• John Piassek
• November 24, 2023

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

Post time: 12:25 p.m.

Carryovers: 
Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $0
Jackpot Super High 5 — $0
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

3-7-2-4

#3 Bondiva (9-2) broke her maiden in gate-to-wire style two starts back, then led most of the way going seven furlongs against better last out before tiring in the last eighth. The cutback in distance should help her. #7 Free to Ram (5-1) also drops in class here, after facing first-level company at Monmouth Park and in New York in her last few races. She was wide on a contested pace and flattened out in her last start, but still ran a relatively solid brisnet figure of 73, and will try to save more ground here. #2 Home Port (7-5) ran a very solid 80 second off a ten-week layoff last out at Keeneland, and now makes her first local start for Philip Thommen. She’s in with a shot, but if the morning line is accurate, she’ll be overbet.

RACE 2: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

8-6-2-1A

#8 Spicy Margarita (7-5) has vastly superior speed and early pace figures to the rest of these, and should make it to the front despite her outside draw. She battled on the lead and dispatched her dueling partner, only to lose to an odds-on choice who sat a great trip. The aforementioned dueling partner, #6 Golden Can (9-2), is also in action here. She’s chased the pace and held on for a share in her last few starts, and is a fine bet to round out the exacta should Spicy Margarita run them off their feet. #2 Speak Your Mind (15-1) has run only one bad race in her last few starts, which came two races ago when she had an awkward break and lost forward position. She should be on or near the pace from the rail.

RACE 3: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $30,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

8-3-1-4

#8 Mose Perfect (10-1) ran a dull race first off an 8 1/2-month layoff against better last out, fading after stalking the pace. Over the winter, however, he was in tremendous form, winning three races in a row with peak figures in the low-90s. He’s worked well since his last start and is poised to take a step forward second time out. If he wins, he’ll have to run down #3 Bob Marco (9-5), who has won his last two starts in gate-to-wire style. Last out at six furlongs, which may have been shorter than he’d like, he was pressed on the pace, but shook off the pressure and won as the odds-on choice. He’s better suited to one-mile races, where he’ll be able to get his usual long, loose lead and try to hang on for as long as he can. #1 Shady Munni (7-2) chased Bob Marco two starts back and secured second, and followed up that race with another runner-up performance. He should ger first crack at Bob Marco should that rival tire.

RACE 4: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 7 FURLONGS

5-3-4-1

#5 Continentalcongres (7-2) blew the doors off a nice first-level field at Colonial Downs over the summer, running by far a career-best 101, and has faced better second-level rivals in her last two starts, while running big figures. She’s had back-to-back bullet workouts coming into this race, and has good tactical speed that will come in handy should the main pacesetter, Poggibonsi, flatten out. #3 Golden Tabby (5-1) has run exactly a 90 three times in her last four starts, and makes her first start since a professional win at Delaware Park over five furlongs in late September. The Jamie Ness/Jaime Rodriguez combo is always menacing. #4 Mavilus (7-2) made decent ground late to grab fourth in the Maryland Million Distaff last out, and consistently shows a strong late punch.

RACE 5: CLAIMING $10,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE

4-6-3-8

#4 Cocktail Dreaming (6-5) won going away at this level in each of her last two starts. While those wins were in sprints, and this is a one-turn mile, it’s not like she would’ve been in serious danger of losing those races if they were an extra furlong longer. #6 Joya del Sur (2-1) finished second to Cocktail Dreaming last out, improving sharply second off the claim by Brittany Russell. Her dirt form is in-and-out, but her peak race contends with the favorite. #3 Please Marry Me (8-1) is the main early speed threat, and ran a strong second in her last dirt start, which was her first race off an 8 1/2-month layoff. She’s had several tries on grass since then, with mixed results.

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

5-10-13-15

#5 Medagooch (8-1) ran a solid race on debut, making a move towards the leaders and flattening out. He’ll try to build on his first-out figure of 73. #10 One Way Traffic (8-1) exits the same race, which was also his first start. He raced wide on the pace and tired, and is likely to try to work out the same trip from his post towards the outside. #13 Dalinar (10-1) ran into the very impressive Copper Tax at first asking, then ran a gutsy race on the lead last out and lost by a length as the odds-on choice. He also looks like he’ll be a major factor on the early lead.

RACE 7: POLITELY STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, MD-BRED/SIRED, 6 FURLONGS

2-1-3-4

The first stakes race of the day is named for the two-time Maryland-bred Horse of the Year. All eyes are on #2 Intrepid Daydream (3-5), who scratched out of the Thirty Eight Go Go Stakes two starts back to focus on this race. She’s won three in a row by open lengths, beating a very nice field in the Maryland Million Distaff last out. Her usual race will bury this field without much drama. #1 Response Time (2-1) was second in the Distaff two starts back, and looks for a rebound off a dull race in open allowance company last out. She won the Timonium Distaff after a nice stalking trip earlier this year, and is almost certain to be on or near the pace today. #3 Utterly Enchanting (15-1) raced wide throughout in the Maryland Million Distaff Starter Handicap, but held second behind only the strong-closing longshot Bad Temper. This one has decent late speed, and while her best race isn’t good enough to contend with Intrepid Daydream or Response Time, she should be able to rally for a minor share.

RACE 8: HOWARD AND SONDRA BENDER MEMORIAL STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, MD-BRED/SIRED, 7 FURLONGS

1-2-9-6

This race honors the three-time Maryland Breeders of the Year. #1 Seven’s Eleven (4-1), like Response Time, is in search of redemption. He blew the doors off the field in the Maryland Million Sprint two starts back, running a career-top of 101. He made a promising move to the lead last out, but was outkicked and finished third. Runner-up Monday Morning Qb came back to win a second-level race yesterday. He has a lot of early foot in a race without a ton of speed, so he should have every chance to run away from them in the stretch. #2 Double Crown (7-2) drops in class off an ambitious try in the Forty Niner Stakes last out, but had run well in stakes company around here in his prior starts, including a victory in the Polynesian Stakes three starts back. Seven furlongs might be shorter than he’d like, but he’s run well on this track as of late and should be at home against these types. #9 Super Accelerate (3-1) couldn’t kick by North Highland first off a brief layoff last out and ended up second, but won three in a row on this track earlier this year, including the Star de Naskra Stakes on this track in late July.