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

First post time: 12:10 p.m.

Carryovers: 
Chesapeake Jackpot Pick 6 (races 4-9) — $743
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6) — $2,136
Late Pick 5 (races 5-9) — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: CLAIMING $40,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

11-5-1-10 (DIRT: 7-6-9-8)

On Sunday, Jack Fisher and Forest Boyce teamed up to win a grass race with a horse coming in off a pair of steeplechase wins in Mission North. They’ll try the same strategy with #11 Roja Redemption (5-1). He was most recently third at Willowdale, following a ten-length win at Blue Ridge. He won on this course last September and was a close second after setting the pace in his final two starts of the campaign. #5 Whiskeyinthejaro (12-1) was severely pace-compromised in his last start, but closed well against better on grass last year, and should turn in a strong late rally with an honest pace to close into. #1 Transactional (20-1) couldn’t last after setting strong fractions going six furlongs on grass at Aqueduct in his last two races. However, he ran well going longer at Sam Houston Race Park earlier this year, so today’s distance and draw may suit him well.

RACE 2: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

1-4-7-3

#1 Opposite the Crowd (4-1), based at Delaware Park for Greg Compton, makes the trip down here. She was an impressive winner first off the Compton claim at Oaklawn Park two races ago, but got a little too involved in the early pace last out and faded to fourth. There’s enough speed in here that she doesn’t have to be forced into setting the pace; she can relax off the leaders on the inside and pounce. #4 I Can Do It (6-1) won her 2025 debut in a splashtastic effort last out. She struck the front at the eighth pole, and held off two rivals on either side of her to win by a nose. Some of her flat races towards the end of the season came at longer distances, but she loves going six furlongs: she’s 4-for-6 at today’s distance. #7 Anonymously (3-1) scratched from the outside post in a second-level race last Friday to run here. She’s hit the exacta 12 times in 17 starts on this track, has recently run well at this level, and has tons of early speed. The only downside is another outside draw.

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

4-10-6-3 (DIRT: 10-5-2-7)

#4 Secure’s Hope (12-1) ran well in two grass sprint starts at Colonial Downs last year, didn’t like the longer distance in her 2024 bow last out, and now returns with Lasix and blinkers for the first time. Madison Meyers has been doing well with her grass runners. She’s 7-for-14 in-the-money with them this year, including five of her last six, many of them at good prices. Cutting back to 5 1/2 furlongs should help this one’s cause. #10 Mun Mun Can Run (5-2) also comes in here off a long break, having not raced since September 13. She closed well and lost by a neck in a blanket finish at second asking that day, improving 15 points to a career-best brisnet figure of 75. That field has not gone on to flatter itself, as only two of her eight opponents that day have won since. However, this doesn’t look like the greatest field either, and she’s flashed enough ability to beat them. Fellow Mike Trombetta trainee #6 Souper Roll (6-1) has four half or full siblings who raced; all of them have won on grass. Many of them took a while to find their best stride, but all she has to do is show a little bit of something, and she’ll contend.

RACE 4: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

4-1-2-3

#4 Bigdaddysboy (10-1) closed a ton of ground late to get up for fourth in a very salty race last out. The drop in class is even bigger than it looks on paper. Although he’s had a few near-misses, he’s rounding back into his best form and should provide great value. #1 Minister for Magic (2-1) finished third ahead of Bigdaddysboy in his last start, and won twice at the winter meet, albeit against softer fields. He’ll get a nice trip off the leaders on the rail. #2 Pit Stop Man (7-2) hasn’t crossed the wire first in a while (he was elevated to victory twice via DQ over the winter), but he’s been in a sharp form on this track, with figures in the upper-80s, and cannot be discounted in a race like this.

RACE 5: MAIDEN CLAIMING $10,000, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, 7 FURLONGS

7-6-4-3

#7 Speedy Alex (9-2) came close to his career-top figure with a 65 in his season debut last out, and while this is a tougher field than the one he saw that day, he’s fairly-lightly raced, trending in the right direction, and poised to run a career-best race. #6 Skylar’s Brother (2-1) crossed the wire first last out, but was disqualified for drifting out in the stretch. That was his first start in seven months, and considering he was tailing off towards the end of last year, the time off looks to have done him some good. He should also improve second off the bench. #4 Uncle Grey (6-1) has faced better maidens for most of the year. In his last start at this level in late March, he had his momentum stymied at the top of the stretch, and made good ground when clear to get fourth behind some solid-for-the-level rivals. This level and distance might be his sweet spot.

