• John Piassek
• January 28, 2024

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

Post time: 12:25 p.m.

Carryovers: 
Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 —$5,741
Jackpot Super High 5 — $4,444
Late Pick 5 — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: MAIDEN CLAIMING $30,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 7 FURLONGS

9-1-6-2

While today’s 10-race card is great, it’s not the most important sporting event in Maryland today. Go Ravens! #9 Medagooch (7-2) dropped to this level for the first time in his most recent start, and finished a strong second behind runaway odds-on favorite Point Dume. Jeiron Barbosa keeps the mount. He rode a rail-biased track very well yesterday, and will surely try to save as much ground as he can. #1 Mantua Man (12-1) faded badly after a wide trip last out, but gets a much better draw today, and could work out a much better trip racing on or near the pace while saving ground. #6 Stellars in Charge (7-2) races first off the claim by Kieron Magee, and will try to finish the job today after leading most of the way on debut last out.

RACE 2: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

1-7-6-3

#1 Six o’Clock Sarah (7-2) put it all together fourth off a ten-month layoff last out, battling on the lead and hanging in to lost a three-hose blanket finish. The two other horses in that photo came from off the pace; Six o’Clock Sarah ran the best of anyone who was on the early lead. #7 Miss Georgie (2-1) flattened out in a tough first-level contest last out, but has worked well since for the white-lot Lacey Gaudet barn, and looks poised for a rebound in her first start off a two-month break. She can win racing on the lead or just off of it, which is an asset in a race with lots of speed. #6 Brzina (3-1) rounded back into her best form towards the end of last season. She led clear early on last out, but got run down by Anonymously, who is in the midst of a four-race winning streak, and is much better than anyone she’ll see here. That said, it might be a tougher task getting to the lead here. We’ll see if Barbosa is super-aggressive and sends her straight to the rail and the lead as fast as he can.

RACE 3: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

5-2-3-1

#5 Petingas Twin (2-1) ran a big race on the lead at Churchill Downs last out. He rated off the pace, took charge in the stretch, and held second after getting run down by a rival who got a great mid-pack trip. He finished 11 3/4 lengths clear of third place that day. Anthony Farrior claimed him out of that race, and he’s had him working well since. #2 Mr. McMahon (9-5), a $325,000 purchase at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, has worked well in preparation for his debut for Brittany Russell, including back-to-back bullet drills. On Monday, his time matched that of stablemate Post Time, who runs in the Jennings Stakes later today, and was faster than Roanan Goddess’s, who won yesterday’s Xtra Heat Stakes. #3 Celtic Contender (10-1) has also has a string of sharp recent workouts, and gets Jevian Toledo in the saddle at first asking. I’ll watch the board on him.

RACE 4: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W3X), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

3-4-5-1

As noted above, #3 Anonymously (5-2) is on a tear. She’s won four in a row, and her last six starts at 6 1/2 furlongs or shorter. She’s successfully worked out pace-stalking trips in each of her recent starts, and will likely try to stay as close to likely early leader #1 Hashtag Lucky (9-2) as possible (hopefully while saving ground). That one makes her first start at a sprint distance in a while, having most recently finished third in the Claiming Crown at Fair Grounds last out after setting the pace. If the track plays like yesterday’s, she’ll be tough to catch. #4 Tappin Josie (2-1) has the class edge in this field. She took the Society Hill Stakes at Parx last year, and finished stakes-placed on four other occasions. She’ll have to come from off the pace to win her first start since September 28, but she at least gets to run down easier rivals than the ones she’s seen.

RACE 5: CLAIMING $40,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 7 FURLONGS

6-2-4-9

#6 Cataleya Strike (7-2) is consistently the fastest horse in the race, having run a brisnet figure of at least 77 in each of his last three starts, the only one in the field who has done so. He dropped to this level for the first time last out, and was a strong-closing second behind #2 In the Dance (5-1), who made a similar move to win that 1 1/16 mile contest. That one just got up to break his maiden going six furlongs a few starts ago, and will surely come from well off the pace. #4 One Way Farrior (8-1) has won three races in a row, and claimed out of his last win by Kieron Magee. He came from way out of it to win against softer last out, over next-out winner Rubys Flash, but usually stays closer to the pace. His best figure, an 81, came on an off track at Mahoning Valley two starts ago, and he’ll get another off track today.

RACE 6: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

6-8-2-9

it’s hard not to love a horse like #6 Bob Marco (2-1). He zooms out to the front, sets long early leads, and proves very tough to catch. He’s won his last three starts using that style, and is sure to employ it once again. #8 Luigi’s Spirit (5-2) has run in the 90s in each of his last four starts, including a chasing fourth after a wide trip at Aqueduct last out. His two best figures, a 93, came on a wet track. If Bob Marco fades on the lead, this one is the most likely to take advantage. #2 Iywaan (9-2) makes his first start since September 15. He made a move to the front against a tougher third-level field that day, but got shut off and lost his momentum. He’s worked well at his Penn National base in preparation for his return, and should rate as close to Bob Marco as he can from the rail.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE

9-5-6-8

#9 Western Lane (5-1) fought on to win two starts ago at Saratoga, then just missed in a blanket finish behind Bella Bettina, who returns in the Geisha Stakes, in her last race. #5 Gilda’s Girl (6-1) ran a career-best 84 in her first start off an off track last out, beating non-winners of two rivals by open lengths. She’s in improving form and has good tactical speed. #6 Chicken Parm (9-5) showed promise on grass last fall, and now makes her dirt debut. She’s likely to set the early pace, and could be tough to reel in.

RACE 8: GEISHA STAKES, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, MD-BRED/SIRED, 1 MILE

6-5-8-1

The first stakes race of the day is named for the Maryland-bred dam of the great Native Dancer. #6 Northern Glow (3-1) got up to win a Maryland-bred allowance in game fashion two starts ago, then ran a solid second behind front-running winner Gold Digging Broad on a speed-favoring strip last out. She looks like she’s rounding back into her best form and should be tough. #5 Bella Bettina (30-1) has great closing speed that is well-suited to the one-turn mile. She’s closed to win twice in her last five starts, both times against similar rivals to today’s, and will be hard to hold off as long as the early pace isn’t too slow. #8 Royal Whisper (5-1) just missed behind next-out winner My Flicker in her most recent, and has a strong closing style that should play well down the long one-mile stretch.