• John Piassek
• March 29, 2024

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

Post time: 12:25 p.m.

Carryovers: 
Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $13,079
Jackpot Super High 5 — $9,691
Late Pick 5 — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/16 MILES

7-1-8-5

Beautiful spring weather will greet us on the penultimate day of the winter meet. #7 Brysons Option (2-1) won easily around two turns three starts back, but has shown little against better in his prior two races. The class drops should help this half-brother to Jaxon Traveler. #1 Dr. Jack Flyer (10-1) is the only one in race who has not lost against winners, and is the lightest-raced horse in the field, having competed just three times. He broke his maiden in gate-to-wire style at Charles Town last out, handling his first start past seven furlongs with ease. He gets a class test here, but will at least be able to protect position from the rail. #8 Dashing d’Artagnan (6-1) turned in back-to-back runner-up efforts around two turns earlier this year. He raced wide throughout last out and faded, but is eligible for a rebound here.

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

6-5-4-1

In a race loaded with speed, #6 Luv Ya Bye Bye (15-1) has decent late pace figures. He didn’t run great last out, but he also had a bad trip, in which he stumbled at the start, got rushed up, and had nothing left for the stretch drive. He’s slowly rounding back into form after a return from a five-month layoff in late January. #5 Mr. Mox (3-1) ran well first off the three-month layoff last out. He got entangled in a four-way duel, then pulled clear late, only to get run down by odds-on choice Smooth Rico. Still, it was a promising effort, and he should take another step forward with a race under his belt, albeit for a Ferris Allen barn that has been riding the struggle bus. #4 Sunrise Journey (6-5) couldn’t make the front against better in his last few, but is sure to be hard-sent and try to take control against these soft rivals. We’ll see if that strategy works.

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

8-7-3-2

#8 Maximum Emily (2-1) was entered against better on March 8, but was a vet scratch. She’s had two solid workouts t her Belmont Park base since, including a bullet workout on March 14. She chased the pace and faded against better on debut, but should improve against softer second time out. #7 No Walk Inthe Park (9-5) turned in back-to-back runner-up efforts against better earlier this year, but struggled going a mile last out, showing speed and fading badly. Cutting back in distance should help her out. #3 Easter Sunday Girl (6-1) exits the same one-mile race as No Walk Inthe Park, and stopped on the far turn. She ran brisnet figures in the 60s in her two prior races, and a rebound go that form likely gets her in the winner’s circle.

RACE 4: CLAIMING $30,000 (N/W3L), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

5-3-7-1

#5 Midnight Renegade (2-1) smashed a $25,000 non-winners of two field in the 2023 Maryland finale three starts back, and has run back-to-back marks in the 80s against better in his last two races. He fell far off the pace while wide in his most recent, and had no shot to reel in the speedy Arden’sluckytobe in the race prior. The circumstances here should be more ideal. The cutback from a mile to 5 1/2 furlongs proved beneficial for #3 Von Hoff (4-1), who overhauled the leaders late and beat a non-winners of two field with a career-best, and much-improved, 87. He has great tactical speed, and looks to work out a trip. #7 Swifty Devil (3-1) has in-and-out form (though even his “out” form contends with these), and looks ready to run a peak race. Hepulled clear two starts back and got caught; a repeat of that race might win this.

RACE 5: CLAIMING $40,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 1 MILE

6-8-4-3

If Dashing d’Artagnan wins race 1, it’ll validate the form of #6 Derbyness (2-1), who beat him easily last out. Taking a drop from first-level foes, he rated off the pace, easily struck the front, and won going away under a drive. It was a big step forward from his first dirt start, and he’ll try to keep it going here. #8 Joe the Jet (8-1) ran a big race at second asking last out. He dealt with a pair of challenges, one from Pentatonic, who lost by more than 20 lengths, then another from Under the Overpass. However, he dug in and held on for the victory, running a much-improved 81. He was claimed out of that race by Hugh McMahon. #4 El de Larry (10-1) has won three of his last four against softer. He answered a class test against $20,000 rivals in his prior star, now he takes another step up the class ladder.

RACE 6: MAIDEN CLAIMING $30,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

3-2-1-11

#3 K Kake Pop (5-2) has burned a lot of money in her relatively short five-race career, losing at 7-2 or shorter every time. However, she consistently runs strong figures compared to these, including a career-best 73 in her last start. She’s run in the 60s in each of her races; most of these have never run that fast. If she’s ever gonna win at this level, this field is where she’ll do it. #2 Nay Slayer (9-2) battled for the lead on debut at Aqueduct and hung in there until late. She fought with the odds-on choice who went on to win, but there’s no one in here as tough as that rival. #1 Harmonizing (10-1), my preferred half of the Hugh McMahon-trained entry, couldn’t seal the deal off a stalking trip last out, but ran on well and held second in her second start off the bench.

RACE 7: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $30,000, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 7 FURLONGS

4-6-2-1

Parx form doesn’t always transfer over here (unless you’re trained by Jamie Ness), but if #4 B B Bad (15-1) replicates his last few starts, he’ll be in a prime spot to pull the upset. He rallied from well off the pace to win last out with a career-best 90, and ran a similarly impressive 85 when second by less than a length in his prior start. #6 Get Set (9-5) shipped from Parx for Ness last out, and was a solid third against a field that included the likes of No Easy Days, who was in the midst of a three-race winning streak. This one has run in the 80s in four consecutive races, and is also likely to make a solid bid from off the pace. #2 Supreme Law (8-5) hasn’t shown much against second-level rivals in his last few starts, but should benefit from a major class drop.

RACE 8: MAIDEN CLAIMING $30,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 1 MILE

5-9-2-4

#5 Minxzluckystarfyre (2-1) improved sharply in his second start of 2024 last out. Thought he couldn’t reel in gate-to-wire winner Goodbye Note, he outkicked the others and finished second with a career-best 81. He’s a serious late threat as long as he gets even a semblance of a pace to run into. #9 Brady Bear (9-5) was third in that same race, also chasing the pace. He’s run consecutive 79s in his two starts this season, and could be sent to the lead from the outside post. #2 Divine Child (12-1) is lightly-raced (two career starts), drops to this level for the first time, and adds linkers. He’s run respectable figures in those two races, even if they weren’t visually impressive efforts.