• John Piassek
• April 20, 2023

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

Post time: 12:25 p.m.

Carryovers: Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $6,170 Super High 5 — $25,682 Late Pick 5 — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

1-9-5-2

We’ll kick off the racing week with fillies and mares sprinting on the grass. #1 Romantic Comedy (5-2) battled for the lead on dirt in her last start and backed up. She got up to win on this grass course last year, making her one of the few in here with any positive grass experience. Racing for the Jamie Ness/Jaime Rodriguez combo doesn’t hurt. #9 Lilly Simone (5-1) is slowly rounding back into form after missing more than a year. She closed for third while wide last out at Charles Town, in a race where the top two finishers both came back to win. Way back when, she ran brisnet figures in the upper-70s and low-80s consistently in New York. She looks like a “boom or bust” type: either she’ll win easily or show little. #5 Raise Your Game (6-1) surged and just missed last out on dirt, and now tries the lawn for the first time.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $10,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES

7-4-5-2

#7 Alwajd (3-1) broke her maiden impressively two starts back at Penn National, sitting the trip and kicking away easily. She was flat at Parx last out, but now gets some class relief against a field that does not like to win. She’s only lost once against winners; all of her rivals but one have lost against winners five times. #4 Water Witch (5-2) goes first off the claim for Anthony Farrior, who puts Jaime Rodriguez in the saddle. She’s had a pair of great workouts since the claim, and ran in the 70s twice on dirt earlier in the Tampa Bay Downs meet. #5 Rationalmillenial (6-1) ran a career-best 72 last out when she grinded for third against similar rivals. She was well-beaten in her last two-turn start, but is in much-improved form since then.

RACE 3: CLAIMING $5,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 7 FURLONGS

3-8-4-1

#3 Backstreet Affair (3-1) is one of two in here who has run at least a 77 in each of her last three starts. She chased the pace last out against slightly better and ran a solid third. She lost a bit of forward position after an awkward break, but a clean beginning here should net her a better trip. #8 Dancer’s Melody (7-2) is the other one in the field to hit the 77 mark in her recent tries. She won at this level four starts back and tired on the lead last out. Usually, she sits near the pace, and if she can work out a stalking trip without losing too much ground, she’s live. #4 Ms. Malevolence (12-1) drops from starter allowance company and has good closing speed. She fought well on the lead two starts back, but she’s more likely to sit mid-pack in this one.

RACE 4: CLAIMING $40,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

5-1-4-7

#5 Cryo (9-5) ran big in his first start off the layoff. He was second behind Classier, who came back to smash a second-level allowance field in his next start. This one ran a 92 that day, not far off his career-top in his first start since November. He already has a win around two turns and is racing first off the claim by Lynn Cash. #1 Down Cold (3-1) was fourth in the same race, but that was going six furlongs, which was a bit out of his element. In his most recent two-turn start, he hit the front in the stretch and got caught by Late Night Larry, who won next out at Aqueduct. #4 The Addison Pour (5-1) showed plenty of promise last year in his 3-year-old season, running figures as high as 96, However, he’s raced just once since last June, when he was complete non-factor in a Maryland-bred allowance race in February. He’s worked well since then, and you’ll get the right price if you still believe.

RACE 5: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

7-5-2-1

#7 Charge to Victory (5-1) has solid tactical speed in a field loaded with pacesetters. He fought hard in the stretch last out after rating near the pace and got third behind sakes winner Air Token and Aristocratic, who’s also back in here. If this one sits a length and a half or two lengths off the pace again, he’ll get first jump into some embattled leaders. #5 Youngest of Five (5-2) has plenty of back-class, having been stakes-placed three times, but he hasn’t raced since winning a third-level contest at Timonium in September. Rather than throw him to the wolves in stakes company first off the bench, Hugh McMahon decided to put him in here, where he’s facing softer rivals but is being risked for a tag. He’ll also take advantage of a fast pace. #2 Alpha Chi Ro (6-1) went gate-to-wire to win at Charles Town last out, and has been much more forwardly-place din his last two starts than in other recent tries. If nothing else, he’ll protect rail position.

RACE 6: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

8-7-11-5

#8 Afandi (8-1) has two sharp bullet workouts as she prepares for her season debut, and will sit the trip in a race that could have plenty of speed. She’s won five of eight on the lawn in her career, and was second after a good stalking trip at Delaware to cap her season last year. #7 Spooky Spice (10-1) turned in some promising performances last year at Woodbine, and closed well for fourth in her season debut at Turfway Park last out. She’s going first off the claim by Mike Stidham. #11 Above the Limit (3-1) went gate-to-wire in her last two grass starts, which came last summer at Pimlico and Monmouth Park. Axel Concepcion will have to gun it from the outside, but this mare’s fast enough to get to the front and has been well-prepared for this spot by Cal Lynch.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W3X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

2-6-4-1

#2 Excellorator (2-1) wouldn’t have been out of place in Saturday’s Native Dancer Stakes, but Hugh McMahon will keep him against allowance foes for his start after the claim. This one fended off Armando R, who sat a great stalking trip, and won at this level last out. He regressed in that race to an 87, but ran in the 90s twice earlier in the Laurel season. #6 Shaft’s Bullet (5-2) lost a thrilling stretch duel to Excellorator two races back, then lost to Carter Handicap winner Doppelganger next out. Most recently, he handily won a second-level contest, running at least a 93 for the fourth straight race. He’s lightly-raced with lots of upside. #4 Galerio (3-1) races for the first time since a second-place finish in the Jennings Stakes in mid-January. He’s hit the exacta 20 times over this track in 27 starts and should pack a strong middle punch.

RACE 8: CLAIMING $25,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

12-9-6-8