• John Piassek
• May 5, 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 — $599
Late Pick 5 —$0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 4 1/2 FURLONGS

4-2-1-3

We’ll kick off the final card of the spring meet with more 2-year-olds. The usual suspects have horses in this race, including the king of early-season 2-year-olds in Maryland, John Salzman Jr. I’ll take the more well-regarded of his two runners, #4 Sir Mick (5-2). He’s had some solid recent workouts, including two three-furlong gate drills. He outworked his stablemate, Up in Flames, by a full second on April 27. #2 Studlydoright (3-1), one of two Jerry Robb trainees in here, sold for a cool $110,000 to Mens Grille Racing at last fall’s Midlantic Yearling Sale, and has put in a pair of good four-furlong drills in anticipation of this spot. #1 Ace It (4-1) is the only one in the race with experience. He was well-bet on debut at Keeneland April 10, but had an awkward break and didn’t do much. Nonetheless, that experience should serve him well.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $30,000 (N/W3L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

10-5-1-4

Three races on today’s card were scheduled for grass, including this one, but they were pulled off last night. #10 Casino Tricks (12-1) got involved in an early tussle in each of his last two starts. He was outfinished by his dueling partner, Guapo Again, two starts ago, but still managed to hold second, then got nabbed by late-surging Austin From Boston in his last. He should once again be a major pace presence from the outside, and he’s shown the heart needed to contend. His most serious challenge will come from #5 Moncrief (12-1), who battled on the lead, drew clear, and held on to win last out. He’ll at least be able to protect position on the inside. #1 John Hall (20-1) didn’t do much against better non-winners of three foes in his last start, and has gotten some time off since that February 25 effort. At his best, he has a strong late kick, and would take advantage if the aforementioned two melt each other down.

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

5-3-2-1

If Casino Tricks does win race 2, it would flatter #5 Austin From Boston (8-5), who swooped the field and won two races back. He didn’t do much against better last out, but still matched his brisnet figure from that victory with a 78. That type of mark fits in against these. #3 Bonnie Bill (7-5) goes second off the claim by Kieron Magee. He made his local debut against open $8,000 types last out, and came from off the pace to make solid late ground and grab third with a respectable 77. #2 Luv Ya Bye Bye (5-1) moved into the pace on the turn and resurged in the stretch to win at this level two starts ago. He put in another game effort while wide last out, and should work out a better trip today.

RACE 4: CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

6-5-4-7

#6 Irish Bandit (6-1) ran some big races as a 2-year-old last year, then went to the sidelines after a fifth-place effort in the Hickory Tree Stakes at Colonial Downs in August. He improved sharply to a 79 second off the bench last out, and if he takes another step forward, or even matches that figure, he’ll be dangerous. #5 One Way Farrior (8-5) stormed from behind to beat $40,000 rivals two starts back, then got outkicked by Force of Justice, who was odds-on in that race and is much better than anyone here, in his most recent. He should thrive on the class drop. #4 Little Lance (2-1) chased the loose gate-to-wire winner in his last start, but got up over the others with a three-wide sweep and finished second, outkicking Irish Bandit in the process.

RACE 5: CLAIMING $12,500 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

2-3-6-10

#2 Mo Traffic (3-1) is also making her third start off the layoff. She ran a solid 73 first off an eight-month layoff at Charles Town two races ago, then turned in a flat effort against much better first-level runners last out. I would’ve liked to see another workout since that race, but the class drop should still help her get back to her usual self. #3 Cora’s Choice (7-2) shook off all pace challengers early on last out, but was surpassed by Fair Grounds shipper Prize Debate and finished a clear second. We’ll see how long she can last on the lead today. #6 Stolen Laughter (8-1) broke her maiden in gate-to-wire style at Timonium last September, and add Lasix for her first start since then. She might need a race, but if she comes close to the 73 she ran in that maiden win, she’s dangerous.

RACE 6: CLAIMING $30,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

3-5-12-1

#3 Brady Bear (2-1) made his way to the front from the outside post last out, and drew off to break his maiden in style with a strong 86, the third race in a row where he set or matched his career-best mark. He might have the highest ceiling of anyone in the field. #5 Wicked Secret (7-2) ran in the upper-70s twice in his last three starts, his only bad race in that stretch coming when wide first off a brief layoff at Parx. He’s coming off a ten-week break here, but has worked well since then. #12 Buckin’ Dreamer (12-1) ran a career-best 82 in his first start at a mile or longer last out, where he led briefly and held third. The winner of that race, Derbyness, was coming off a victory and came back to finish third next out, while runner-up Raika came back to win his next try.

RACE 7: CLAIMING $12,500 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE

2-8-6-9

The lightbulb has gone on for #2 Marley’s Ghost (8-5). After starting her career 0-for-11, she’s rattled off a pair of victories by a combined 26 1/2 lengths. She should get her usual stalk-and-pounce trip and draw away. #8 Mo Tough (4-1) got involved in a duel last out, and while she shook off her dueling partner, she couldn’t hold off pace-stalking Honor the Truth and got second. She might end up as the target Marley’s Ghost runs at. #6 Always Forward (8-1) finished third behind Mo Tough in her last start, and is slowly improving form, having peaked at a 76 in that effort.

RACE 8: CLAIMING $30,000 (N/W3L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

8-3-2-6

#8 Midnight Renegade (5-2) drops in class after facing Maryland-bred allowance foes in his last few. He didn’t do much on grass first off a two-month break, but he’s run no worse than an 84 in his last three dirt tries, and that race looks like it set him up nicely for today. #3 Irish Warlock (7-2) had a five-race runner-up streak snapped last out with a third-place effort, where he rallied wide and just missed by a half-length. He’s getting a class test here, having previously faced softer non-winners of three types, but his recent figures contend with these. #2 Find Faith (9-2) bounced back with a solid 80 in his first try at this level last out, and might benefit from a cutback in distance from a mile.