back in distance and shows some backclass compared to the others with some solid efforts at Saratoga this past summer. This filly by Classic Empire does her best running from mid pack, so she might need a pace target but improves here at decent value. #4 Hov Lane (2-1) has hit the board at a high clip in this class on dirt, and with some good experience over this track, should be a prime contender with this group as a win candidate if her value is a bit better than the morning line odds. Rounding out the top three is #7 Backstreet Affair (3-1), a gray filly who has taken a step forward this year after stepping down to claimers over the Laurel course, but still hasn’t shown quite enough in her stretch runs and speed figures to be a winner here.

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

2-5-4-3

Doesn’t come off of his best effort, but #2 Dialing Dixie (3-1) does step back down to claiming company where he was running his best earlier this year. With a strong jockey-trainer combo and a few others who could be shorter prices, this seems like a good spot for a win with this five year old gelding. #5 Mojac Kat (3-1) also follows up a tough effort, but has shown good consistency going shorter distance and needs to be in a stalking position early. Look for this six year old to be aggressive from the jump. A winner of his last two and the likely favorite, #4 Bernie’s on Fire (1-1) will certainly be a pace factor and will win with a repeat of his recent victories, but take a shot with slightly better prices in this modest field

RACE 3: OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

3-7-2-4

#3 Pit Stop Man (5-2) has been showing the best speed figures of the bunch recently, with good enough early speed to fend off the rest in this six furlong spring. Two bullet works show that this four year old is in strong form and should be the top contender with a sharp break.  #7 Free Square (3-1) usually puts forth solid efforts and seems to be a play to finish in the money, already running in nineteen of twenty-three career tries at Laurel Park. He is rounding into form at the right time along with #2 Flaming East (9-2), who ran a career best two back over this track, but seems to be a bit dependent on getting away from the gate, and hasn’t finished as well when he doesn’t get away with the early grouping.

RACE 4: CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

7-2-3-5

#7 Freddyness (7-2) won his only try at this distance, flashing enough speed to take down this field with a good break. A good jockey-trainer combo and strong start puts him clearly in the mix here. One that isn’t as sharp of a starter is #2 Gabriel’s Wing (5-2), who has one win in ten career tries and it was a gate to wire effort. His inconsistencies from the jump will probably relegate him to an in-the-money finish, but has some winning chances if a few others don’t grab the lead. Coming off a layoff is #3 Scootscoot (5-1), who ran his best last time out after finally being able to control the pace, and with a similar trip could be one to press Freddyness and Lord Uhtred in the early goings and make things a bit easier for some other longshot plays in this seven horse field.

RACE 5: CLAIMING $10,000 (N/W3L), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

5-3-8-7

#5 Branco Maria (5-1) has shown a nice closing kick recently, with a jockey-trainer combo that has been on a tear together in limited starts. With some strong works at Pimlico and a needed cut back in distance, this gelding should offer great value in an even field with no real stand out. With a nine for fifteen lifetime record in the top three, but some underwhelming speed figures in this group, #3 Pelota (9-2) should be a safe play in exotics and to finish well, but maybe is a step below some others as a top win candidate. #8 What Say You (3-1) starts as the morning line favorite, adding blinkers which could be a good change to get him back to being aggressive. If he drops back to mid pack by the first turn, he tends to lose some interest and will need to break sharply to have any chance here.

RACE 6: OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

6-2-4-1

At an impressive eleven for seventeen in the money at this distance, #6 Lady Jean (4-1) seemingly has the best experience going six furlongs and doing so successfully, with a couple tune-ups at Laurel this year to get her acclimated to the track as a six year old. Maybe lacks a bit of early speed which could be an issue in this group, but still appears to be a bit better play than #2 Behind the Couch (5-2), who might not be the right price here. Behind the Couch has almost fifty career tries as a seven year old, but has struggled to break through in similar company for her last six here at Laurel. Even if she is a good play to be there late, #4 Miss Casey (9-5) might be the only one who has enough speed to steal this race going gate to wire, which makes her a must play even if her value isn’t top shelf in this group of seven.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE $54,000 (N/W1X), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

7-3-5-4

#7 Top Boss (3-1) may end up being the only pace-setter in this group, giving him a leg up on a field that prefers to rate, plus he has good recent speed figures that put him among the top contenders here. #3 Particular (5-2) recently broke his maiden at Turfway Park, and has a bit more upside than the more heavily raced geldings who are his primary competitors, and might be the one to get a perfect stalking trip off of Top Boss, with his last try probably being enough to put him back in the winner’s circle. The most familiar in this class, #5 Magic Mule (3-1) has struggled to find wins over his thirty-six starts, but should be a safe play in exotices with his high percentage in the money at six furlongs. He has a couple past races that would give him his first win at this level with the right stalking trip here.

RACE 8: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 1 1/16 MILES

1-2-4-6

The closing race on the card is the only two turn contest with #1 Arrogates Dream (9-5) the top choice in a small field with little promise. Outside of a couple decent efforts in the fall, this filly by Arrogate hasn’t shown much but gets a slight edge over the others due to strong connections and some early form. #2 Grass Cutter (7-2) has been more competitive recently, but still shows plenty of tough tries where she wasn’t a factor in the stretch past eight furlongs. Maybe #4 Gold Digging Broad (2-1) can finally break her starting woes and surprise for trainer Michael Trombetta, but would have to do so at a bit better price than the morning line number if she is to be played as a winner.