• John Piassek
• July 29, 2023

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

Post time: 12:10 p.m.

Carryovers: Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $3,962 Jackpot Super High 5 — $0 Late Pick 5 — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

6-10-4-5

We’re on the grass to begin a loaded day of stakes action. #6 Brilliant Chase (9-2) made his first start on grass in a while last out, and it was a promising performance. He came from well off the pace and gobbled up ground late to lose in a blanket finish. He should turn in another big effort for the potent Jamie Ness barn. #10 Sir Terre (7-2) has run back-to-back brisnet figures in the 80s in his last two starts. He almost tracked down #4 Gunslinger (6-1) two races ago and just missed, then faded after a wide trip against better next out. He runs the risk of another overland journey with his post, but he nonetheless projects to post a powerful punch. Gunslinger has gone gate-to-wire five times in his last seven starts, and lasted through pace pressure last out before he was run down by Briliant Chase (among others). He looks like he’ll find himself lonesome on the lead in this one.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $16,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

4-3-6-1

#4 Shackinthebox (9-2) was re-claimed out of his last start by Damon Dilodovico, who gave him some time off following that April 15 effort. Take out a dull race in the mud at Parx three starts back, and he consistently runs in the 80s with good tactical speed. Dilodovico has had a strong summer meet so far and is a respectable 17% first off the layoff. #3 Street Hustle (9-5) was thrown out of his element last out by a bad break, but recovered nicely and finished second behind the dominant B West. With a better start, this one should improve. He crushed the field two races ago when he sat close to the early tempo. #6 Island d’Lite (10-1) cruised on the lead last out for the Anthony Farrior/Arnaldo Bocachica combo. He got away with soft fractions that day, but did run a solid 79 in victory three starts back when he had to close and battle late.

RACE 3: CLAIMING $10,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

5-4-1-6

#5 Uncaptured Storm (9-5), another Farrior/Bocachica combatant, may well have won at Charles Town last out if he wasn’t blocked on the final turn. He returns to a track on which he’s hit the exacta five times from seven starts, and on which he ran in the 80s a few times over the winter. #4 Hop and Scotch (6-1) sat the trip and won under a drive going a one-turn mile two starts ago. His form has been consistently solid since joining the Richard Sillaman barn earlier this year, with figures in the low/mid-70s in each of his last three outings. #1 Salty Heir (6-1) held third at Delaware Park last out despite a wide trip and has decent late pace figures.

RACE 4: MISS DISCO STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, MD-BRED/SIRED, 7 FURLONGS

3-4-6-1

The first of five stakes contests on the day is named for the dam of Bold Ruler. #3 Precious Avary (6-1) is the only non-Maryland-bred in the race, but gets in by virtue of being sired by Country Life Farm’s Divining Rod. She’s won three in a row at Monmouth Park, showing lots of heart to win her most recent dirt sprint start going away. Last out, she fought on and won the Jersey Girl Handicap going long on the grass. She’s cutting back around one turn and getting back on her preferred surface, and looks ready to run another big race. The reigning Maryland-bred champion 2-year-old filly, #4 Malibu Moonshine (8-5), makes her return to the races after a nearly six-month layoff. She won back-to-back stakes races on this track last December, doing so with strong late rallies. She’s been working well at Belmont Park for Charlie Baker, but might need a race first off the bench. #6 Liquidator (10-1) is already a six-time winner at Laurel Park and fought hard after a wide trip to defeat Happy Clouds last out. She should be a factor on the early pace, but might get parked wide by some speed drawn to her inside.

RACE 5: STAR DE NASKRA STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS, MD-BRED/SIRED, 7 FURLONGS

4-2-6-3

This race is named for the 1979 Maryland-bred Horse of the Year and Maryland Thoroughbred Hall of Fame member. It’s a loaded contest, with just about every one of the nine entrants standing at least a puncher’s chance. #4 It’s Viper (6-1) ran two huge races at Pimlico earlier this year, coming from well off dawdling paces to win going away. He didn’t do much in the Tale of the Cat Stakes last out at Monmouth, but it was a four-horse off-the-grass field, and he may have been a bit out of his element. Now, he’s racing in a spot he was specifically aimed for, and while seven furlongs might be a bit too short for him, he’ll be ready to, if nothing else, fire his best shot. #2 Super Accelerate (8-1) and #6 Freeze the Fire (3-1) exit the same Maryland-bred allowance race on July 1. Freeze the Fire improved off of a big debut, running a 93, but was outkicked by Super Accelerate, who broke through in a big way. He rated off the pace and exploded in the last eighth, with far and away a career-best 96. He should get another honest pace to run into.

RACE 6: CLAIMING $25,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/8 MILES (GRASS)

11-12-8-10

We’ve got a wide-open field to begin the late pick 5. #11 Reconvene (4-1) closed well in the last eighth at Penn National two starts ago, losing in a blanket finish with a solid 83. He was no factor against classier rivals at Colonial Downs last out, but now drops back to easier rivals and should be heard from late. #12 Mr. Shades of Gray (5-2) will certainly take money, being a Graham Motion trainee, but he’s certainly a contender. He ran a solid third two starts ago at Monmouth despite checking in the last sixteenth, and would’ve won if the race was about five feet further. He didn’t want to load last out at Delaware and subsequently turned in a dull race, but if his mind’s on running today, he should be able to handle these. #8 Bonded (7-2) ran a respectable 80 against better first time on grass last out, and has some early foot in a race without a ton of it.

RACE 7: DEPUTED TESTAMONY STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/8 MILES

3-1-7-2

The 1983 Preakness Stakes champion is honored here. #3 Nimitz Class (7-5) made the leap into graded stakes company last out in the Salvator Mile, and while he didn’t win, he certainly didn’t embarrass himself. He raced wide on the pace, but outkicked his fellow pace-setters and pulled clear late. He was run down late, but held second in a strong performance. There’s a longer run to the first turn here, and he’s drawn further to the inside than he was last out, so he should run an even bigger race this time. #1 Be Better (7-2) has won two in a row against upper-level allowance company in impressive style. He defeated some of the top allowance horses in the area last out, winning by more than five lengths with a career-best 98. He’s always shown hints of promise, but it looks like it’s all come together since joining the Brittany Russell barn earlier this year. Last year’s Deputed Testamony winner, #7 Ridin With Biden (9-2), faded after setting the pace in the Battery Park Stakes last out and will try to shake off that effort here. He should be able to get to the front despite his wide draw.

RACE 8: ALMA NORTH STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 1/2 FURLONGS

7-2-4-8

Fillies and mares will pay homage to the 1971 Maryland-bred Horse of the Year in this dash. If the pace is fast, it would set up nicely for #7 Dreamster (10-1), shipping up from Florida for Mary Lightner. She stalked the pace and won going away at Gulfstream Park last out, running a career-best 85. While her best is a few points below those of the other contenders, she’s lightly-raced, in improving form, and will get the right setup. #2 Beguine (2-1) looks like the most dangerous of the early speed horses. While she backed up badly in the Bed O’Roses Stakes last out after dueling, she’s lasted through pace pressure before, has run figures in the upper-90s, and will be able to protect rail position. #4 Gunning (3-1) has worked well since a dull race in the Skipat Stakes. She ran some figures in the 90s earlier this year at Oaklawn Park and will try to rebound to her peak form.