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

Post time: 12:10 p.m.

Carryovers: 
Chesapeake Jackpot Pick 6 (races 6-11) — $4,983
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6) — $1,940
Late Pick 5 (races 7-11) — $0

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RACE 1: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, 1 MILE (GRASS)

4-3-10-5

It might look like #4 Cooper (5-1) hasn’t raced since November, but he’s making his second start off the layoff here, and taking a big cutback in distance. Jack Fisher ran him in a 1 1/2-mile flat training race at the Green Spring Valley Hounds point-to-point meet on March 30, and this 3-year-old finished seventh against a slew of older horses. He was probably a gelding that day also (he’s listed as a first-time gelding) and gets on Lasix. He showed some promise in his lone pari-mutuel try on this surface at Aqueduct last November, and that point-to-point race should have him primed for a big effort today. #3 Simply Disregarded (9-2) was indeed disregarded by the bettors last out, going off at 46-1 in his grass debut a Gulfstream Park. However, he outran his odds, chasing very honest fractions and holding on for fourth (the loose leader held on for third). Jorge Ruiz stays aboard, and will look to work out another nice trip on or near the pace. With no maiden grass races in the book at Aqueduct until next week, Chad Brown has elected to send #10 Jurisprudence (5-2) down here for his debut. While Brown has enjoyed plenty of success in Maryland, including two Preakness victories, he’s 2-for-7 in maiden races down here, while getting bet off the board most of the time. This one has grass breeding (his only sibling to race was a two-time stakes winner on the surface) and has a long, steady worktab since mid-January. Is he that ready to go that Brown simply can’t wait another week with him?

RACE 2: CLAIMING $25,000 (N/W3L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES

4-6-2-5

#4 Gilda’s Girl (5-2) couldn’t make the front against better last out and showed little, but she has proven early speed going this far, and should get her ideal setup in this contest. She’ll need a very slow pace to run her very best, but who else can hang with her going this long? The only other one with speed, Rascallion, doesn’t have her class. #6 Ghee for the Win (9-5) got up in the last few jumps to win against non-winners of two rivals last out. She might be at her best going shorter, but still, she’s in improving form and has great late speed. #2 Lachicafortequila (8-1) has closed well against very slow paces in her last few races, and should get up for a share against these even if Gilda’s Girl is able to walk the dog.

RACE 3: CLAIMING $40,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

4-9-13-5

Butch Reid won the King Leatherbury Stakes last Saturday with Fore Harp in a gate-to-wire effort. He sends out another horse with speed in a grass sprint in #4 Colonel Bob (5-1). He raced on the pace in last fall’s Atlantic Beach Stakes, and though he couldn’t war down the gate-to-wire winner, he still turned in an impressive brisnet figure of 78. While his dirt form has been very flat since, switching him back to grass should wake him up. #9 Bourbon Boss (10-1) stopped badly after setting brutal fractions first off the Michael Pino claim at Turfway Park last out, but he ran great figures on grass last year, and will also be prominent on the early pace. He may prefer a bit more distance, however. #13 Watch Out World (3-1) did nothing against a buzzsaw of a Maryland-restricted field last out, a race that may have been a prep for a spot like today’s. He ran in the 80s in back-to-back starts to cap his grass season last year, and might get a nice trip in the clear on the outside.

RACE 4: CLAIMING $40,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

5-8-4-7

#5 Magic Express (3-2) went off favored in a first-level dash in his first start off a 10-month layoff last out, but faded after getting involved in an early duel. Brittany Russell dropped him back in here, rather than race him against her Prado Road yesterday, and has worked well since that last race. If he runs back to his races from last year, he’ll crush them. #8 Medagooch (7-2) ran a career-best 85 last out, and was claimed out of that race by Anthony Farrior. He puts Arnaldo Bocachica in the saddle, which is always worth noting. #4 Square Slice (12-1) was completely flat first off an 11-month break last out, but he showed a high ceiling in early/mid-2024, running in the mid/upper-80s three times in a row. I’ll give him another chance to return to that form.

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

9-8-7-11

#9 Coringa (6-1) broke his maiden on dirt in February, and has held his own against first-level rivals on that surface, but he might be better-suited for grass. Both his dam and his second dam won on grass, and two of his siblings have also done so. He has lots of early speed, and looks bound to take them all the way. #8 Soleil Volant (3-1) was pace-compromised last time at this level on grass at Gulfstream, but he’s had some time since his last race, and has gotten some good drills in at Graham Motion’s Fair Hill base. #7 Hanksdiviningrod (9-2) won two of his last three starts last year, with his only defeat in that span coming in the Maryland Million Turf. He might need a race first off the bench, but he’s still proven on this surface, and will hope for a decent pace to close into.

