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

Post time: 12:10 p.m.

Carryovers: 
Chesapeake Jackpot Pick 6 (races 3-8) — $0
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6)— $2,136
Late Pick 5 (races 4-8) — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

6-3-9-8

This was supposed to be the 14th race on Black-Eyed Susan day, but a massive thunderstorm caused it to be postponed to today. #6 Town Light (12-1) has grass breeding for days. Her second dam, Cozzy Corner, was a graded stakes winner in grass. Five of her siblings, including multiple stakes winner Safeen, have won in this surface. Trainer Phil Schoenthal hits at 27% with his horses going first time on the lawn. #3 Somnium (7-2) was entered and scratched on April 25, worked twice before the originally scheduled date of this race, worked again last Tuesday, and now returns here. She has tons of grass pedigree. She’s a half-sister to grass stars Caravel and Witty. Another brother, Mission Man, is a six-figure earner on grass, and year-older half-brother Enzo broke his maiden on Friday. He also finished second in a similar spot on April 19 behind Twain, who finished third in the James Murphy Stakes. This one has run well both on the pace and off of it in her two-race career, coming from way out of it to just miss in her lone grass start last October. She looks like she’ll get better with experience , and should be able to master these. #9 Beyond Question (9-2) has two siblings who won stakes races on grass, and showed speed on this surface last year before going to the sidelines. She’s been working well for Mike Trombetta and gets Lasix for the first time.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $10,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

3-1-5-6

#3 Super Needy (8-1) didn’t do much last out, but that was on an extremely wet track; “sloppy” is probably an understatement. He ran brisnet figures that would win this race in his prior start, and has had a bit more time off than usual since getting scratched on April 25. No one can run with #1 Tough Workout (4-1) early; he has by far the best early pace figures in the race. He very seldom has enough early speed to hold on, but he’ll likely salvage a slice of the exotics. He’s also the only one in the field who has run in the 70s in each of his last three dirt starts. #5 It’ll Do (6-5) handily beat a non-winners of two field two starts back, came up empty against better types at this condition last out, and now plunges in claiming price. He’s in career-best form, but his figures aren’t that much better than those of the others to justify his likely odds-on price.

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

9-7-4-6

#9 Vax a Nation (5-1) has topped the class par of 86 in each of his last three grass starts, the only one in the field to do so. He closed well for second in his 2025 debut behind the sharp gate-to-wire winner Coringa, who’s racing later on today’s card. In the process, he outfinished Soleil Volant, who was second in the James Murphy Stakes. He might have to chase down another loose leader here, in #7 Kake’s Arrow (2-1). This one is getting a class test after wiring easier fields in his last two races, but he’s got Jaime Rodriguez aboard for the first time, who knows what to do with a speed horse. He’s dangerous if allowed to get away with an easy pace. #4 Cocktails at Noon (5-2) closed from off a very slow pace to win a Maryland-restricted allowance first off a six-month layoff last out. He hasn’t run as fast as the best of Vax a Nation or Kake’s Arrow before, but he’s lightly-raced and trending in the right direction.

RACE 4: CLAIMING $16,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

7-1-2-8

#7 Set Ablaze (4-1) broke her maiden with a career-best 75 two starts ago on Virginia Derby weekend at Colonial Downs. Next out, she improved further to a 78 with a runner-up effort at Charles Town, in which she pressed an 11-10 favorite who lasted on the lead. She’ll look to work out a great trip just off the leaders and roll by them on the turn. #1 Thunder in Paris (3-1) rallied for third against a tougher field of 3-year-old claimers last out, and now gets a class dip. She looks like she’s found her rhythm after a sluggish start to the season. #2 Fair Trade (8-1) was a hard-fighting second in her last dirt start, and gets Yedsit Hazlewood aboard for the first time.

RACE 5: CLAIMING $16,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

2-5-4-1

#2 Magnolia Wind (8-1) hasn’t raced since mid-October, when she was left completely unprepared at the start of an amateur race and stood no chance. Earlier in the season, she turned in some strong frontrunning efforts at this distance or longer. Wesley Ho rode her in her best performances last year, didn’t ride her when she missed the break, and comes in for his lone mount of the day. #5 Roadrunner the Cat (6-1) got some action in her first start off a year-plus layoff last out, but got involved in a contentious early duel. She managed to finish sixth, the best of anyone who was involved in that duel, and looks to move forward with a race under her belt. #4 Carolina Sun (12-1) is a homebred for Susan Cooney, who saddled a pair of grass winners at the recently concluded Pimlico meet. She reclaimed this one in late November at Charles Town and gave her plenty of time off, getting her back on the worktab in late April. She ran some promising races on grass last year, and could be ready to pop at a price.

RACE 6: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

5-4-7-1

#5 Everett’s Song (3-1) has won his last four starts since returning from a year-plus layoff in December. He hasn’t raced since March 23, and has been entered and scratched twice since then, most recently on May 4. He’s worked twice for Hugh McMahon over the past few weeks, and although this is a step up in class, the figures he’s run against those fields would beat these. #4 Afraidofthebunny (6-1) was visually flat first off the Bruce Kravets claim from Jamie Ness last out, but still ran a respectable 85, and may improve getting back to a fast track and taking a class dip. #7 Fan Club (5-1) won at this condition two starts back, then showed little after stepping up to a second-level contest last out. He’s had some time off since that March 22 effort, along with a recent workout, and should turn in an improved effort.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, MD-RESTRICTED, 1 MILE (GRASS)

7-5-8-3

This race presents an exciting showdown between two up-and-coming Maryland-bred grass runners. After showing promise throughout last season, #7 Mission North (2-1) put it all together in his 2024 finale, crushing an open first-level field in gate-to-wire fashion. He won a pair of races over jumps to start his season, and now returns to the flat. He had problems getting settled during the first part of his campaign last year. If he puts it all together and is able to relax, he’ll be very hard to beat, and could be poised to do big things later in the year. #5 Coringa (8-5), who ran well on dirt all winter, switched back to grass last out and turned in an impressive gate-to-wire effort with a 90. As noted above, third-place finisher Soleil Volant is now stakes-placed, and runner-up Vax a Nation looms large earlier on the program. #8 King’s River (9-2) closed well from off a hot pace to win at Pimlico last out. While he’s pace-dependent, he’s in improving form and should be heard from late with any kind of early tempo.

RACE 8: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

10-5-6-8

Last year, #10 Big Big Star (5-1) won at the Green Spring Valley point-to-point, then won his pari-mutuel season debut. This year, he won at the Green Spring Valley point-to-point again, and now he’s making his pari-mutuel season debut, after getting washed off at Pimlico two weeks ago. There’s no reason to believe lightning can’t strike twice. #5 El de Larry (6-1) has been in fantastic form on dirt, showcasing blazing early speed, and has won on grass before. He’s a threat to take them gate-to-wire. #6 Kendama (7-2) finished second first off a 7 1/2-month break last out, but was overwhelmed by the surgent rally of King’s River. He was claimed out of that race by Kieron Magee, who is always sharp first off the claim.

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