• John Piassek
• March 23, 2024

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

Post time: 12:25 p.m.

Carryovers: 
Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 —$7,466
Jackpot Super High 5 — $5,957
Late Pick 5 — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

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

5-4-1A-3

We’ve got another 10-race card on the slate today. Bring your umbrellas. #5 Maddie Ten (2-1) has improved dramatically since getting claimed by Jose Corrales three starts ago, with back-to-back brisnet figures in the 70s. She sat closer to the pace last out, and just missed with a solid late rally. #4 Celestial Express (9-5) ships down here for Gary Contessa off a pace-chasing second in her most recent effort. That was a much-needed bounce-back race after back-to-back double-digit length defeats. #1A Bythenumbers (3-1) was well-bet at this level on debut, and made mild late ground with a respectable 65. She adds blinkers at second asking.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $5,000 (CONDITIONED), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

4-6-2-8

#4 Lucky Lorraine (5-1) has improved her figure in each of her last few starts, and was a solid-closing third behind stakes-placed Utterly Enchanting and next-out winner No More Mask in her most recent outing. She might want more distance than this, but is nonetheless a contender. #6 Ice Cube Baby (4-1) was fourth in that race, where she went off favored after dropping from the $8,000 level for the first time. She made mild late ground and missed second by less than a length. While she’s tailed off from her peak, her recent figures are still good enough to be in the hunt with these. #2 Lunita (6-1) has speed from towards the inside, and ran a game second over a wet track last December, in her only start over an off surface.

RACE 3: MAIDEN CLAIMING $30,000, 4 AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

5-4-2-1

#5 Second Wave (5-2) ran a game race on the lead last out, his first start off a 9 1/2-month layoff. He dueled with the well-regarded firster Paved in Gold, and though he faded late and was a well-beaten third, it was nonetheless a respectable showing for his first race in so long. #4 Yangarra (3-5) made his first start for Brittany Russell at Turfway Park last out, and got in a three-ply speed duel. He outfinished one of his sparring partners, but not the other, ending up fifth with a respectable 72. He drops for a tag for the first time and has a huge class edge over the others. #2 Infinite Series (12-1) ran no worse than a 75 in three straight starts prior to his last outing, where he stopped badly after racing near the pace. He’ll look for a rebound here.

RACE 4: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 6 FURLONGS

1-2-6-4

I won’t try to beat this Brittany Russell-trained favorite. #1 Heart (1-1) ran a huge race on debut, then got caught wide on a rail-biased track in the Xtra Heat Stakes last out. She wouldn’t have been out of place in the Beyond the Wire Stakes later today, but Russell has decided to ease her back into competition, and she certainly looms large in here. #2 Stickwiththecolors (9-5), a half-sister to 2022 Maryland Million Classic champion Ournationonparade, made a swooping four-wide move and won going away at first asking, winning as much the best despite being the only firster in the race. She’ll be though if she improves at all at second asking. #6 Goodnightngodbless (12-1) has run her two best figures within her last two starts, breaking her maiden at Penn National after showing good tactical speed. She should make some noise at a decent price, with the aforementioned two taking most of the money.

RACE 5: MAIDEN CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

6-1-2-7

If Second Wave runs well in race 3, it’ll flatter #6 Box of Rockets (8-1), who was fourth behind this one at second asking last out. He improved to a 70 first off a brief break last out, despite it being a visually unimpressive race, and should benefit from a drop from the $30,000 level. #1 Pilote Comete (8-1) drops for a tag for the first time for Ben Perkins, and ran a respectable 65 first off a long layoff at Charles Town in his most recent start. He turned in a sharp workout last Wednesday at Pimlico, and looks well-primed for this spot. #2 Cavendish (8-5) showed speed and faded when second going longer at Aqueduct last out, and should improve with the cutback in distance and the class drop.

RACE 6: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

8-5-9-3

#8 No Easy Days (8-5) turns thee late pick 5 sequence into a late pick 4. He’s maintained his best form and rattled off three consecutive victories, He’s run int he 90s in each of his last two wins, which no one else has done in any of their last three races, and has by far the best late pace figures in the field. #5 Lost in Newyork (6-1) has won two straight on the lead at Penn National after getting pressed on the pace. He gets a class test here with more tough speed drawn to his inside. #9 Casanova Kitten (8-1) chased No Easy Days and flattened out in his last start, but ran in the mid/upper-80s in his two prior races.

RACE 7: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

2-3-1-6

#2 Hot Dance (5-1) has faced some nice horses in her two local starts, including last-out winner Ree Nee’s Six and Stickwiththecolors, who runs earlier today. She looks the best of the experienced ones. #3 Lottie Deno (2-1) is my preferred Brittany Russell-trained firster, of the two she has. She joined the Russell string in late December, and has worked well for a family that does well with their inexperienced horses. I’ll watch the board with her compared to her stablemate, #1 Bea Street (20-1) makes her dirt debut after getting some experience on grass at Colonial Downs last fall. She’s been working well for her 3-year-old debut for Robby Bailes, who sometimes surprises with maidens at good prices.

RACE 8: BEYOND THE WIRE STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 1 MILE

6-3-5-1

The first of two stakes races on the card is named in tribute to Maryland’s aftercare program. #6 Determined Driver (7-5) couldn’t quite run down Miss Harriett on the lead in the Wide Country Stakes last out, but nonetheless kept on well late and finished second, improving once again to a career-best 88. She also ran a big race first off the layoff two starts prior, stalking the pace and kicking on impressively. She should rate off the leaders once again and pounce. #3 Kiss for Luck (5-1) chased fellow Butch Reid trainee Jeanne Marie on a wet track in the Main Line Stakes last out, and held on for a clear-cut second in a much-improved effort from her first two-turn start. She got some time off after a dull race in late November, and has turned in two big performances since. #5 Patricia Ann (3-1) improved sharply at second asking last out with a gate-to-wire maiden win at Aqueduct. There’s not much speed in here, so she could find herself with a fairly easy frontrunning trip.