LAUREL PARK PICKS AND PONDERINGS: june 1, 2024
In which we pick the races from Laurel Park each day…
Post time: 12:25 p.m.
Carryovers:
Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 —$961
Jackpot Super High 5 — $0
Late Pick 5 — $0
Check out our other handicapping here!
RACE 1: CLAIMING $12,500 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE
2-4-5-3
#2 Entrust (8-5) chased gate-to-wire winner Eye on the Candy last out, and though he could not catch up, he held well clear of the rest, including 1-2 favorite Milano, and secured second with a career-best brisnet figure of 86. He might find himself on the lead in a race without much early foot, and from there, could find himself as the one who’s hard to reel in. #4 Law of the Jungle (2-1) overcame a wide trip to win last out in his first start back from Florida. He’s the only one in the race without a loss against non-winners of three types. #5 Quincannon (5-1) narrowly missed his lifetime top with a 76 first off an eight-month layoff last out, punching on late against a better field than this one after rating near the pace. He should pack more of a punch here, though the distance is a question mark.
RACE 2: CLAIMING $20,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)
12-13-8-1
#12 Visby (9-2) made her grass debut against some tough company in the 2022 Stormy Blues Stakes. She made a solid move into a fast pace, but inexperience won out and she faded late. She improved to a 69 second off a 21-month layoff last out, making a similar premature move into the leaders. Still, she’s shown some grass aptitude in a race where no one has much of it. #13 Lady Ensign (9-5) goes out for the first time since November 19 for the Mike Trombetta barn, following a 2023 season in which she ran in the 70s on grass three times. She closed to finish a game second behind next-out winner Quick Power Nap two races back, then led most of the way in her season bow and held second. She has a very high ceiling (relatively speaking), we’ll see how she does first off the bench. #8 Seap (5-1) goes second off the layoff for Suzanne Stettinus and is sure to set the early pace. She got caught up in a duel and faded last out, but led every step at Charles Town last June before going on the sidelines. Stettinus is a solid 3-for-12 on the grass this year.
- What we learned on Maryland Juvenile Stakes dayHere’s what we learned at Laurel Park for Saturday’s Maryland Juvenile and Maryland Juvenile Filly Stakes.
RACE 3: MAIDEN CLAIMING $45,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 4 1/2 FURLONGS
3-7-6-4
#3 Safe Trust (5-2) didn’t want to load for her debut, but once she got going, she ran well, making ground late and getting third after a wide trip. The third and fourth-place finishers, Rapido Rosa, finished first and third, respectively, in a maiden race on Memorial Day at Pimlico. She’s the only one in the field with experience, giving her a massive edge over the others. #7 Itsamonstamash (2-1) is a half-sister to the great Anna’s Bandit. All five of her siblings to race have won, most recently full brother Banditsgoldenchild. He’s really turned it up in his last two workouts, and should turn in a good account at first asking. #6 Sunshine State (3-1) goes first out for John Salzman Jr, always a threat with first-timers at this time of the year, and is by Divining Rod, whose progeny tend to do well at first asking.
RACE 4: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)
14-12-9-3
Many of these exit the same race at this condition on April 26. #14 Smooth Pebble (2-1) won that day, coming from just off the pace and getting up over #12 Golden Can (5-2), who settled for second. Smooth Pebble should get a nice trip near the leaders on their outside, and will benefit from a rider switch to Jaime Rodriguez. Golden Can has run in the 80s in each of her last two grass starts, and is poised for a rebound following a flat try in an off-the-grass affair next out. #9 Theodora Grace (8-1) makes her first start since November 17 for Bob Klesaris, who is sharp with horses coming off 90+ day layoffs. She raced just twice last year, but ran in the 80s consistently throughout 2022, and has run improved races off long breaks in the past.
RACE 5: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $30,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS
4-6-3-1
#4 Mama G’s Wish (2-1) is the only one in the race to run in the 80s in each of her last two starts. She pressed the pace and drew off to beat many of these rivals last out, as she continues to round into the promise she showed in her 3-year-old season. Everyone else who was near that pace ended up well-beaten. #6 Bourbon Wildcat (15-1) gets significant class relief from second-level company. She ran into a gorilla in Goodgirl Badhabits in that race, who defeated them with contemptuous ease, but this one ran on well despite racing wide and lost a photo for second. If nothing else, she should close well and grab a slice. #3 Mattitude (9-2) rallied for second behind Mama G’s Wish last out. Her only clunker this year came when she broke awkwardly three starts back and never got into contention. With a clean start, she shouldn’t have many problems.
