• John Piassek
• October 13, 2023

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

Post time: 12:25 p.m.

Carryovers: Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $2,930
Jackpot Super High 5 — $1,547
Late Pick 5 — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: CLAIMING $8,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE

7-8-4-9

We’ve got ten more chances to boost the Jim McKay Maryland Million day bankroll before tomorrow. #7 Car Lady (8-1) has a powerful closing kick that should suit the one-turn mile well. This Penn National shipper has closed from well out of it to hit the board in her last three dirt starts. The horse who beat her last out, Bonita Lassie, saved more ground, and came back to win again. #8 Cartwheel (4-1) is a three-time winner at this distance, so we know she’ll appreciate stretching back out from six furlongs. She ran out of time last out at Delaware Park, but was coming on strong at the end. #4 Thunder Buggy (2-1) showed blazing early speed in Florida earlier this year, but has stopped badly in two of her last three starts, and has been freshened since her last start on July 14. At her best, there’s no one who can run with her early, so she’ll go straight to the front and try to leave them reeling.

RACE 2: MAIDEN CLAIMING $30,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE (GRASS)

10-7-13-11

#10 Haint Blue (2-1), one of two Haint Blues entered this weekend (the American-bred version is in Sunday’s 4th race), raced wide at Colonial Downs last out, but stayed in contention until late. She’s dropping further from the $40,000 level and gets the hot-riding Forest Boyce aboard. #7 Nami (3-1) has run brisnet figure tops in her last two starts, both times sweeping to the front and taking the lead, but unable to finish the job. She faded going 1 1/16 miles in both of those starts, so it’s possible the shorter distance will help her out. #13 Graceful Union (8-5) finished fourth in her grass debut in what proved to be a very productive race. Four horses out of that race have returned to win.

RACE 3: MAIDEN CLAIMING $45,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/16 MILES

4-1-3-6

The only way #4 Brysons Opinion (8-5) can lose this one is if he takes a big step backwards or someone takes a big step forwards. He ran a strong 81 when second on debut at Parx, and although he was visually unimpressive in the mud last out, he still ran a 71, far better than anyone else in here has ever run. He’s a half-brother to five winners (including Jaxon Traveler), two of whom have won around two turns. His dam, Listen Boy, broke her maiden going long and was stakes-placed at a mile. #1 Dr Schuster (7-2) held third at Monmouth Park last out despite racing wide much of the way. He should show speed from the inside, in a race where none of the other experienced ones have proven early foot. #3 Glass of Courage (9-2) goes first out for Phil Capuano, who does well with debuters, and is a half-brother to six winners.

RACE 4: CLAIMING $25,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

1-2-4-9

#1 Covert Kat (2-1) won twice in a row on grass over the summer, then ran a big race on the lead at Aqueduct last out. He set fast fractions and burned the other two horses on the lead up. However, he held in there gamely and managed to secure third, just missing his career-top figure with an 81. He should be able to get away with easier fractions here. #2 Gliding Afleet (4-1) drops in class after faltering versus better in his last two starts. He beat similar at Parx a few starts back with a nice stalking trip, and will try to work out the same setup here. #4 K P All Systems Go (8-1) has rounded into his best form since coming making his season debut in late May. He closed well for fourth last out at Colonial, a marked improvement from his first two starts of the year, where he did not have much of a late kick.

RACE 5: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $30,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/8 MILES

1-8-7-4

#1 Berks (3-1) is my preferred half of the Jamie Ness-trained entry. He had a four-race winning streak snapped last out at Delaware, when he was pressed on the pace against better and faded. The winner of that race, No Sabe Nada, recently won the New Castle at that track. This one has had some time off since that Aug. 3 race, and has two bullet workouts under his belt, suggesting he’s back to his best self. That’s a scary proposition for the rest of the field. 10-year-old veteran #8 Rough Sea (5-2) was scratched out of a grass spot last Friday, and now resurfaces here. While he won three in a row on the lawn at Monmouth over the summer, he’s also run some nice races on this surface, with plenty of figures in the 90s in his lines. He’ll take full advantage if Berks isn’t back to his best self. #7 Ampersand (12-1) won going away first off the layoff last out. He’s stretching out from six furlongs here, but did win going two turns at Saratoga last July, running a solid 85 in doing so.

RACE 6: MAIDEN CLAIMING $30,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, 1 MILE (GRASS)

6-14-10-1

#6 Bold Hoppertunity (9-2) led most of the way on debut, but managed to hold on to a dead heat for second at 37-1. The winner, Hay Chief, returned to finish second on dirt in his next start. This one should once again be used aggressively by Xavier Perez, and if he can outrun High Stakes into the first turn, he should be able to get a similar trip as last time. #14 Longworth (9-2) has taken big steps forward in his last two starts, running an 83 last out despite a wide trip. #10 World Factor (4-1) also improved sharply last out in a near-miss performance at Colonial. He has the best last-out figure among anyone in the main body of the race by six points.

RACE 7: MAIDEN CLAIMING $45,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 6 FURLONGS

5-9-11-12

#5 Smart With Heart (8-1) ran the best of the first-timers on debut at Delaware last out. She battled on the lead and disposed of the other first-time front-runner, but couldn’t hold off one of her rivals with experience and settled for third. Still, it was a productive performance, and now she’s the one with experience. #9 Feelin So Lucky (20-1) closed strongly and just missed at Timonium on debut, and now looks for a rebound after an even effort at Pimlico last out. #11 Binnie (9-5) is a half-sister to four winners, including two-time Maryland Million champion Crabcakes, and has been working well for Brittany Russell in anticipation of her debut.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

2-8-1-5

#2 Afandi (3-1) drew off to easily beat a first-level field two starts back, then narrowly missed behind Hollywood Walk and Chambeau, who went on to finish third and first, respectively, in the Camptown Stakes next out. #8 La Traviesa (5-1) closed professionally and chased down loose leader Fast Lani to win her grass debut last out. Jeiron Barbosa, off to a strong start at the meet, gets the call for the first time. #1 Whiteknuckleflyer (6-1) has a steady running style that often gets her checks and makes her a good play for underneath spots. She was most recently a solid second behind Chambeau in a second-level sprint at Colonial.