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) — $6,717
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6) — $11,117
Late Pick 5 (races 5-9) — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/8 MILES (GRASS)

2-7-3-6 (DIRT: 6-1-2-4)

We’ll start the Saturday card with a very wide-open contest. You can make a case for any of the seven. #2 Tasker (8-1) and 7 Homestead (2-1) come out of the same race on April 27. Homestead crossed the wire first, but was disqualified for causing interference heading into the first turn. After that incident, he set a cushy pace and held on by three lengths. Tasker, in his first race in 16 months, chased the free-wheeling leader and was beaten for second by a head. There’s some speed to Homestead’s inside, and if he can’t sneak away this time, it would set up beautifully for Tasker. #3 Gallant Lad (6-1) made his career debut on grass at Gulfstream Park in December. He was pinched at the start and fell well behind; in fact, he was still in last at the top of the stretch. However, thanks to a deft, rail-skimming ride by Jorge Ruiz, he got up for third with a strong brisnet figure of 77. He hasn’t raced since mid-January on synthetic, but came back to the worktab for Michael Matz in mid-May and looks poised for a big race first off the bench.

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

3-7-5-6

#3 Super Needy (3-1) had the misfortune to run into an odds-on Brittany Russell trainee, It’ll Do, last out at this level. He turned in a game effort, all things considered, losing to the big favorite by a length while eight lengths clear of the others. He gets class relief here without a rival of It’ll Do’s caliber, and should get a nice trip off the speed. #7 Woodline (5-1) is one of two in today for Tim Grams, who has lured his usual Charles Town rider, Larry Reynolds, in for the mount. This one ran against some nice horses in West Virginia earlier in the year, and gets class relief after a stalk-and-fade trip in his Maryland debut last out. #5 Kissling (2-1) faces elders on dirt for the first time, after sitting a great trip to beat 3-year-old claimers in his most recent start on this surface. Horacio Karamanos, who rode three winners last weekend in his return to Maryland, gets the call for the first time. 

RACE 3: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $25,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

1-3-4-5 (DIRT: 6-9-3-5)

#1 Sally’s Gold (7-2) is the only one here who has run well on grass this year. She got caught late two starts back, then chased longshot winner Preparefortakeoff on the speed-favoring grass on Preakness day. She takes a slight class drop here and should sit the trip on the rail. #3 Sweeterthanwhiskey (10-1) races for the first time since mid-December, but that isn’t a huge impediment, considering how many of her rivals are coming off of layoffs. She has great late speed, and would also take advantage of a fast pace, albeit while giving Sally’s Gold a few lengths’ head start. #4 Wonder Girl (5-2) beat better on this course last summer, including Gift of Gab, who has been stakes-placed since. She faded after a wide trip against better in her last grass start last fall, and gets a fairly easy spot for her 2025 debut. 

RACE 4: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

3-4-1-6

#3 Let’s Go Lando (9-5) was heavily bet on debut, closing at 4-5. This well-bred Gary Capuano trainee got into some traffic trouble on the turn, but ran on well when clear and got up for second. He should take a step forward at second asking, as should #4 G Q Worthy (8-5). He ran against stablemate Romeo on debut, and Xavier Perez, the first-call rider for the Jerry Robb barn, picked Romeo over G Q Worthy. Romeo ran away by ten lengths, and then finished third in the Tremont Stakes, while this one acted up in the gate and raced wide throughout, but still finished  a clear-cut second.  He’s worked well since, and Perez now hops on board. #1 Probably Dreaming (5-1), the other Capuano trainee, looks like the best of the first-time starters, putting in two bullet workouts here and at Delaware. 

LATE PICK 5 STARTS HERE. CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO ANALYSIS

RACE 5: CLAIMING $10,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

4-3-2-7

The early pick 5 ends, and the late pick 5 begins, with another wide-open affair. #4 Fair Trade (5-2) is one of a few here coming out of a slightly tougher race on May 25. She was well-beaten by the impressive winner, Thunder in Paris, but she made a move up the rail before flattening out in the last half-mile and finished third. She ran in the 70s in a pair of runner-up finishes against some decent 3-year-old claimers earlier in the year, and gets the slight nod in this group. #3 Whatsyourbigidea (6-1) showed speed and faded in that May 25 race, she has very in-and-out form, but her best contends with these, and this race is on the positive end of her form cycle. #2 Bond’s Belle (8-1) has improved in her last two dirt starts, and just missed after a wide trip at Delaware last out. 

RACE 6: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

5-11-6-1 (DIRT: 4-3-7-5)

My top two picks exit the same race at Pimlico on the Black-Eyed Susan day undercard. #5 Incinerator (5-2) took a step forward second off a brief layoff in that race. He closed well from off a fairly modest pace and almost ran down Bourbon Boss, who was clear in the stretch but held on by only a neck. This one stretches out from five furlongs to a distance at which he won twice on grass last year, and should be hard to hold off with a clean trip. #11 Zip Line to Heaven (4-1) was making his first start since November in that race, and finished a modest third, 2 ½ lengths behind Incinerator. Last year, he improved 11 points in his second race off the bench, and if he does so again here, he’ll be a serious factor. #6 Virginia Fitz (20-1) ran some big races as a 2-year-old last year at Colonial Downs, including a game third-place effort in the Jamestown Stakes after setting the pace. He’s an interesting longshot first off the bench for Susan Cooney. 

RACE 7: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $25,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE (GRASS)

5-4-2-1 (DIRT: 8-12-1-6)

Once again, my top two picks come out of the same race. In this case, it’s a non-winners of two claiming contest at Pimlico on May 11. #5 Keen Surge (5-2) lived up to his name, closing from off a fast pace to miss by a nose in his first start against winners, and fourth overall. Rick Sillaman has done good work in a limited sample size at the summer meet, with one win and one near-miss among four starters. #4 Baby Oscar (8-1) raced on a hot pace in that race, led briefly, but was overwhelmed by the closers and finished fourth. The other two horses who were near that pace both finished up the track. He broke his maiden on the lead two starts ago, and should have an easier time of things on the lead today. #2 Kunooz (10-1) cuts back from 1 1/7 miles and has good tactical speed for a very hot Kieron Magee barn. 

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 7 FURLONGS

3-2-7-6

#3 My Flicker (3-1) ran a game race on the lead last out, in her first race off the Phil Capuano claim. She raced through very fast early fractions and left the other two pacesetters in the dust, ending up second to Devil Pays in Gold, who got a great trip off the battle. She should have an easier time on the lead today. #2 Too Many Kisses (10-1) was well-beaten by My Flicker in that race, but it was her first start off a four-month break, and six furlongs is too short for her. Today’s distance is more her speed. #7 Ginger Girl (4-1) was an easy winner going 1 ⅙ miles last out with an impressive 90. She’s been competing at a mile or longer for a while, but has at least run well around one turn in her recent past, so there’s some reasons to believe.

RACE 9: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, MD-RESTRICTED, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

4-8-3-6 (DIRT: 4-8-1-7)

#4 Happy This Day (4-1) and #8 Stars Align (7-2) both debuted in a washed-off affair at Pimlico on May 9, and they finished second and third, respectively. Happy This Day made ground for a five-furlong contest, while Stars Align sat closer to the pace after a rough break and got beat out for place. She’s worked on grass since, suggesting Mike Trombetta wants her on this surface very much. #3 Song Time (20-1) made her grass debut in a very salty maiden race on the Black-Eyed Susan day undercard. She checked off heels early on and was no factor from there. She drops in class and cuts back in distance, and should run a much-improved race as such. She’s a half-sister to six winners on grass, including stakes winners Riccio and Peach of a Gal.  

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