RACE 6: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, MD-BRED/SIRED, 1 1/8 MILES (GRASS)
7-5-3-1
#7 Chelichna (8-5) ran a gigantic race first off a six-month break on Black-Eyed Susan day. She struck the front in the stretch and battled gamely with favored Sun Bean, losing in a photo finish with a career-best 91. She was in ascending form towards the end of last year, kept it going in her 2024 debut, and is poised to improve further with a drop from second-level company. #5 Thegirlfromireland (7-2) exits the same race as Chelichna. She was making her first start since mid-August that day, and showed little after racing wide on both turns. She’s won twice on this track in three starts, and the one time she didn’t, she finished third by less than a length after getting interfered with in the All Brandy Stakes. #3 Except Temptation (6-1) was a chasing third behind the speedy Paper Mansion last out at Tampa Bay Downs. She has a solid late punch, but will need a pace to close into; she’s had some trouble as of late when pace-compromised.
- Maryland Juvenile: A mystery solved, decades laterSaturday’s Maryland Juvenile Stakes should be a fun race, but it’s unlikely to launch the careers of two Classic winners, like the 1982 edition did.
RACE 7: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS, 1 MILE
6-7-4-5
Claudio Gonzalez has decided to stick with allowance company for #6 Play Harder (2-1). Rather than a class test, he gets a distance test, as he’s making his first start beyond six furlongs. He held on to beat Maryland-bred allowance foes last out despite not changing leads, and has run no worse than an 88 in each of his last three races. His other sibling to race, Kingdom, has won going a mile. #7 The Band Runs On (3-1) improved to an 86 when third to Play Harder after a wide trip last out. He also has some distance questions, but he’s lightly-raced with plenty of upside. #4 Derbyness (5-2) is the only one in here with multiple wins going one mile or longer, having won back-to-back contests going a mile and 1 1/16 miles over the winter. He’s going second off the Brittany Russell claim; in his first start for that barn, he came from well off the pace to finish a clear-cut second.
RACE 8: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 1 MILE
5-7-1-4
#5 Planet Clare (3-1) did what was expected of her as the 1-5 chalk at Parx last out. She set the pace, turned back a challenge, and drew back off to win at second asking with a very strong 87. She’ll look to take another step forward for Keri Brion. #7 Dazzling Move (7-5) improved sharply in her last dirt start at Gulfstream Park, lasting through the early pace and kicking on to win over next-out winner Sidamara. That was over a wet track, and she’ll get a fast one today, so we’ll see if she can turn in that type of performance over this type of surface. #1 Go Sherry Go (7-2) led late against these types last out, but was run down by up-and-comer Regaled and finished second. This turned in a big maiden-breaking effort to start her 3-year-old season, and has rounded back into her best form following a spring swoon.
RACE 9: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)
5-1-3-2
The last race of #5 Riccio (6-5) started to look a whole lot better two weeks ago, when Crabs N Beer, who beat Riccio by a neck on April 27, finished second in the Dinner Party Stakes on the Preakness undercard. This one won his 2023 finale with a last-to-first drive, and ran some big races against similar throughout last year. His best gets it done over these. #1 Sneaking Suspicion (6-1) broke his maiden at 12th asking, and first off a six-month layoff, last out, coming from off the pace to win under a drive. Jorge Ruiz keeps the mount; he’s 4 for his last 14 with his grass mounts. #3 Jardani (4-1) switches to grass for the first time since late October for the Jamie Ness/Jaime Rodriguez, and has the best late pace figures in the race. We’ll see if that punch has more potency on the lawn than it has on dirt lately.
RACE 10: CLAIMING $12,500 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES
1-5-2-3
16th time was the charm for #1 Job’s Not Finished (7-2) in her most recent start. She set the pace on the inside and went gate-to-wire. Look for her to try and pull off another wire job. After a string of figures in the mid/upper-60s, #5 G’s Fireball (7-2) improved dramatically to a career-best 77 last out, closing well and just missing. It was a promising try after, at best, mild rallies in her prior starts against her fellow 3-year-olds. #2 Mucho Macho Mrytle (6-1) broke through with a grinding victory at Parx last out at fifth asking. She has somewhat inconsistent form, but she’s at least proven around two turns and has not lost against these types.
LATEST NEWS
- Charles Town picks and analysis: December 7, 2024
- Laurel Park picks and ponderings: December 7, 2024
- Laurel Park picks and ponderings: December 6, 2024
- Laurel Park picks and ponderings: December 1, 2024
- Charles Town picks and analysis: November 30, 2024
- Laurel Park picks and ponderings: November 30, 2024