• John Piassek
• August 13, 2023

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

Post time: 12:25 p.m.

Carryovers: Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $2,625 Jackpot Super High 5 — $2,381 Late Pick 5 — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

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

6-7-11-4

#6 Clouds of White (2-1) shipped to Monmouth Park for her second start off the layoff and first race against winners. Favored Explosive Exchange quickly opened up a long lead and left them reeling, but Clouds of White outkicked the rest and secured second. After showing little as a 2-year-old in 2021, she’s taken big steps forward in her two starts this year and should be ready to stalk and pounce. #7 Gatita Suave (5-2) has run similar races in her recent tries at this level, often stalking the pace and not having quite enough left late. Take out Clouds of White, and her figures are superior to those of the others, so she should chase that rival home and secure the exacta. #11 Meliponini Bee (4-1) was no match against allowance foes at Colonial Downs last out and now drops in class. She has a steady, grinding style that rarely gets her in the winner’s circle, but she should at least get up for an exotics share.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $10,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

3-5-6-7

#3 Luv Ya Bye Bye (3-1) started his Laurel season with back-to-back impressive wins, but stopped badly when stepped up in class next out. He’s dropping back to more familiar territory here, and should be able to make the front without much trouble under new jockey Axel Concepcion. It took a while for #5 Rascally Rebel (9-2) to break through against winners, but he did so last out with a frantic late rally. He’s stepped up his brisnet figures in his last two starts after a bit of a mid-season lull and should be heard from late. #6 Political Decision (8-1) chased slow fractions last out and managed to secure third. He’ll look to stalk the pace again and take advantage if Luv Ya Bye Bye tires.

RACE 3: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/8 MILES (GRASS)

10-8-2-5

If #10 Eidikos (5-2) wins this one, it’ll certainly boost the stock of Naval Empire in the Searching Stakes. Naval Empire blew this one away last out at this level. However, Eidikos managed to secure third. This one has been facing better first-level company for a while and has consistent mid-80s figures that contend with these. #8 Youens (12-1) might have too little early speed to seriously contend with these, but she’s closed well against these types on recent occasions. She’ll draft towards the back early on and hope for a fast pace. #2 Downtown Katie (5-1) is the only one in the race who has run at least an 85 in her last four starts, but she’s failed to take advantage of good setps in her last few.

RACE 4: CLAIMING $40,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

4-3-2-6

#4 Roan Burgundy (3-1) looked promising when he broke his maiden impressively on debut at Pimlico last September, but hasn’t been able to find that form since then. He fought hard on the lead and faded on grass last out, and was claimed out of that race by Jamie Ness. That performance could be a harbinger of better things. #3 Take Charge Too (5-2) couldn’t get to the lead against better last out and was no factor. Usually, he goes to the front and tries to go as fast as he can, as far as he can. The drop in class and the race underneath him should help, especially since he looks like the main speed. #2 Supreme Law (7-5) ran some figures in the 90s over the winter, but was flat on grass in his comeback race at Colonial last out. He now gets back to his preferred surface, and that race may have been designed as simply a screw-tightener. Still, you’ll have to take a low price if you believe.

RACE 5: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/2 MILES (GRASS)

5-10-1-3

#5 The Jackal (4-1) was by far the most well-backed of the three first-timers in his debut race, going off as the 7-2 second choice. However, he dawdled early behind a freewheeling leader who set modest fractions, and though he rallied gamely, he ultimately proved no match. It was a good race to build on, and the extra distance should benefit this Shug McGaughey trainee. #10 St. John’s (7-2) makes his first start for Hall of Fame steeplechase trainer Jack Fisher. He was a strong-closing third going a mile at Ellis Park in his grass debut, and it looks like Fisher is seeing how he can do at longer distances with sights set on a jump career. If he improves further off the 78 he ran first out, he’ll be very tough. #1 Sports Editor (6-1) probably wasn’t going to win his last start at Delaware Park, but it didn’t help that he ducked in the chute gap in the stretch run. He showed a new dimension that day, as opposed to his race two starts ag, where he came from off the pace and was disqualified for interference.

RACE 6: SEARCHING STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

8-11-9-10

Today’s first stakes race is named for the great Phipps-bred mare of the 1950s. #8 Speirling Baeg (5-2) takes a drop in class in her second American start, having most recently run in the Belmont Oaks. She got stuck behind a typically slow New York pace, but still held her own in the last eighth and lost by less than three lengths. She should enjoy the class relief third off the layoff, but does run the risk of getting stuck behind mild fractions. Between the two Mike Trombetta-trained Maryland-breds, I give the edge to #11 Naval Empire (10-1), who kicked away impressively to beat a first-level field last out. While she got a pace to run into that day, so did the rest of her rivals, and she beat them by four lengths with a career-best 87. She has to be respected at a price. The other Motion, #9 No Show Sammy Jo (8-1), kicked away nicely to break her maidens second time out at Belmont Park and has loads of upside.

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

3-4-5-6

If there was a Maryland Million Classic future book, #3 All Threes (7-5) would surely be drawing plenty of action. His last four figures at a mile or longer have been in the 90s. He led most of the way last out, but was run down by Iywaan, a three-time winner on the year. There’s no one in here on Iywaan’s level, so All Threes should be able to happily cruise on the lead. Hard-knocking #4 Double Crown (2-1) closed well for third behind All Threes last out, for his fifth figure in the 90s in his last six dirt starts. Even if All Threes sneaks away on the lead, this one has rounded back into his best form and should pull clear of the others. He’s another prime Maryland Million Classic candidate. #5 Armando R (7-2) is known for his dramatic late rallies, and while his closing kick always has to be respected, he may not get the pace he needs.

RACE 8: BALD EAGLE DERBY, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 1 3/16 MILES (GRASS)

3-6-8-7

The two-time Washington D.C. International champ is honored with this race. #3 Ari Gold (5-2) won the Pulpit Stakes in gate-to-wire style last December at Gulfstream and looked like a future contender for the Belmont Derby and/or Saratoga Derby. However, he went to the sidelines in January and didn’t make his 3-year-old debut until Saratoga. He was forced into running against older rivals, and showed little. He’s dropping in against fellow 3-year-olds in a race where he looks like the main speed. #6 Circling the Drain (6-1) showed some promise on grass when third in the James Murphy Stakes two back behind Secretariat Stakes runner-up Nagirroc. Last out, he handled a field of Maryland-breds with powerful ease, closing from off a slow pace to win easily. He looks like he has a high ceiling for Brittany Russell. #8 English Painter (8-1) has been getting better with every start, peaking at an 85 in his last grass effort, and has great late pace figures.

RACE 9: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

5-2-4-7