• John Piassek
• October 5, 2023

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

Post time: 12:25 p.m.

Carryovers: Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $7,170
Jackpot Super High 5 — $1,013
Late Pick 5 — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

8-1-4-3

I hope you like 2-year-old races. Today’s card features four of them, including this one. #8 Our Legal Tender (7-2) got going in the last eighth on debut after showing little early speed, rallying after two dueling leaders to lose by less than a length. He’ll switch to dirt and stretch out from five furlongs second time out. #1 Inveigled (4-1) also chased a pace that did not collapse in his first start, and ran on well to finish a clear-cut third. He’ll add blinkers today. #4 Trailing Monster (3-1) finished fifth on debut at Churchill Downs in an extraordinarily strong maiden race. The second, third, and fourth-place finishers all came back to win next out, while the winner, Wilson Q, finished second in the Bashford Manor Stakes in his next outing. This one hasn’t raced since that May 18 outing, but is at least facing (assumedly) easier rivals.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $16,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

9-6-2-14

In a race largely devoid of early speed, #9 Pickin Sea Glass (3-1) has been close to the pace against better in his recent starts. He went gate-to-wire to break his maiden on this track last July, and almost wired a Maryland-bred allowance field in the start afterward. With a clean beginning, he could hind himself with a major pace advantage. #6 Jackson Road (5-2) drops from the $40,000 n/w2L level, where he chased the pace and flattened out. He’s lightly-raced compared to the rest of these, having raced just nine times, and should stay around for longer against these. After two tough near-misses, #2 Bubba Chrome (12-1) broke through to win at 14th asking last out. He ran a brisnet figure of 77 that day, his second straight race with a noticeably improved figure. Believers in the lightbulb angle have to respect him.

RACE 3: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

8-2-9-6

No one in here has shown much ability, so I’ll take a shot with one of the first-time starters. #8 Sunny Sunshine (8-1) re-entered the worktab in early August, and has put in some solid drills since then for John Salzman Jr, who is adept with 2-year-olds going short distances. If she can run a figure in the low/mid-60s at first asking, she’ll likely win this. Her stablemate, #2 True Sunshine (2-1), may be the one to beat. She ran a 69 in her first start at Timonium, higher than anyone else in the field has ever run in their lives by a good margin. She chased a gate-to-wire winner that day and was beaten on the wire for third. #9 Sun Streaming (5-2) has shown more early speed with every start, and could be poised for a major breakthrough.

RACE 4: CLAIMING $16,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

2-12-9-8

#2 New Rome (3-1) is a perfect 1-for-1 on grass. She was pressed on the pace and drew off to break her maiden two races ago, hanging on despite tiring late. She looks like the fastest one early here, and will try to avoid too much pace pressure. #12 Sassy Annie (8-1) also broke her maiden in front-running fashion in her most recent start on the lawn, albeit with a figure six points lower than that of New Rome. The second, third, fourth, and fifth-place finishers that day have all won a race since. Fourth time’s the charm for #9 Devil Pays in Gold (8-1), as she’s set to make her grass debut following three washed-off tries. Last out, she pressed the pace all the way and held gamely for second. I’m interested to see how she handles the surface switch.

RACE 5: CLAIMING $16,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 7 FURLONGS

5-7-4-9

#5 Lovely Liza (5-2) showed little first off the brief layoff at Timonium last out, but has run three consecutive lifetime-tops in her prior races, including an impressive 86 in her maiden-breaking score two races ago. She’s racing first off the claim by Anthony Farrior. #7 Spencerian (3-1), recently claimed out of the Farrior barn by Hugh McMahon, was flat against better last out, but ran in the upper-70s in back-to-back starts earlier this year. She’ll do her best running late. #4 Looking for Water (5-1) broke her maiden going away at a one-turn mile two starts ago, and should enjoy the return to the big track following a dull race at Timonium.

RACE 6: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

10-2-5-3

#10 Enzo (3-1) has some famous siblings. He’s the half-brother to last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint champion, Caravel, and the full brother to possible Maryland Million Turf Sprint favorite Witty. Two of his other siblings are also grass winners. He’s facing a pretty inexperienced field, and should be ready to rumble against these. #2 Beltane (6-1) battled all the way with Shine On Moon last out at Pimlico, and lost a brutally close photo by a nose. He’s shown a lot of heart in his last two starts, with figures in the mid-70s both times, but might have to call on a bit more if Enzo runs as well as many expect. #5 Suga Steve (6-1) makes his local debut for Jose Corrales, and showed speed and held in until late in his last two grass starts at Ellis Park.

RACE 7: CLAIMING $25,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

1-6-9-5

#1 North Highland (10-1) has run in the mid-80s in two of his last three starts, with his only dull race coming on the Timonium bullring. He sat a great trip and drew off to beat n/w2L foes last out at Pimlico, and will hope for a similarly great stalking trip on the rail. #6 Sumo (7-2) made a strong come-from-behind move first off a 5 1/2-month layoff at Colonial Downs last out, and lost in a photo finish while almost eight lengths clear of third. He’s flashed some serious ability earlier in his career; we’ll see if he can put it together here. #9 Pudge Boy Palace (3-1) stopped badly going two turns last out, but should be much more in his element going six furlongs. He’s run in the mid-80s in his last two starts at this distance, and should set the early pace.

RACE 8: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

2-4-1-5

The lone route race of the day attracted a nice field of local grass veterans. One of them, #2 You Must Chill (2-1), is coming off a stakes win in the Lebanon Valley Stakes at Penn National, where he rated off the pace and obliged as the 1-5 favorite. He’s run at least an 88 in each of his last six starts; no one else has run that high in each of their last two races. He should take advantage of an ideal trip near the pace. 10-year-old veteran #4 Rough Sea (9-5), closing in on $500,000 in career earnings, was a perfect 3-for-3 against similar on the Monmouth Park lawn this year. He’s overcome slow paces and long distances to win with big figures in his last few starts, and even if You Must Chill has too much class for him, he should be able to round out the exacta. #1 Graded On a Curve (4-1) overcame a wide trip to win going away at Monmouth last out, and is uber-consistent on grass, with a steady supply of figures in the mid-80s.