• John Piassek
• October 6, 2023

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

Post time: 12:25 p.m.

Carryovers: Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $8,239
Jackpot Super High 5 — $1,184
Late Pick 5 — $13,748

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: CLAIMING $5,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

5-3-6-4

#5 Sneaky Cheeky (4-1) got engaged in the pace going two turns in her last two starts, and packed it in late. She’s taking a pretty significant cutback in distance here, and finds herself in a field where most of the other speed horses can barely last. #3 Away to Return (9-5) sat just off the pace and won going away at Timonium last out. Two starts back, she got caught late by Illusion of Hope, who finished second against better in her next start. One Las Olas, who was third in that spot, won her next race. #6 Performanceanxiety (6-1) managed to find trouble in a five-horse field last out, as she was blocked behind horses during the peak of her momentum. She has the best late pace figures in the field, and could be tough if she has clear sailing.

RACE 2: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

6-5-3-1 (DIRT: 3-12-6-7)

#6 Pavoni (7-2) ran a huge race in his first start off the layoff last out at Delaware Park. He drafted towards the back of the pack early, but gobbled up ground late and lost by a neck to Winged Foot, who went on to win his next two starts. That performance bodes well for today. #5 Hurrying Home (3-1) comes off a long layoff himself today, having made his last start on February 25 at Gulfstream Park. He joined Brittany Russell’s barn over the summer after previously racing for Bill Mott, and has worked for a while getting ready for his second career start. He ran a brisnet figure of 85 on debut, which would be good enough to win this race. #3 Harbor Moon (5-1) has run in the low/mid-70s in each of his three grass starts, and showed speed before fading first off a 7 1/2-month layoff at Presque Isle Downs in his most recent.

RACE 3: CLAIMING $5,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

5-4-10-1

After a few dull races, #5 Captain Cardo (6-1) rebounded in a big way last out, when he roared from behind and lost by a head. We’ll see if he can keep the momentum going. #4 Caribbean (9-5) has declined throughout his 9-year-old season. He was running in the mid-80s consistently earlier this year; now he’s declined to a steady run of figures in the mid-70s. However, that might still be good enough to win this race. #10 Ace Nine Nine (6-1) stopped badly against better at Timonium last out, but most of his figures from earlier in the year contend with these. He could find himself on the lead in a field without a lot of quality early speed.

RACE 4: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE (GRASS)

8-16-7-1 (DIRT: 2-4-15-14)

#8 Klayton’s Kandy (6-1) makes her first start for Kimberly Graci, who hits at 23% first off the claim. This one went gate-to-wire two starts ago at Penn National and almost held on all the way last out despite setting brutally fast early fractions. #16 Boston Princess (3-1) has run at least a 77 in three of her last four grass starts. She has great tactical speed, and will be a threat late as long as she can avoid losing too much ground. #7 Congress Hall (8-1) ran some big figures on grass earlier in the season, running a 79 at Pimlico in mid-May and an 81 when second at 38-1 on this track in early July. She hasn’t shown much in her last few starts, but she’ll be a threat if she can regain her best form.

RACE 5: CLAIMING $10,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

5-1-6-3

#5 Trepat (9-2) has won three of his last four starts, winning in gate-to-wire style at Parx last out in his second start of the season. His main pace challenge will come from #1 Grand Escape (4-1), who won at this level a few starts back. However, if Trepat can break well and get to the front over Grand Scape, that one will be tough to reel in. Adding Lasix shouldn’t hurt. #6 Notion to Tapit (8-1) has finished second three times in a row, most recently earning a runner-up spot at Delaware when he chased a gate-to-wire winner. He’s uber-consistent and should at least rally for a share.

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

7-5-6-11 (DIRT: 16-8-4-14)

This race begins the late pick 5, with a nice carryover. #7 Bandonarun (3-1) has run in the 80s in each of her two career starts. She went gate-to-wire to break her maiden in style last out, and now gets her class test. #5 Awesome Jazz (6-1) is somewhat notorious around these parts for having no early speed whatsover. She closed well last out at this level to lose by just a length, but her extreme closing style makes her a better choice for the exotics than for a win spot. #6 Lightress (5-2) led most of the way going two turns against better first-level foes last out, and now makes her first start going shorter than a mile. She’ll try to apply early pressure to Bandonarun.

RACE 7: STARTER ALLOWANCE $5,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

7-6-5-2

If you like #7 Grand Wiser (6-1), you’ll at least get a better price on him than you’ve been getting in any of his recent starts. He’s been odds-on in his last four races at Penn National and has been sharp, winning two of them by open lengths while running no worse than an 84 in any of those spots. He looks primed to stalk and pounce his way to victory. #6 Nottoway (7-2) stopped badly after a wide trip at Delaware last out, but won his prior to starts with figures of 87 and 90. A more ground-saving journey could mean a return to his best form. #5 Mocephus (4-1) won by the length of the stretch twice at Pimlico after racing on or near the pace, and will get his class test today.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

1-7-6-3 (DIRT: 7-1-5-4)

It looks as if Mike Trombetta holds all the cards in this one; I’ve got his two entrants picked on top. #1 Naval Empire (5-2) bounced back nicely last out and closed gamely for second in the Nellie Mae Cox Stakes at Colonial Downs. She narrowly missed behind a slow early tempo, and will likely get a more honest pace to run into. One of those prospective pace-setters is her stablemate, #7 Lifelovenlaughter (7-2). She led most of the way in the Searching Stakes last out, but ended up tiring late and finished fourth. There’s some others in here with speed, including potential favorite Money’s Worth, but she’s shown the ability to last after racing near the pace. #6 Circle Home (6-1) stretched out around two turns for the second time last out, and improved sharply, rallying well off an honest pace to get third. She’s a consistent, grinding sort who should at least get along for a slice.