• John Piassek
• July 2, 2023

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

Post time: 12:25 p.m.

Carryovers: Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $13,984 Jackpot Super High 5 — $11,237 Late Pick 5 — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

1-6-3-8

It’s a risk taking a low price on a horse who’s let you down at short odds before, but #1 Thunder Boss (9-5) HAS to win this race, no? She’s run brisnet figures of 79 and 67 in her last two starts. No one else has run better than a 66 within their last five starts, and Thunder Boss has passed that mark four times in that stretch. Her problem is, she’s 0-for-13 with six runner-up finishes, and lost her last two races at 11-10 and even money, respectively. A serious challenge may arise if #6 Zolatone (3-1) takes to dirt. She was well-bet on debut on grass, but raced wide throughout and faded. She’s taking a drop in class from the $45,000 level for Brittany Russell, and while she’d have to improve off that race to contend here, she looks capable of doing so. #3 Good Story (4-1) closed for second behind an even money gate-to-wire winner last out. This one consistently runs in the low/mid-60s and should close for a share.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $40,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

3-7-6-9 (DIRT: 7-1-2-5)

This is the first of four grass sprints on today’s card. #3 Clouds of White (6-1) made her first start off a year and a half layoff last out, and sat a great trip off the pace to win with a career-best 78. She’s worked well since that race and could get a good pace to chase once again. #7 Golden Heart (9-2) is also coming off a maiden-breaking win, having done so in her 2023 debut behind a favored longtime clear leader. She showed little on dirt last year, but looks to have turned a corner with the surface switch. #6 Angel Art (5-1) drops from the Maryland-bred allowance level and cuts back around one turn. She has abundant early speed but may have to deal with pace pressure from her inside.

RACE 3: CLAIMING $10,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

6-1-2-4

I’m willing to toss the last race of #6 Irish Warlock (15-1). He was hard to handle early on and made a sudden, wide move to the lead in a 1 1/16-mile race. Unsurprisingly, he backed up badly and was eased late. Take out that line, and he’s lightly-raced with no figures worse than 62 in his first three starts. At his likely price, he’s worth a bet. #1 Luv Ya Bye Bye (3-1) completed the wire job to break his maiden at 12th asking last out. It looks like it’ll be nearly impossible to run with him early, so this one is just a matter of how long he can last. #2 Here and Nofurther (9-2) closed well to hit the board against better n/2L types in his last two starts, with figures in the upper-60s both times. He has solid late speed and should rally for a share.

RACE 4: MAIDEN CLAIMING $20,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE (GRASS)

5-8-12-13 (DIRT: 12-5-13-8)

#5 Imaginetheodds (6-1) makes her grass debut for Katy Voss in a fairly easy spot. This one improved sharply fifth time out to a 72, after showing little in four sprint starts. A mile looks like more of her forte. Her dam, Taketheodds, is a stakes-winning daughter of Belterra, who has produced four winners, though only one on grass. #8 Sullivan Street (5-2) fought on and just missed first off a long layoff last out at Delaware Park as the odds-on choice. She’s run very competitive figures and should get a great trip, but she might not have enough late punch to get by. #12 Bring the Magic (4-1) takes a big drop in class and has ascending figures on grass. She most recently ran on late despite some trouble against better at Delaware.

RACE 5: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING $62,500 (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 6 FURLONGS

6-2-4-3

#6 Happy Clouds (7-5) and #2 Liquidator (2-1) dueled with each other in an exciting stretch battle last out. Ultimately, Liquidator got the nod while racing towards the rail the whole way, while Happy Clouds was towards the outside. Happy Clouds’s figures are a tough higher than those of Liquidator’s, as that race represented a backslide for her, while a low-80s type of race is more common for Liquidator. #4 Our Liberty Belle (5-1) has won two in a row in her first two dirt starts and is in improving form, though she’ll have to improve a few points more to topple the aforementioned pair.

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

3-8-10-6 (DIRT: 11-3-4-6)

#3 Summer Odds (4-1) ran a grass-career-best 84 in her most recent start on this surface, closing well behind a loose leader who got away with a modest opening quarter. This one should run better with a fast pace. #8 Brushing (5-1) improved nicely second off the layoff in a game effort at Parx and should close well. #10 Pounding Music (8-1), last year’s Maryland Million Turf Distaff Starter Handicap winner, makes her season debut here. She ran in the low 80s several times last year, and though she’s probably using this race as a prep for longer races down the road, event a slightly subpar showing makes her an exotics threat.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

7-1-5-6

#7 Johnyz From Albany (7-5) would’ve fit in in yesterday’s Concern Stakes, but his people have decided to stick with allowance horses for now, perhaps as a prep for the Star de Naskra Stakes in a few weeks. Last year’s Maryland Million Nursery champion ran a game second in his 3-year-old debut on Black-Eyed Susan day, then tried grass next out and lost by less than a length despite a consistently wide trip. He’s returning to his preferred surface here and should be tough against these. #1 Rebellious Stage (3-1) crushed the field on debut at Pimlico last out, albeit against a largely inexperienced field. He’ll have to step up a few points to beat Johnyz From Albany, but he should at least get the trip on the rail. #5 On the Mark (7-2) converted a great trip to victory at Penn National last out, running a career-best 85. He’ll need to make a well-timed move to win this one.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, MD-BRED/SIRED, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

7-4-3-5 (DIRT: 5-8-6-7)

#7 Sue Loves Barbados (4-1) may well have won at this level two starts back if he had a place to go in the stretch. When he had clear sailing two starts back at Delaware, he got up to win going away. He’s never won on this grass course, but has hit the board seven times, and should get a pace to close into. #4 B Determined (7-2) just missed last out second off the layoff when closing from well off the pace against similar. His closing kick gets him plenty of checks, but he hasn’t won in a while. Looks like a strong exotics candidate. #3 Boss Man J J (3-1) exits the same race as B Determined, in which he set the pace but faded. He’s gotten caught after showing speed in his last few starts. While there’s some speed to his outside, at least he’ll be able to control the tempo from the inside.