• John Piassek
• April 21, 2024

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

Post time: 12:25 p.m.

Carryovers: 
Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 —$7,008
Jackpot Super High 5 — $5,356
Late Pick 5 —$0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

4-8-5-7

#4 Mattitude (5-2) was eliminated almost as soon as the race began last out, when she broke a tangle and lost her usual early position. Take that race out, and she’s a back-to-back winner on the lead, including victories against these types and better. #8 Spicy Margarita (4-1) chased Mattitude on the pace last out and faded, but ran big races on the front end in her prior two starts. She should at least make things interesting for Mattitude early on, and could in fact clear that rival from the outside. #5 Canoodle (8-1) is in improving form for the Jamie Ness/Jaime Rodriguez trainer/jockey combination, She has solid tactical speed, and would take advantage if Mattitude and Spicy Margarita burn each other out.

RACE 2: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE (GRASS)

5-3-2-11

This is a group without much positive experience on grass, so anyone who’s run well on this surface recently gets the edge in my book. That’s the case with #5 Justified Strategy (2-1), who raced overland in her first start on this surface last out at Gulfstream Park, but had more to give late and just missed third with a respectable brisnet figure of 77. She should improve with more grass experience against a soft bunch. #3 Lute Warm (4-1) was well-bet on debut on dirt, and recovered from a bad break to finish a strong-charging third. Her pedigree isn’t a particularly grassy one, but she doesn’t have to love the surface to win; just like it. #2 Virtual (5-1) has worked well for her debut for Keri Brion and is a half-sister of a grass winner, out of a mare who also won on this surface.

RACE 3: CLAIMING $20,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

3-2-4-5

#3 Mr. Houghton (7-2) won first off a very long break two starts back at Penn National, then won the battle, but lost the war after dueling for the lead last out. He should be able to get tot he rail and the lead here. #2 The Last Jumpstart (3-1) snapped his 0-for-14 streak three starts back, and has finishing a hard-charging second, losing by less than a length, in each of his two starts against winners. He’ll need a hot pace to close into to win, but should be an exotics contender regardless. #4 Wemby (4-1), easily the lightest-raced horse in the field with four career starts, won on the lead two starts ago at Gulfstream, and was wide every step in his first try against winners last out. He should fare better in his local debut.

RACE 4: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

4-8-11-14

Suzanne Stettinus has them surrounded in here, in my estimation; she trains my top two picks. #4 Prince Pere (8-1) put in a pair of strong late rallies against these types to cap his 2023 season, with figures in the mid-80s both times. He hasn’t raced since November, but has been working better and better since rejoining the worktab in mid-March. #8 Boss is a Pal (5-2) won at this level in his final start of the 2023 season, running a giant figure of 90 after racing on the early pace. He has easily the best early pace figures in the group. #11 Live Fire (7-2) ran on well in his first start on this track last October despite a poor beginning compromising him, and has also worked well for his comeback, in his case, at Penn National.

RACE 5: CLAIMING $40,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

9-8-1-2

The two likely favorites in this race are a yin and yang: one’s a committed frontrunner, the other a deep closer. I’ll take #9 Square Slice (2-1) over #8 Force of Justice (3-1), even though the latter beat the former by a head two starts ago. I think Square Slice, with the best late pace figures in the field by far, is more likely to run his race than Force of Justice, who runs the risk of breaking a bit slowly or getting engaged in a duel. #1 Medagooch (4-1) sat just off the pace and won going away two starts back, and could be especially potent with the right race in front of him.

RACE 6: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

7-6-10-5

Many of these ran in a race at this condition on grass last November 5. #7 Eldest Son (7-2) got up to win that day, rallying from well off the pace despite late traffic trouble. In his most recent grass start at Tampa Bay Downs in December, he lost in a four-horse blanket finish to, among others, Forever Souper, who won stakes races in each of his next two starts. This one didn’t do much in a dirt contest last out, but that was likely just a prep for a race like today’s. #6 Bode’s Maker (8-1) has also been competing recently on dirt, without much success, and now gets to switch back to his preferred surface. He ran a big 93 in his most recent start on this surface, which came last September at Monmouth Park, despite being rank in the early stages. #10 Wicked Prankster (9-2) was nailed by Eldest Son in the last few jumps in that November 5 contest, and makes his first start since then. He’s bound to go straight to the front once again and should face minimal early pressure. From there, it’s a matter of how long he can hold on.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

4-5-7-1

#4 Nasty Habit (9-2) is the only one in here to run in the 90s in each of his last two starts. He fought hard in the stretch last out at Turfway Park, but lost to a hard-trying 32-1 upset winner. #5 Dillinger (7-5) looked promising when he broke his maiden for Brittany Russell last July, but hasn’t raced since then. He rallied from off the pace to win that day as the odds-on choice over Childers, who has since won twice. I’m interested to see how he does in this spot. #7 Disputed Claim (15-1) lasted a long way on the lead to beat Maryland-bred allowance rivals last out, and should be a factor at a price if he can stay close to the pace.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

9-5-3-8

As a promising grass sprinter, #9 Tidewater (8-5) gets the call in a race where everyone else looks, at best, scattershot on this surface. He fought hard to win back-to-back starts on this surface last fall, and closed his grass season with a pair of near-misses at this condition, running an 88 or better twice. He should beat this bunch as long as he shows anything first off the layoff. #5 One Whirlwind Ride (7-2) ran a big race on the lead at 81-1 in his last grass start last October, losing to a solid group which included next-out winner Fun Notion and the aforementioned Tidewater. He showed sped and faded on dirt last out, but it served as a nice prep for today. #3 Hyteck Prince (12-1) gobbled up ground to break his maiden last November with a big 88, and adds Lasix for the first time in his 2024 bow.