RACE 1: MAIDEN CLAIMING $16,000, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, 1 MILE (GRASS)

1-7-16-8 (DIRT: 6-10-7-14)

#1 Efficacy (8-5) closed from well behind in both of his starts last year, running impressive brisnet figures of 69 and 72. He’s stretching out for the first time in a race where no one has great form going long on grass. He’s already proven he can handle the surface, so as long as he has any aptitude at this distance, he’ll win. #7 Myluckeyvalentine (2-1) got some support at the windows on debut last September, but got into some traffic trouble and was little factor. Cal Lynch raced him on dirt a few times this winter, probably in anticipation of a spot like this. Look for an improved effort with the surface switch. #16 Moonflyer (6-1) made decent ground in his 2025 debut last out despite not changing leads, and ran some competitive races on this surface last year.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $7,500 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

7-5-6-2

#7 Beach Cowboy (3-1) got caught up in a duel against better in his last two starts and faded. Today’s draw isn’t great, but he has enough speed that he might be able to cross and clear and have an easier time on the lead. #5 Abuelo Paps (3-2) ran in the mid/upper-80s twice last year, but went to the sidelines after a spill at Delaware Park last July. He returned to the worktab in early April, and has put in four workouts since. If he runs back to his form last year, he’ll easily beat these, but it’s a big “if.” #6 Midnight Renegade (4-1) went off as the favorite at this level last out, and ran a big race. He was squeezed at the start and was forced to rush wide to the lead. He struck the front at the top of the stretch, but was overwhelmed by a runaway winner as Minister for Magic and ended up third. He was claimed out of that race by Lacey Gaudet, who puts Yedsit Hazlewood in the saddle for the first time. He ran an 84 two starts ago when he avoided trouble; that kind of race puts him in the mix with these.

RACE 3: CLAIMING $25,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 FURLONGS (GRASS)

3-13-12-1 (DIRT: 1-3-5-4)

#3 Ellinger (8-1) showed speed and held second first off a seven-month layoff last out, outfinishing the other two horses who battled for the lead. He’s making his first start on grass, but he’s by Vekoma, whose progeny tend to do well on this surface. #13 Chill Boss (8-1) was in improving form throughout last year, before he flopped on a sloppy Penn National surface to end his season. He’s never faced a field this easy going short on grass before, and the circumstances could be optimal. #12 Corrected Pedigree (8-1) broke his maiden on grass in July, and went on to finish second at this level in October, losing to Laddie Dance, who went on to win on dirt two starts later.

RACE 4: CLAIMING $25,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

2-5-4-3

#2 It’ll Do (3-1) made his local debut a winning one last out, crushing a non-winners of two group with ease with an impressive 78. The second and third-place finishers, Daddy Yankee and Twice Gold, came back to finish second and third on Sunday. He showed some promise at Oaklawn Park earlier this winter, but he had his form obscured by some extenuating circumstances. #5 Little Bit Risky (10-1) ran a huge race three starts back, crushing a group of 3-year-old claimers with an impressive 91, and looks like the main speed of this race. He was third behind Ellinger last out, so if that one does well in race 3, it’ll flatter this one. #4 Bermuda Run (6-1) got up to win four starts back, ran a very credible second on a track playing against him three starts back, ran over his head two starts ago, and didn’t do much on grass last out. This looks like a spot where at least most of the stars will align for him, and he can run his best race.

RACE 5: MAIDEN CLAIMING $45,000, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 FURLONGS (GRASS)

7-12-8-1 (DIRT: 7-6-3-1)

#7 Melancia (9-5) has blazing early speed and has run career-top figures in her last two starts on dirt. Maddy Olver is coming down from New York to ride this Rob Atras trainee (in contrast to the other Atras entrant in the field), an encouraging sign. #12 Veola (9-2) went off favored in her career debut in a sea of mud last out, but faded after chasing the pace (the early leader also finished well up the track). Runner-up Frosted Dreams returned to break her maiden last Friday by 10 1/4 lengths in gate-to-wire fashion. This one has put in a bullet workout at Delaware since her last start, and looks ready to improve for Keri Brion. #8 Miss Outta My Way (7-2) is a half-sister to Gold Digging Broad, a stakes winner on grass, and put in a solid drill for Mike Trombetta at Fair Hill last Friday (outworking mostly other unraced horses). Trombetta isn’t great at first asking, but she didn’t catch the best field, luckily for her.

