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

First post time: 12:07 p.m.

Carryovers: 
Chesapeake Jackpot Pick 6 (races 4-9) — $4,857
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6)— $7,451
Late Pick 5 (races 4-9) — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

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

7-4-8-3

Note that first post time today is slightly earlier than usual, to avoid a conflict with Saratoga. #7 Potcake (8-1) made up ground on debut last September at Colonial Downs, finishing third behind Saxton and Nola Boss, both of whom have won since. He went to the sidelines after an abysmal effort on dirt next out and runs for the first time in 246 days, but returns in a soft field where even a little bit of improvement off of his first grass start wins. #4 Gung Ho (7-2) was a bit cold on debut at Pimlico and ran like it, finishing fourth in a six-furlong dirt race. It ended up being a pretty salty race, with winner Cadeau d’Argent and third-place finisher Firmantown both coming back to win. This one looks better-bred for grass, and trainer Arnaud Delacour hits at 34 percent with his runners making their first start on the lawn. #8 Ennis Town (3-1) comes out of the same race, in which he raced near the pace first off a seven-month layoff and faded. He ran some big races against better maidens on dirt last year, and will be tough if he transfers that form over to grass second off the bench.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $40,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

7-4-1-2

#7 Justheart (6-1) is one of two in here to run brisnet figures in the 70s in each of her last two dirt starts. She made her first start off the Horacio DePaz claim at Aqueduct in February, and while she outran the odds-on favorite for second, she couldn’t catch up to the impressive winner, Artemis Sound. That one validated her form with a starter allowance win next out and a second-place effort to the well-regarded Dolomite in the following race. This one broke awkwardly on grass last out and has every chance to rebound. #4 Chase by the Moon (15-1) was an easy winner going six furlongs two starts back, but didn’t care for 1 1/16 miles last out and stopped badly. If she runs back to her maiden win, she’ll contend at a big price. #1 Countryclub Couple (3-1) returns off a 462-day layoff for Brittany Russell. She broke her maiden in sharp fashion in February, but was well-beaten in a first-level race last out behind odds-on choice C C Royal. Something may have gone amiss with her that day, as she went to the sidelines for a while, worked a bit in the late summer, then vanished for another six months before coming back in late March. An easy victory and a sound defeat seem like equal possibilities.

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

5-8-7-10

#5 U Know When U Know (6-1) goes second off a seven-month layoff for the Russell contingent. She was fifth first off the bench to stablemate Roadrunner the Cat, who lasted a long way on the lead, but she still closed well and managed fifth. She should improve off of that race; the only question is how she’ll handle the distance. She’s a half-sibling to the successful Backnthewoods and Kissed by Fire, but they’ve done their best work in sprints. Still, if she goes off around her morning line, she’s worth a look. #8 Power and Glory (10-1) improved nine points to a 71 in her second start of the year last out, and gets Daniel Centeno up, who’s been doing good work in grass races this season. #7 Tanka Tough (8-1) isn’t coming off as long a layoff as you might think. Sean McDermott ran her at the Potomac Flat point-to-point meet on May 17, where she was third in a 1 ¾-mile training flat race. She also finished fourth in a one-mile training flat contest in November, and has done good work over flats and jumps in her charted lines.

RACE 4: MAIDEN CLAIMING $16,000, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

3-4-6-2

#3 Sheezahotmess (5-1) improved 11 points to a 66 at second asking last out, racing wide and running on well behind the impressive winner, Miss Serafina. She edged out Feel the Bolt for second that day, who’s also back in here, but this one is lighter-raced and will likely be a better price. #4 Lorraine’s Way (5-2) showed speed and lasted a long way first off a 7 ½-month break at Pimlico last out, holding on for second as one of the bigger prices in the field. It was an encouraging effort, considering she didn’t show much speed at all last year. #6 Irish B Goode (6-1) has been trying to do her best Concern impression in her last few starts. While her late pace figures are sharp, she’s left herself with too much to do against better maidens. The drop to a career-low level might help her cause.

