• John Piassek
• December 8, 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: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES

4-6-2-7

#4 Fool Yourself (3-1) got some class relief last out, and it paid off, rating off the pace and kicking away to beat open $8,000 foes going seven furlongs. While her last few starts around two turns haven’t been great, those races were against much better rivals than the one’s she’ll see here. She should once again convert a nice stalking trip. #6 Feathers (5-1) makes her first start on dirt in more than two years. In her first try on this surface, at Los Alamitos in July 2021, she hit the gate, was rushed up, and faded in the lane. She also has good tactical speed, and won against these types three starts back after rating off the pace, but is in search of redemption after two consecutive flat efforts. #2 Joya del Sur (2-1) goes first off the claim by Kieron Magee (one of five in this seven-horse field making her first start for a new conditioner), and rode a favorable rail to victory last out. However, she has speed and a good draw, so she could work out another lead-on-the-rail trip. From there, it’s a matter of if she can hold off outside pressure.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $5,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

3-8-1-9

#3 Grand Escape (5-2) battled with the victorious Island d’Lite on the outside last out, and re-rallied a bit late to get fourth. He can show speed or rate just off the pace, but in this case, he has the best early pace figures int he field, so his best bet might be to go. #8 Grand Manner (5-1) didn’t show any of his usual early speed against better last out, but did make up some ground late and ended up beaten less than four lengths. He now drops into more familiar waters. #1 Savoy (6-1) goes first off the claim by Henry Walters and has strong late speed. He rallied well for fourth against open $8,000 company last out, behind Nottoway and Dr. Doyle, both of whom came back to win their next starts. Nottoway won a starter allowance race (the same race Grand Manner exits, in fact), while Dr. Doyle stayed at the $8,000 level and won by seven lengths.

RACE 3: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

1-5-6-3

#1 Shining Spirit (5-2) was unable to keep up with runaway Brittany Russell-trained winner Sky Victory at first asking at Delaware Park, but still ran on well and just missed second in a blanket finish. While she’s run into another Russell firster in #5 Shake the Sugar (6-5), she should improve second time out and will be a better price. Shake the Sugar has been working well over the past few weeks, including a bullet three-furlong move from the gate on Sunday. While it was the slowest of five drills at the distance that day, that was a solid worktab that included stakes winner Exculpatory and the promising Diane Morici-trained fillies Peppermint Class and Ms. Bucchero. #6 C C Royal (7-2) couldn’t chase down an extraordinarily fast loose leader last out, but ran on well in the lane and just missed second.

RACE 4: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W3X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

4-1-7-6

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see some of these come back in two weeks’ time for the Robert Manfuso Stakes. #4 Berks (3-1) has had a fantastic campaign, winning six times in his last seven starts. He cruised on the lead last out, beating a second-level field as the odds-on choice without being seriously asked. This Jamie Ness-bred gelding was claimed from Ness by Kieron Magee that day, and is now stepped up in class. While this is a tougher field than the ones he’s used to, a loose leader is hard to run down no matter the condition. Ness is represented by two in here, including #1 Magic Michael (3-1), who beat some of these last out in a game performance. He’s been rounding back into form since coming off a year-long layoff in mid-September, improving with every start. He’ll hope someone softens up Berks early. #7 Shaft’s Bullet (9-5) finished second to Magic Michael last out in his first start off an eight-month break. In his last start before going on the sidelines, he sat the trip and crushed a second-level field by more than five lengths. If he improved second off the bench, he’ll be tough to hold off.

RACE 5: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

2-1-7-4

#2 Minny Speightster (7-2) ran a big race on the lead at third asking last out. He was pressed all the way on the lead by eventual winner Wesley Thomas, but managed to hold on for a clear-cut second. He adds blinkers today for Jamie Ness, which means he will almost assuredly be gunned for the front end. From there, he should be able to hold off this rather scattered bunch. #1 Cuchulain (8-1) ran a solid brisnet figure of 60 on debut while making up late ground. Many of these have never run that fast at any point in their careers, and he could pick up some pieces even if Minny Speightster runs them off their feet. #7 My Endeavour (12-1), trained by Tim Keefe, just like Cuchulain, finished a solid second when dropped to this level for the first time last out. He was beaten by 11-10 favorite Ruby’s Flash, who raced like he was shot out of a cannon, but this one still made good ground late and finished well-clear of the others.

RACE 6: CLAIMING $40,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

1-5-3-8

#1 Uncaptured Storm (2-1) has won three times in his last four starts, and returns to the Anthony Farrior barn off a big last-out win. He rated off the pace and wore his way past an ultra-game Ness trainee in Speargun, running a career-best 96 in the process. He should once again get a nice trip on the rail and punch on to victory. #5 Grand Pick (12-1) won going away after rating off of only moderate fractions in his last start, for his third victory in his last five tries. He’s taking a step up in class from the foes he’s seen at Delaware, but he has the speed and pace figures needed to contend. #3 No Easy Days (5-2) fought hard on a fast pace to win a few starts back, defeating Eldest Son, who has since come back to win twice.

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

5-1-9-2

#5 Heads or Tails (3-1) has faced some very solid runners in his last few starts, including the likes of next-out winners Brother Conway and Rominski, along with Colonel Bowman, a six-time winner on the year. Last out, he got up to win with a career-best 92, beating the aforementioned Nottoway. He’ll hope for a snappy pace to close into, one that will likely be set by #1 Disputed Claim (6-1). That one went gate-to-wire in back-to-back starts earlier this year, and was run down by longshot #9 Fole’s Notion (5-1) last out. Disputed Claim looks fast enough early to shake off any pressure. From there, it’s a matter of how long he can hold on. Fole’s Notion ran a huge race in victory, but it was such an outlier compared to his recent form, it’s no guarantee he can duplicate it.

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

4-2-5-3

#4 Too Many Kisses (2-1) has improved by leaps and bounds in her last few starts, including a strong-closing second last out behind Charming Way, who got away with easy fractions and returned to win a second-level race next out. #2 Lifelovenlaughter (9-5) raced on the pace and drew off to win an off-the-grass event at Saratoga this summer, her lone dirt effort prior to today. She was a strong, but outkicked, second on the lawn last out, and could make the front in a race without a ton of speed. #5 Red Wine Time (10-1) has won going away against softer in her last two starts. She’ll draft way off the early pace and try to mow them down late.