• John Piassek
• March 9, 2024

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

Post time: 12:25 p.m.

Carryovers: 
Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 —$575
Jackpot Super High 5 — $451
Late Pick 5 — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: MAIDEN CLAIMING $45,000, 4 AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

3-5-1-6

The experienced runners in here are flawed, so I’ll try the lone first-time starter in #3 Cozy Notion (5-2). This 4-year-old filly returned to the worktab in December after ten months off, and has turned in some very solid drills for Nancy Heil, including a bullet workout on Feb. 27. She’s a half-sister to seven winners, including Maryland Million Nursery winners Clever Mind and Follow the Dog and grade 1-winning steeplechaser Top Striker. Of her seven winning siblings, four of them won at first asking. Her biggest threat comes from #5 Golden Charm (7-5), who has vastly superior brisnet figures to the others, having run at least a 77 in three of her last four starts. However, she’s finished second in four straight starts, losing at 13-10 or less in three of those races. Maybe this is a field she can beat, but it’s not a good bet to keep betting on black on a roulette wheel because you think it’s due. #1 Little Baby Girl (9-2) ran a game second first off the layoff three starts back, and looks for a rebound off back-to-back dull efforts.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

4-1-3-5

#4 Sun Streaming (8-1) drew off to an impressive maiden-breaking win two starts ago, and while she was flat last out at this level, that race represents the highest ceiling of anyone in here. She should go off at a good price in a wide-open group. #1 Sophia’s Rose (12-1), one of two in here for Bruce Kravets, broke her maiden on the lead two races back, and now gets some class relief after facing first-level foes at her home track of Penn National last out. She’s one of three in here who has not lost a claiming race for winners before. #3 Kapadokya (4-1) cut back to this distance for the first time in a while last out, and wired them to break her maiden at ninth asking. She’s in improving form and should set the pace on the rail once again.

RACE 3: MAIDEN CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 1 MILE

3-5-8-7

#3 Always Fun (6-1) closed well while wide in his career debut on grass in mid-November, and has gotten some time off since finishing up the track in the mud last out. We’ll see how he does in for a tag for the first time. #5 Disco Preacher (10-1) makes his first start on dirt and of his 3-year-old season. He ran a respectable 62 at firs asking at Belmont Park last July, then showed speed and faded against some salty maiden at Colonial Downs next out. He also has lots of upside. #8 Coronation Time (6-1) improved sharply to a 57 second time out last out, and should make a late impact.

RACE 4: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

1-6-4-2

#1 Golden Can (8-5) hasn’t won in a while, but she’s also been facing much better horses during much of that stretch. She ran a field-best last-out mark of 77 in her most recent start against $20,000 starter types, and should work out a nice trip on the rail and mow them down here. #6 Speak Your Mind (5-2) goes first off the claim by Kieron Magee. She’s been rounding back into form since returning from a year-plus layoff in early November. Her best recent start came two races ago, when she lost by a half-length while finishing between a pair of next-out winners. #4 Bandits Warrior (4-1) savored the class drop to the open $8,000 level last out and held on to win in gate-to-wire style. She’s the main speed of this field as well.

RACE 5: CLAIMING $5,000, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

1-10-5-8

#1 Clubman (2-1) went off favored against better last out, but was wide throughout and had no punch late, ending up well-beaten. He had run no worse than an 82 in his prior three starts, and if he can recapture that form, which he should do with a ground-saving trip against easier rivals, he’ll be tough to beat. #10 Bahama Channel (3-1) was no match for odds-on gate-to-wire winner Brasstown in his last start, but outran the others and finished second with his third straight figure in the 80s. He ran an 85 in his most recent one-mile start last October, his best figure in the last 10 races. He’s also the only one in the field who has run in the 80s in each of his last three outings. #5 Formal Order (9-2) was third behind Bahama Channel in his 2024 debut last out. At his best, he possesses a strong late kick which could come in handy here.

RACE 6: CLAIMING $12,500 (N/W2L), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

6-10-11-5

#6 Letitgotovoicemail (6-1) had a rough trip while wide on the pace going a mile last out, and subsequently stopped badly. Her recent figures going this distance or shorter are much better than those of her rivals. #10 Spoils of War (6-1) broke through to win at tenth asking last out, converting a great stalking trip to win with a sharp 73. She ran a solid second in her prior start from post 11, so we know bad draws don’t hamper her that much. #11 Cynergy’s Electra (5-2) has an unsightly 1-for-18 record with plenty of losses against winners along the way, but most of those races came against much better rivals than those of today. She’s run at least a 75 in five of her last six starts; a repeat of any of those races makes her tough to beat.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

2-7-5-3

#2 It’s Viper (4-1) ran a big race second off the layoff last out, closing for second behind the speedy Bob Marco, who took full advantage of the rail-biased sloppy strip. This one has shown plenty of promise in the past, and could put it all together down the lone one-turn mile stretch third off the bench. #7 Tops the Chart (8-1) has won two of his last three on the lead at Parx, running figures in the 90s both times. Jaime Rodriguez knows how to ride the one-turn mile; he’ll likely send this one straight to the front and try to nurse his speed for as long as he can. On the other side of the coin, #5 Hay Chief (10-1) has also won two of his last three, but has done so coming from behind each time. He’s almost certain to come from dead last to close to it, but as long as he steers clear of traffic, he’ll ahve every chance to nail them on the money.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, MD-BRED/SIRED, 6 FURLONGS

6-7-3-1

#6 Heldish (8-1) looked like a budding star as a 2-year-old, and while he hasn’t quite lived up to expectations, it looks as if he’s starting to figure things out. He ran an impressive race last out, running down a loose leader to win going away with a career-best 94. He was claimed out of that race by Jose Magana; as long as he keeps it up under the barn change, he’s dangerous. #7 Freeze the Fire (8-5) has run into one beast after another since his impressive maiden-breaking win last June. He’s in ascending form and has shown great tactical speed, so unless Heldish truly is the real deal, this one will have every chance to get his elusive second win. #3 Hemp (12-1) beat Heldish two starts back with a strong, sweeping rally, and has faced many of the same tough rivals as Freeze the Fire as of late (though with not as much success). He’ll hope to stay close to the pace today; he could prove interesting if he does.