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

9-8-1-6

#9 Spiralizer (5-2) was third in the Skidmore Stakes at Saratoga last August in his lone grass start. After an impressive maiden win at Churchill Downs last June, he never put it together for the Steve Asmussen barn. A move to Jamie Ness’s string, a switch back to grass, and a drop in class (an even bigger drop than it looks on paper; this is not a strong field for the level at all) might wake him up. #8 Agent Kelly (8-1) broke his maiden at tenth asking last out, getting up in the last few strides in his season debut. He had superior figures that day; the only question was if he could run well first off the bench. In fact, he regressed quite a bit, but the field was so soft, it didn’t matter. He got the victory and the race under his belt, and if he rounds back into last year’s form second off the layoff, he’ll contend. #1 Watch Out World (4-1) takes a big class drop after facing much better in his last few starts. Him and Agent Kelly are the only two in the race who have ever run at least a 77 on grass, and this one has done so twice in his last three races.

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

9-3-6-8

At first glance, #9 Mille McCall (8-1) fits the mantra of ‘in a race where everyone looks lousy, bet a first-time starter.’ However, she’s not really a firster. She competed at the Blue Ridge Hunt point-to-point on April 12, where she was fourth in a one-mile training flat race over a very boggy course (they ran a mile in 1.59 ⅗). She makes her pari-mutuel debut today for Niall Saville, who is a white-hot 6-for-18 this year between charted races and point-to-point ones, including a maiden victory on grass at Delaware Park on Thursday. #3 Pozo (4-1) was scheduled to debut on grass in a similar spot at Pimlico, but the race was washed off. Undeterred, she ran a solid second to the speedy Bad Girl Betty Lou, who had experience and simply ran them off their feet. This one should benefit from that effort as she races on the sod for the first time. #6 Tea Rose (3-1) went off favored in that spot, and finished a flat fifth. It was her first start since early September, so it’s possible Tom McMahon simply wanted to get a race into her. Now she’s back on grass, which is what she really wants to run on.

RACE 7: MAIDEN CLAIMING $25,000, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

4-2-5-8

#4 Railroad Inn (20-1) broke slowly on debut and fell far behind. He made up very good late ground, but it was far too late to make an impact, and he ended up last. Nonetheless, he makes his second start for a Kenny Cox barn which does better with second-time starters than firsters. He also has a decent pedigree, with his five winning siblings including multiple stakes winner Local Motive. #2 Mr On High (8-1) ran a much-improved race second time out at Charles Town, showing speed for the first time while improving 17 points. This will be his first start for Carlos Mancilla, after previously racing under the Anthony Farrior banner, and will take advantage of rail position in a race where the other speed is drawn towards the outside. #5 Attention to Detail (2-1) has run in the 60s or better in each of his last three starts, the only one in the field to do so. However, caveat emptor with Kelly Breen shippers to Maryland; Breen went 3-for-27 with his runners down here in 2023 and 2024.

RACE 8: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $25,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 7 FURLONGS

7-6-5-1A

Brittany Russell shipped #7 Barong (5-2) to Charles Town for his debut, and he responded with an impressive 4-length win. He finished second to Medagooch, who’s better than anyone in here, in his next outing. #6 Key Stat (5-1) broke his maiden tenth time out last out in an impressive win, after finishing second four times in a row prior to that. He’s been scratched as a main-track-only twice since that April 6 race, but is now entered for dirt in his first start off the Anthony Farrior claim. #5 Blo By’em (9-2) has shown a good turn of foot in his last few starts on this track, and takes a class drop after running into a very tough first-level field last out. 

RACE 9: MAIDEN CLAIMING $25,000, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

4-7-11-6

#4 Takethefifth (5-1) has run in the 70s in each of his last five starts. No one else in the race can run that fast consistently. He was fourth to Knockanara last out, who returned to win a starter optional claiming race at Delaware on Friday. He’ll look to improve further in his second start since July 21. #7 Triple Nickles (4-1) was the only first-timer in the field in his debut at Parx, and faded after getting pressed by the winner through fast fractions. He adds Lasix for his grass debut, and should make the front, as he looks like by far the fastest horse on paper. #11 Dats Tap (9-2) regressed second off the bench last out, but drops in class and should stalk the pace in the clear on the outside.

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