RACE 6: MAIDEN CLAIMING $45,000, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

2-5-1-3

Brittany Russell was virtually automatic with first-time starters at Laurel Park. Of her 12 debuters between the winter and spring meets, seven of them won, and three more hit the board. She has another one here in #2 Ma Ma Ma Vekoma (2-1). Her family is familiar to Russell; she’s a half-sister to Whereshetoldmetogo and Rominski. Both of them won at first asking and went on to great success in sprints. Eric Camacho, who rode Post Time as a 2-year-old, has the mount. #5 Regal Miss Lily (5-1) leapt in the air and bore in at the start on debut She was hustled hard by Ricardo Chiappe to race near the pace, but the bad break did her in, and she showed little from there. She adds blinkers for her second start and has worked well twice since then. #1 Brightness (2-1) ran a much-improved race at second asking last out, pressing gate-to-wire winner Ready for Magic and holding second. Another step forward here likely means victory.

RACE 7: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE (GRASS)

8-1-2-11 (DIRT: 7-3-8-2)

#8 Bode’s Maker (7-2) got some time off and a trainer switch to Jamie Ness after a very dull effort at Colonial Downs to cap his 2024 season. He closed very well and just missed on dirt at Parx in his 2025 debut, a spot probably designed to set him up for a race like this one. Last year, #1 Big Big Star (8-1) won at the Green Spring Valley point-to-point, then won his pari-mutuel season debut at Laurel Park. This year, he won at the Green Spring Valley point-to-point again. There’s no reason to believe lightning can’t strike twice, especially considering he’ll get a great trip just off the pace on the rail. #2 The Last Scip (8-1) won on this track first off a long layoff last year, and is also trying to repeat the same thing this year. He ended his 2024 grass season in sharp style, just missing after a wide trip against Maryland-restricted allowance foes.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 1 1/16 MILES

4-3-6-2

#4 Late Nite Call (2-1) went gate-to-wire to break her maiden two starts back, and didn’t regress that much in the Weber City Miss Stakes despite a tougher trip and a disadvantageous pace scenario. She ran at least an 83 in both of those races, and is the only one in the race to run that fast at any point in her career. #3 Mischief in Motion (8-5) handled the stretchout from 5 1/2 furlongs to a mile and 40 yards with aplomb, stalking the pace and pulling clear to break her maiden at Tampa Bay Downs. This $525,000 yearling purchase has worked well since joining Mike Trombetta’s Fair hill string in early April, and has plenty of potential. #6 Tres Aries (5-1) has already won twice at today’s distance, albeit against softer, and ran huge to just miss first off the Claudio Gonzalez claim last out.

RACE 9: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/16 MILES

1-7-6-4

#1 Mamba Mindset (3-1) has run in the 60s in each of his last four starts, and should show speed from the inside under new rider Carlos Lopez. He’s trained by Phil Capuano, as is #7 Dark Lute (2-1). That one went off favored on debut at Turfway Park, but stood little chance after racing far behind off a slow pace. Capuano claimed him out of that race, in which he ran a competitive-for-this-level 58, and puts Yedsit Hazlewood in the saddle. This one should improve second time out, especially if he can stay closer to the pace. #6 Parlay for Destiny (4-1) was favored at this condition last out, but something was clearly amiss, as he fell far behind early and was not persevered with. He hasn’t raced since that March 22 effort (a very long layoff by Mario Serey standards), but has worked twice at Delaware since then. He ran some big figures against tough horses at this level earlier in the year.