• John Piassek
• December 3, 2023

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

Post time: 12:25 p.m.

Carryovers: Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $1,624

Jackpot Super High 5 — $3,711

Late Pick 5 — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: MAIDEN CLAIMING $30,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 7 FURLONGS

7-3-1A-8

Horses like #7 Burningupthedough (5-1) can be risky bets, but I’m willing to give him one more chance. He’s opened up long leads and faded in his last two starts, but he’s been keeping better company. He lost to War Master two starts back, who returned to win impressively at Delaware Park next out. Last out, he faded behind All the Way, who returns in today’s fifth race, while finishing ahead of next-out winner Ascendance. He’ll once again have every chance to wire them. #3 Summerstateofmind (7-2) drops from the $45,000 level, and has good tactical speed. He faded after a two-path trip last out, but should hang around for longer against these. #1A Silverbullettwenty (5-2) has a higher floor than his stablemate, having run a brisnet figure of at least 65 in each of his three starts. This one adds linkers for the first time, a move that worked his stablemate and fellow Ness homebred Speedyness when that one added them a few starts back.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $16,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 7 FURLONGS

3-5-2-4

#3 Lovely Liza (5-2) lacked running room most of the way last out at Penn National, then closed decently for third once she got clear at the top of the stretch. She’s showed a fondness for this track, having run in the 80s in her last three starts here. #5 Ginger Girl (9-5) has also done so (albeit with a lower ceiling than Lovely Liza), and goes first off the claim by Kieron Magee. She was outkicked by favored Cocktail Dreaming last out, but chased well for a solid second-place finish. #2 Shiny Slam (3-1) has faced better in her last few starts, squaring off with, among others, the likes of Liquidator and Happy Clouds in her last race. She’ll do her best running late and try to grab a slice.

RACE 3: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 1 MILE

1-9-4-2

Brittany Russell has two first-time starters in here, the only firsters in here, in fact, and there’s always boom-or-bust potential with them. I’ll take a shot with #1 Great Opportunity (2-1), who has been in Russell’s barn for a while, doesn’t have too many workouts (nine drills since early August), and is a half-brother to stakes winners Turned Aside and Ethereal Road. As long as he can run in the low/mid-70s at first asking, he’ll be in good shape. #9 Hoya (8-1) makes his first start on dirt after three low-70s figures in grass. He raced wide throughout last out, but closed well for second. Third-place Inchon returned to win on the grass here next out. #4 Always Fun (30-1) closed well in his debut on grass last out, losing by 3 1/2 lengths at 62-1. He could make an impact late at a good price.

RACE 4: STARTER ALLOWANCE $5,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/8 MILES

1-8-2-5

#1 Ace Nine Nine (3-1) converted the trip to win at this level last out, defeating odds-on choice Paradise Pride in the process. This one is in career-best form, with his only bad starts as of late on bullring ovals at Timonium and Charles Town. #8 Up Against It (4-1) battled on the lead last out and flattened out, finishing fourth behind Ace Nine Nine. He had to battle through fast fractions that day, including an opening half-mile of 47.30, and should be able to get away with a slower tempo today. #2 What Say You (5-2) has won three straight on the lead, including a game effort at Charles Town last out where he lasted through consistent pressure.

RACE 5: CLAIMING $40,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

7-6-3-2

Note that Mister Agent ran yesterday, so he won’t go here. #7 Paco the Taco Man (9-5) rallied to get up and beat winners at Parx last out. It was a bit of a decline from his maiden win two starts back, where he an an 80, but he has a higher ceiling than most of these and good tactical speed. #6 One Way Traffic (3-1) was an impressive gate-to-wire winner last out, albeit over a rail-favoring strip, and will try to duplicate that trip today. If Burningupthedough wins race 1, it would flatter #3 All the Way (10-1), who converted the trip to beat that rival last out. He ran a game race two starts back, holding third with a career-best 73 despite a wide trip.

RACE 6: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 6 FURLONGS

8-2-1-5

#8 R B’s Big Moment (10-1) ran a much-improved race fourth out last out, running a career-best 54 after setting a clear early pace and holding second. She’s cutting back from 1 1/16 miles here, so it’s possible she wants longer, but she’s in improving form and should be a good price. #2 Determined Blue (2-1) plunges from the $5,000 level and also has early speed. She faded going a mile in her dirt debut last out, but ran better figures going shorter in grass despite pace pressure. #1 Sun Streaming (4-1) faded in her first two starts, but just missed second after chasing the pace at Delaware last out.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, MD-BRED/SIRED, 1 1/16 MILES

1A-3-8-4

#1A Jardani (9-5) has run in the 90s in his last three dirt starts, and just missed after a game late rally in his most recent try on this surface. No one else in here can consistently run as fast as he can, so his usual race will be tough to beat. #3 Your Analysis (6-1) faded after a wide trip last out, but won two in a row at Monmouth Park this summer after stalking the pace, and will be a factor if he can work out a trip. #8 Frightland (7-2) just missed second after getting caught in traffic first off a two-month break last out. He won at this distance two starts back at Colonial Downs and just missed at it on this track in mid-March, with a second-best 93.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, MD-BRED/SIRED, 6 FURLONGS

3-5-6-1