RACE 6: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

2-1-7-3 (DIRT: 10-1-6-2)

#2 Great Idea (5-2) did nothing in a washed-off affair last out in his 2025 debut, but it at least served as a prep for a spot like this. He won twice on this grass course last year, then finished second in the Maryland Million Turf Sprint to Bosserati, who won The Very One Stakes a few weeks ago. If last year’s form is any indication, he’ll run a great race second off the bench. #1 Swill (7-2) beat Great Idea last November, albeit with a cleaner trip, and was fourth to the very speedy Fore Harp in the King Leatherbury Stakes in his lone grass start this season. He was flat in an off-the-grass event last out (though he did finish ahead of Great Idea), but should improve with a return to the lawn. #7 Tidewater (8-1) dropped back to last in his last start, made good ground in the stretch, but couldn’t sustain his rally and finished third. He’s won on this track in the past while showing tactical speed, and is a strong contender for the exotics, if nothing else.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, MD-RESTRICTED, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

3-12-4-8 (DIRT: 5-6-10-12)

#3 Enduring Gold (8-1) made his grass debut a winning one last out, converting a stalk-and-pounce trip to victory at third asking. He’s trying winners for the first time, and while he’s light on class, he’s in improved form and should once again sit the trip. #12 Call Me Andy (7-5) looked like a sure thing in a very similar spot last out, but was outkicked for the win as the 2-5 favorite by Benny Havens. He once again comes in with a major speed figure and class advantage over the rest, but he’s proven himself untrustworthy at low odds. #4 Jolly Boss (10-1), a full younger brother to the aforementioned Bosserati, ships back here after a mid winter on the Gulfstream Park synthetic. He has abundant early speed, which he’s used to great effect on this track, and will try to imitate his older sister and take them coast-to-coast.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W3X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/8 MILES

4-5-6-7

No matter the result, the moment #4 Otello (6-5) leaves the gate, it’ll be a bittersweet milestone for his trainer, Miguel Clement. Otello is Miguel’s first starter in Maryland following the passing of his father, Christophe, on Sunday. This one looks very likely to give Miguel an early W, as he comes in off an impressive rate-and-pounce victory at Aqueduct in which he ran a career-best. There’s not a lot of speed in here, and he could walk on the front end. #5 Be Better (6-1) was in the midst of a strong rally last out when he clipped heels with a rival directly in front of him and tossed his jockey. He wasn’t going to defeat the very impressive winner, Post Time, but he may have gotten up for second. As it, is, he has a ton of backclass and looks to keep moving forward third off an 11-month layoff. #6 Cap Com (5-1), after a long losing spell, has won his last two starts, including a win with a career-best 97 last out. He’ll be tested for class here, but is sharp enough to outkick the rest even if Otello gets loose.

RACE 9: CLAIMING $40,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

3-10-1-2 (DIRT: 4-5-7-8)

#3 Lady Ensign (3-1) sat an absolutely flawless trip last out, rating off a contested early pace and zooming by to win going away. She beat a pair of next-out winners in the process in The Amazing Mizzen and Roadrunner the Cat. She shouldn’t expect as good a setup this time, but she has the best current form in the field, and will be tough to beat regardless of the trip. #10 Marian Cross (2-1) made her season debut at Aqueduct last out. She tried to engage for the lead with a 59-1 shot, made a valiant attempt at holding off the pace-pressers, and faded in the last eighth. She showed lots of early speed last year, and has the fastest early pace figures in the field, but it’s possible that last race makes Daniel Centeno gun-shy about using her early speed. If that happens, that would benefit #1 T C Neigh (6-1), who has speed on the rail, and is bound to be used aggressively in her first start since November.

#1 Takethefifth (4-1) #7 Knockanara (8-1) #6 Suremeanttobe (8-5)

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