• John Piassek
• February 2, 2024

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 — $5,206
Late Pick 5 — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: CLAIMING $25,000 (N/W2L), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

2-8-5-7

It’s a cloudy day at Laurel Park, which means the groundhog probably didn’t see his shadow this morning. Nonetheless, we roll on. #2 I Know (8-1) is one of three in here coming off a maiden win (who are my top three picks), and he has the best last-out brisnet figure of that group, having earned an 83 in his most recent effort. He had been in improving form coming into that race, and put it all together with a strong rail-skimming rally. He’s very live if he keeps that going. #8 Maryland Moon (3-1) has the best last-out figure in the group, with an 85 in a dominant win against a soft bunch. He was 0-for-11 going into that race, with a bunch of second and third-place finishes, and his most recent was truly a “now-or-never” spot. He might be good enough to beat these anyway, but I’m a bit skeptical. #5 Hialeah Native (8-1) broke his maiden first off a six-month layoff last out at Mahoning Valley. He has good tactical speed and gets Jaime Rodriguez aboard for the first time. He could pop up and surprise.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/16 MILES

2-5-6-4

Let’s try another next-out winner, shall we? #2 El De Larry (4-1) has run career-tops in back-to-back starts, including a sharp maiden win last out. He had tons of horse on the final turn, muscled his way through traffic, and won going away with a 75. He hasn’t run a bad race at this distance yet, and is the best alternative to likely favorite #5 Chica Chuck (7-5). That one stretched out around two turns for the first time last out, and was a flat third at odds-on. Still, he’s the only one who’s run in the 70s in each of his last three starts, and Jamie Ness/Jaime Rodriguez horses are always dangerous. #6 Jumpingjaggerflash (5-2) led and faded to fourth behind Chica Chuck last out, but it wasn’t a bad race, considering it was his first around two turns. He once again profiles as the main speed.

RACE 3: MAIDEN CLAIMING $45,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/16 MILES

6-3-7-4

#6 Glass of Courage (5-2) ran two big figures in his last two starts, earning a 78 and 77 in those outings. The only one that comes close to him figure-wise is #7 Enzo (2-1), who has upside, but has never gone beyond six furlongs. Glass of Courage, on the other hand, is proven, at least figure-wise, at this distance. He’ll be tough if he runs his race. #3 Notion in Motion (15-1) ran a huge race n debut, beaten just a length despite getting blocked in the stretch. With clearer sailing, he probably wins. This is a class jump from the $12,500 rivals he faced on debut, but if he turns in that kind of late rally, he can handle it.

RACE 4: CLAIMING $8,000, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

1-5-7-2

#1 Tweet Away Robin (3-1) has two two of her last three starts at this condition, including a dominant win last out. Her form is a bit obscured by some tries against better starter optional claiming rivals, but against these, she should get a nice trip near the pace and cruise from there. #5 Bandits Warrior (7-2), who faced second-level allowance company for most of last year, gets some class relief here. In her most recent start against starter optional claiming horses, she was rushed up to engage with the leaders and backed up. With a clean start here, she should be able to set a more modest pace. #7 Out Dancing (4-1) got away with slow fractions and won easily around two turns at Parx last out, but ran some big figures in more honest paces last year.

RACE 5: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, MD-BRED/SIRED, 6 FURLONGS

5-2-7-1

A full field of hometown heroes caps the early pick 5. #5 Great Heavens (7-2) is the only one in the field who has run at least an 86 in each of his last three starts. He was no match for Rominski last out, who blew away the field on the lead and won by daylight, but if you take that rival out, Great Heavens’s race suddenly looks a lot better. He rated about five lengths off early second-place sitter Byk, then kicked on in the three-path on the turn and outfinished the others by two lengths. #2 Midnight Renegade (7-2) clinched the Maryland riding title for Jaime Rodriguez in his last start, blowing the doors off a conditioned claiming field with a giant 93. While it’s a dramatic outlier from the rest of his form, he ran an 84 on debut last May, not an easy thing to do, and the Lacey Gaudet barn has been super-hot for the past few weeks. If #7 Goodafternoonoscar (6-1) wins, it would certainly flatter the form of the promising Full Irish, who blew him away in their last start on Jan. 15. This one has slowly rounded back into form since a late summer lull and has solid late speed.

RACE 6: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

11-6-1-8

Another full field starts the late pick 5. After two dull races on grass in the fall, when people might’ve started to get suspicious that was trending the wrong way, #11 John Hall (15-1) has rebounded sharply in his last few starts. He’s run ascendant figures in each of his last three starts with strong closing rallies each time. He missed by a hard-charging length two starts back, and although he was no match for the ultra-impressive Full Irish in his most recent, he still showed some good late punch and won a show photo. He should enjoy the stretch-out from six furlongs. #6 Victim of the Nite (8-1) went gate-to-wire to win two races back, then finished third in a race where he chased early leader Running River, but couldn’t run him down as late runner #1 Hay Chief (7-2). Hay Chief is in career best form and should be heard from late, but Victim of the Nite has early speed in a race without a lot of it, and could find himself loose.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, MD-BRED/SIRED, 6 FURLONGS

4-1-8-2

#4 Irish Coco (8-1) makes her first start outside her home state of Pennsylvania. She made her comeback off an eight-month layoff last out, and came from further off the pace than usual to win. She was in improving form before going to the sidelines in the spring, and could get even better second off the bench, a scary prospect for the rest of these. #1 Chickahominy (3-1) has just missed from well off the pace in her two dirt starts, and could also be sitting on a big race. Going into her last start, #8 Goldieness (3-1) looked like she’d be tough if she could clear to the front from the outside post. She couldn’t, and settled for third as longshot leader Touisset (who is back in this race) led all the way in a 17-1 upset. Goldieness didn’t draw that well again (she drew post two in this race when it was postponed last week). While she got caught on the lead in her prior two races, she should be able to at least hold on for a share here.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES

8-7-3-9

#8 Charming Way (7-5), another Ness/Rodriguez contender, has won her last two starts in impression fashion, including a victory at this level on Thanksgiving Saturday where she beat some of these rivals. I would’ve liked to see more than one recent workout, but as long as she runs close to her recent race, #7 Always Laughing (8-1) outfinished her dueling partner, Carroll Girl, in her last start, and held clear in the stretch, but held on for second behind the strong-closing Big Cheeks. She was claimed out of that race by High McMahon, and looks like a speed threat once again. #3 Freccia d’Argento (12-1) has put in solid late rallies in her last two starts this condition, and should hang around for a share once again.