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) — $3,662
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6) — $4,688
Late Pick 5 (races 5-9) — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

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

4-3-9-10 (DIRT 11-9-8-13)

#4 Arjay (6-1) has shown speed and faded in his last few starts, but held on particularly well three and four races back at Turfway Park, where he was clear late and got caught in the final few jumps. Carol Cedeno is named on him, for her only mount of the day here. She’s driving up to Delaware Park right afterwards for two mounts there. Would she go to the trouble of coming here if she didn’t think this one was live? #3 Gladstone (5-2) couldn’t draw in off the also-eligible list yesterday and now resurfaces here. He showed speed and held on until late second time out last out, and should also be a pace factor. #9 Owhatanite (4-1) ran brisnet figures in the mid/upper-60s with consistency last year, right in the range he needs to win this race. He was pace-compromised first off the bench at this level three starts back, then got washed off in his next two tries. Getting back to this surface and staying at this condition should help his cause. 

RACE 2: MAIDEN CLAIMING $25,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

4-5-2-3

#4 Heat Check (5-2) is one of two Jerry Robb trainees in here. Robb’s first-call rider, Xavier Perez, took his other one, but he gets the more-than-capable replacement in Daniel Centeno. This one has some sharp workouts under his belt, and his dam, Dicey D J, won at first asking, as did two of his siblings. #5 No More Calls (10-1) has improving workouts at Kevin Boniface’s Bonita Farm base, and is a half-brother to Feeling Woozy, who won at 2 and has earned almost $300,000 lifetime. He’s worth a look at a price in a race where no one looks especially inspiring. #2 Zimba (9-2) races first out for Joanne Shankle, who has positive numbers with maiden claimers and 2-year-olds. He’s a half-brother to Kissedbyanangel, a first-out winner and a multiple stakes winner as a 2-year-old.

RACE 3: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $25,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE (GRASS)

10-8-4-12 (DIRT: 1-8-9-12)

#10 Gogo Chanel (2-1) is the only one in here who has won on grass this year, having swooped the group to win at 5 ½ furlongs at Monmouth Park last out. She’s stretching out to a mile here, but she’s won going two turns in the past. #8 Don’t Tell Deren (7-2) made the lead late and got run down first off a four-month layoff last out. With a race under her belt, she should be able to sustain a move in a return to a surface she loves. #4 Stella Mars (10-1) ran some decent figures against better last year, peaking at a 78 and an 81 in two tries at Colonial Downs. She’s getting class relief in her first start since October.

RACE 4: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE

2-6-1-5

#2 How Sweet She Is (3-1) was claimed for $20,000 by Jamie Ness in November, and she’s won twice since then, along with two figures in the mid-80s. She pressed the pace last time and held second, and if she can sit just off the tempo this time, she has enough of a late kick to run away and hide from them. #6 Cluck Cluck (9-2) was an impressive winner against Maryland-restricted foes last out, and while that 93 she earned that day might be an outlier, the rest of her races contend with these. #1 Fainor’s Filets (12-1) was an easy winner two races back with an impressive 92, then might have won a stretch battle last out if Weston Hamilton didn’t lose the whip.

RACE 5: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

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

#8 Lil’ Regard (9-2) makes her first start since a very impressive debut at Colonial Downs last August. She raced well off the early pace, then closed with an explosive rush to prevail. She returned to the worktab in March, and was entered for a race against New York-breds at Aqueduct, but didn’t get in. It’s a testament to how highly Brittany Russell thinks of her that she was willing to race her up there first off the bench, and she should handle these as well. #11 Pinotslilgirl (10-1) was in over her head last out in The Very One Stakes, then was seriously bumped in her first grass start of the season two starts ago. She ran some huge races on dirt over the winter and won on grass last year, so she’ll be a contender here if she can finally put it together. #3 Shine On Moon (12-1) was no factor going a mile last out, but ran in the 80s consistently last year going one turn on grass, and Cal Lynch has great numbers with horses second off a long layoff. 

LATE PICK 5 STARTS HERE. CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO ANALYSIS

RACE 6: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 7 FURLONGS

11-3-6-10

#11 Pediatrician (8-1) ran a huge race on debut, pressing a very fast pace and hanging on for second behind a well-bet Brittany Russell-trained firster. Smuggler’s Gold, who was third in that race, came back to break his maiden next out at Monmouth Park, then finished second against winners. This one went in over his head on the Kentucky Derby day undercard, but this is a more realistic spot. #3 Rhythm ‘n Blues (4-1) raced wide throughout last out and was fourth with a career-best 80, against a pretty salty group of maidens on the Black-Eyed Susan day undercard. This has to be considered a class drop. #6 Drill Baby (2-1) has improved in each of his last three races, and cuts back around one turn after finishing fourth to the impressive Bob Baffert trainee Varney last out. 

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

2-5-7-11

#2 Kake’s Arrow (3-2) faced a similar field to this one last out in a first-level race, and happily cruised on the lead to an easy win. He’ll have every chance to take this field all the way around. #5 St. John’s (3-1) races for the Jack Fisher and Forest Boyce trainer/jockey combo, which teamed up to win with Mission North two weeks ago. He finished second in a jumps race at Middleburg in mid-April, and won on the flats here last year while missing by less than a length in two tries at this condition last year. #7 Villain (8-1) ran some big figures on grass last year, and should bounce back second off the layoff following a full effort at Turfway Park to begin his 4-year-old season.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, MD-RESTRICTED, 6 FURLONGS

4-7-6-5

#4 New King (6-5) made his local debut off of just one workout in the Frank Whiteley Stakes. He raced close to the pace on a track favoring stretchrunners on the outside, and held second behind stablemate Worcester, who ran on the more favorable part of the track. He got involved in a brutal duel in the Knicks Go Stakes last out and finished up the track, but this is a much more realistic spot. #7 Straight to Water (9-2) ran a career-best 86 at third asking last out behind the impressive Brad Cox trainee Verifire and next-out winner Saxton. He’s done well at sprint distances, gets to stay short, and has lots of upside. #6 Addy’s Laddy T N T (8-1) has won twice in a row, and three of his last five, against solid starter optional claiming rivals, and goes first off the Henry Walters claim.

RACE 9: MAIDEN CLAIMING $16,000, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

3-9-1-11 (DIRT: 9-6-3-4)

#3 All Fruits Ripe (4-1) chased the pace and finished third going two turns last out. He showed improved form around one turn on dirt over the winter, and this looks like the perfect intersection of surface, class, and distance. #9 Knucker Punk (9-2) has been in improved form on dirt, peaking at a 75 last out, and drops in for a career-low tag. Grant Whitacre, who rode him in each of his first four starts, comes in for his lone mount of the day. #1 Band Tour (20-1) ran in the mid-60s consistently last year, and makes his second start off the layoff, after making his season debut in one of the gate-malfunction races at Pimlico. He has good late speed, and could at least rally for a share at a good price.

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