• John Piassek
• December 9, 2023

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

Post time: 12:25 p.m.

Carryovers: Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 —$406

Jackpot Super High 5 — $628

Late Pick 5 — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: CLAIMING $25,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

4-3-2-7

Nine races for a Saturday, with temps in the low-50s and dry conditions. #4 Turn on the Charm (4-1) drops in class after finishing well-beaten against a better field last out, which included the likes of Miss Georgie and Genieinabridle. Prior to that, she had run some strong brisnet figures, including a 78 two starts back and an impressive 86 four races ago. She should rate the trip in mid-pack and draw off late. #3 Winkiwinki (6-1) showed speed and faded first off a year-plus layoff at Delaware Park last out, but looked promising in two starts in her home state of Florida in the spring of 2022, winning her first two starts in gate-to-wire style. She’s worked well for her first start since mid-August for Diane Morici, who has enjoyed success with her Laurel Park runners this meet, and could prove tough to catch on the front end. #2 Ice Cube Baby (3-1) has faced better at this level in her recent starts, and is in slowly improving form, running a career-best 78 last out.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $25,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 7 FURLONGS

4-3-1-5

#4 Porch Swing (9-5) makes his first start since his maiden-breaking effort in May, He was hounded all the way on the lead in that race, but pulled off the victory with a very impressive 90. The horse he won the photo against, Occasional Moon, has since won twice. While Hammy Smith isn’t great with horses first off a long break, this one could run quite a few points below his peak and still win. #1 General Nooz (10-1) rallied gamely against softer last out and just missed. His only bad dirt races in the last 12 months came on the Timonium bullring and in his last start before going to the sidelines for five months. #3 Master of None (2-1) ran a career-best 83 last out, but has run only evenly int he stretch in his last few starts. While his usual race contends with these, he might not have the stretch punch needed to win. If he does win, it’ll likely be by default.

RACE 3: CLAIMING $12,500, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 7 FURLONGS

1-2-5-3

#1 Floge (4-1) gobbled up ground late to break her maiden second time on dirt last out, improving sharply to a career-best 73. That’s the best last-out figure in the race by seven points. She’s racing first off the claim by Mario Serey. #2 Neolithica (9-5) broke her maiden in game fashion last out. It looked like Kapadokya would get the edge in the stretch, but Neolithica fought back and won, albeit with a less-than-stellar 64. This one could find herself on the early lead in a race without much early speed. #5 Bootsy’s Merlot (2-1) rallied for second at 33-1 behind much-the-best Shake It baby last out. She has inconsistent form, but her best contends with these.

RACE 4: CLAIMING $5,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

4-1-2-7

#4 Illusion of Hope (8-5) has shown little against much better in her last few starts, and now plunges in class to a soft conditioned group. She’s tailed off a bit in her last two starts, but has still run in the mid/upper-60s, which is still good enough to beat these. She also has by far the best late pace figures in the field on dirt, and should pick them off easily late. #1 Bramble Bush (2-1) has shown good late speed on grass in her last few starts against better foes, and showed decent form on dirt last fall and winter with a win on this surface at Penn National. #2 Alas and Alack (3-1) faded badly after showing brief speed second off the long layoff last out, but her other races contend with these.

RACE 5: CLAIMING $25,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

4-1A-6-9

#4 Grand Pick (8-1) was scratched yesterday to run here. He’s won two of his last three starts at Delaware, both times racing just off the pace and pouncing to win going away. As long as he doesn’t found himself caught wide, he should find himself in a prime spot on the final turn. #1A Kenner (5-2) won gate-to-wire in his last dirt start, running an impressive 89. He’ll have to work to clear from post position nine, but if he does, he could prove tough to catch. #6 Victim of the Nite (5-1) has done his best work on this track, with both of his wins and his career-best figure coming here. This will be his first start beyond seven furlongs, but his late pace figures suggest he can handle the added ground.

RACE 6: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, 1 MILE

11-13-6-5

#11 Here Comes Rusty (4-1) showed heart on the lead at third asking last out, He was pressed on the lead throughout, outfinished his dueling partner, and held on to finish third with a strong 74. Court Contender, who beat him by a head that day for second, returned to win at this level next out. #13 Maryland Moon (7-2) drops from the $30,000 level for his third start off a three-month layoff. He’s run at least a 67 three times in his last four dirt starts, which, while not a factor against better maiden claimers, fits right in with these. #6 Heart on Fire (5-1) has been in improving form on grass, running a career-best 78 in a sharp pace-pressing effort last out. He’s lightly-raced and has solid early speed.

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

3-7-6-2

#3 Charge to Victory (5-2) has finished third in back-to-back races at this level, but he’s faced way better rivals, including next-out winners Hanalei’s Houdini and Grand Wiser, along with Paradise Pride, who won six of seven earlier this year. This one won at this level three times in a row earlier this year when facing similar rivals as the ones he’ll see here. #7 Top Boss (3-1) ran an extremely game race after very fast early fractions against better last out. The last time he raced at this level, he broke slowly and finished third; with an alert start today, he’ll make the front and try to run them off their feet. #6 Nottoway (7-5) has run in the 80s in each of his last three starts, the only on in the field who’s done so. He was outkicked last out as the favorite, but still ran a strong 89, and won at this level after rating off the pace two starts back.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W1X), 2-YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/16 MILES

4-8-1-3

#4 Pandagate (3-1) ships down from New York off an impressive maiden win at Aqueduct last out. He drew off to win at first asking against fellow New York-breds, with a very strong 91. If he duplicates that race, he’ll run them off their feet and could make it onto a few lists of wiseguy Derby prospects. #8 Regalo (2-1) pressed the pace and drew off to win at second asking with a sharp 86. He should sit on or near the pace from the outside; from there, it’s a matter of if he can handle the distance. He’s never been beyond seven furlongs. #1 War Master (5-1) gets his class test following two impressive wins against better. He was held out of the Maryland Juvenile by Jamie Ness in favor of his stablemate Speedyness, and now resurfaces here for his first try beyond six furlongs. He has good tactical speed and great late pace figures; we’ll see how that translates at a route.