RACE 6: MAIDEN CLAIMING $45,000, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

8-5-14-15

#8 Dats Tap (8-1) showed speed and faded against better maidens going longer on grass last year, and completely fell off form towards the end of the season. He’s racing one turn on grass for the first time here, and this looks like a spot he’ll be well-suited for. #5 Elon (7-2) consistently ran in the 70s against these types on grass last year, and should also be forwardly-placed. He ran a season’s best 78 in a similar spot first off a layoff in his season debut last April, so I’m not worried about the break here. #14 Enduring Gold (2-1) ran a much-improved race at second asking, holding on for third after racing on the pace at Colonial Downs last out. He’s trying grass for the first time in this spot.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES

2-5-6-3

#2 Sister Supream (5-2) set a very loose lead against a similar field last out, and held a well-clear second behind a strong-closing rival. She has a similar pace advantage this time as she did last time, and she gets a rider switch to Mychel Sanchez, one of Jamie Ness’s top riders. The other Ness entrant, #5 Rowsie Express (7-2), gets Jaime Rodriguez aboard. She chased Sister Supream and finished third last out, improving ten points to a 79 second off a 7 1/2-month break. #6 Skip Thru Da Fire (5-1) closed off of slow fractions to win a similar race at a one-turn mile last out. This will be her first try at this distance, but she’s handled distance tests in each of her past two starts, so it’s certainly possible she can pass this one.

LATE PICK 5 STARTS HERE. CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO ANALYSIS

RACE 8: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

2-10-11-1

#2 Island D’Lite (6-1) won at this level to cap his 2024 season, coming from off the pace to win with an impressive 88. That kind of race would beat these, and there’s enough pace in front of him that he should get another advantageous setup. #10 Rad Paisley (6-1) hasn’t won on grass in five attempts, but he’s in very sharp form and has been facing much better than these on dirt. He has excellent early speed, and might be able to take them gate-to-wire if his form translates. #11 Boss is a Pal (5-2) won a 5 1/2-furlong starter optional claiming contest on grass on the last weekend of April in his 2024 debut. He’s in a very similar spot for his 2025 debut, and he ended last season in fine form, finishing a game second going two turns.

RACE 9: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

7-2-6-3

#7 Haileysfirstnotion (2-1) dazzled in his second start off a nine-month layoff last out. He handily defeated a salty Maryland-restricted field which included next-out winners Heard On Thestreet and Addy’s Laddy T N T. He improved 13 points to a 98 that day, by far a career-best figure. He showed plenty of promise around this time last year, with back-to-back easy wins before going on the sidelines, and looks like a future stakes horse. #2 War Master (6-1) sat a great trip and demolished a first-level field last out, and now gets a class test after facing fields of that nature all winter. He consistently runs in the upper-80s/low-90s, which is good enough to contend here. However, it’s unusual that he’s in for the $40,000 tag when he doesn’t have to be. He’s won a maiden race, three starter optional claiming races, a Maryland-restricted allowance, and an open first-level allowance, so he fits the class straight-up. #6 Play Harder (5-2) was five-for-seven last year, but hasn’t raced since last July, when he was fourth in the Concern Stakes. His ceiling is high, but like Haileysfirstnotion, he might need a race before we see his very best.

RACE 10: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE (GRASS)

1-9-3-2

Graham Motion has then surrounded; he trains my top two picks. #1 Sunny Spell (6-1) made her American debut last out in a 1 3/8-mile event at Gulfstream. She chased an honest pace for the level before tiring. She won going 1 1/8 miles in France last year, so this distance should be more up her alley. #9 Royal Wintour (9-5) faced some very salty rivals last spring, and now makes her first start since finishing fourth on a very wet grass course in the Hilltop Stakes on the Preakness undercard. She’s been working at Motion’s Fair Hill base since February, suggesting he’s had a spot like this in mind for her all along. Jorge Ruiz, Motion’s first-call rider in Maryland grass races, has the assignment. #3 Force of Law (15-1) broke his maiden on the Gulfstream grass last out, and makes his first start for the ever-dangerous Madison Meyers barn.

RACE 11: CLAIMING $12,500 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

5-6-3-2

#5 She’s a Gem (12-1) improved eight points to a 67 to break her maiden at second asking last out. She sat a nice trip off an average early pace that day, and might be able to grab control in a race without a ton of speed. #6 Thunder in Paris (3-1) ran a career-best 71 against a much better field than this one last out, and should relish her first drop to non-winners of two claimers. #3 Sweet No No (2-1) also drops to this condition following a fourth-place finish last out, in the same 3-year-old claimer that Thunder of Paris exits. She was a sharp winner from just off the pace three starts back, and may take another step forward third off the Kieron Magee claim.

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