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

First post time: 12:10 p.m.

Carryovers: 
Chesapeake Jackpot Pick 6 (races 6-11) — $8,063
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6)— $15,984
Late Pick 5 (races 7-11) — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 2 1/8 MILES (STEEPLECHASE)

4-5-2-10

We’ll begin Father’s Day with a pair of steeplechase events, the first held at Laurel Park since the 2000 Maryland Million Steeplechase. #4 Cartographer (6-1) ran well over jumps last October, losing by a half-length against a salty field in a game effort at Middleburg. He captured a two-mile event at the Potomac point-to-point in May which doesn’t appear on the running lines, setting him up nicely for today’s race. #5 Derby Street (5-2) was outkicked by the impressive The Wizard’s Well last out at Great Meadow, but finished well clear of the others in his best jump effort so far. He showed promise going long on the flats last year, and looks to be hitting his stride over jumps at the right time. #2 Holey Moley (8-1) was second by a neck at Malvern last out after being a non-factor in his three previous starts of the season. He won a flat race on this track last September with good tactical speed.

RACE 2: ALLOWANCE (N/W2L), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 2 1/8 MILES (STEEPLECHASE)

2-4-8-3

#2 Sa’ad (7-2) was an easy winner at Blue Ridge two starts back, then captured a 1 ½-mile training flat race at the aforementioned Potomac point-to-point. He’s a serious gate-to-wire threat. #4 Biggerthanbigtime (12-1) has won over jumps this year. He won at Aiken in late March, setting the pace and holding on over next-out winner Bonnebosq, and also captured a race at the Rapphannock Hunt point-to-point not listed on the past performances. #8 Palio (9-2), one of two Jack Fisher trainees here, closed well for third at Great Meadow last out and would take advantage if the leaders falter. 

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

5-2-4-3

Do you want to play the early pick 5, but don’t want to deal with jumps? Don’t fret! This race begins a special pick 5 sequence consisting of the first five flat races of the day (there’s also the normal early pick 5 including the two steeplechase races). The flat pick 5 starts with a free square, as #5 It’ll Do (3-5) towers over the rest. He’s 2-for-2 on this track, running brisnet figures of 78 and 82 in his two victories. None of his five rivals are in his stratosphere, and he should obliterate them. #2 Hazednconfused (9-2) hit the board in his last two starts at Charles Town, and ran figures just a few ticks below those of It’ll Do on this track last winter. He’ll benefit from a return to the big track. #4 Southern Horse (5-1) was no match for better last out, but drops in class, cuts back in distance, and gets a rider switch to Andres Chavez.

RACE 4: CLAIMING $16,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

7-11-1-4 (DIRT: 8-12-3-2)

Peony, who would’ve been one of the favorites, will be scratched due to a ban on New York shippers that was announced last night. #7 Jewish Mother (3-1) broke her maiden in impressive gate-to-wire style first off a 3 ½-month layoff last out. She looks like the fastest one early, and should run them off their feet. #11 Seap (6-1) closed well in her last start and got second at 20-1, behind the speedy Brittany Russell trainee Roadrunner the Cat. She’ll have to deal with another speedy Russell horse in Jewish Mother, but she’s in improving form and has enough late speed to hit the exotics. #1 Carolina Sun (8-1) was also in the hunt behind Roadrunner the Cat, but ended up fourth. She should improve second off a six-month respite.

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

2-9-4-8

#2 Ellinger (5-1) ran a big 82 in his first start off a six-month layoff two races ago, finishing second to next-out winner Zero Blitz. He was knocked out of contention by a poor beginning in his next start, then chased the pace while wide on grass last time and faded. There’s some cheap speed to his inside, but he looks fast enough to clear him and take them gate-to-wire. #9 General Maximus (6-1) is the only one in the race to run in the 70s in each of his last three starts, and should get a good trip in the clear off the pace. #4 Repeatingofcourse (10-1) broke his maiden easily last out with a career-best 72. He’s the only horse who hasn’t lost against winners; everyone else in the field has done so at least three times.

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

4-2-1-10 (DIRT: 3-6-1-7)

#4 Great Idea (4-1) had his scheduled 2025 grass debut washed off last out, ran anyway, and showed little. He was washed off again on May 31, got scratched that time, and is back in for another try on the lawn. 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. #2 Coast Along (5-2) went gate-to-wire twice at 5 ½ furlongs last year, and looks like he’ll make the rail and the lead easily in his third start off the layoff. #1 Swill (6-1) 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), and was also scratched out of the washed off May 31 affair. Look for him to improve with a return to the lawn. 

RACE 7: MAIDEN CLAIMING $25,000, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE (GRASS)

13-4-8-5 (DIRT: 1-10-12-14)

#13 Hysterics (5-2) was well-backed at the windows last out against similar, and was second behind the other main contender in the field, Scholar. He was claimed out of that race by Kieron Magee, who has been winning them in bunches at the spring/summer meet. #4 Lilliput (3-1), as a Brittany Russell runner with speed, is dangerous. She almost wired them in her local debut last out, after opening up by five lengths up the backstretch, and should be able to easily get to the rail and the lead. #8 Radiant Tones (8-1) raced well on the lead first off a six-month layoff two races ago, and looks for a rebound after fading following a wide trip last out.

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

3-6-7-2

Annette Eubanks has them surrounded; she trains my top two picks. #3 Band Camp (9-5) made his 2025 debut on the Preakness undercard last out, and ran into a very impressive winner in Augusta Melody. Nonetheless, this one ran on well and held onto second by a head with a 92, not far off from what he was running last year. He should take a step forward second off the layoff, and that would make him very tough to beat. #6 Play Harder (5-2) has run in the 90s in his first two starts of the year, finishing second to a pair of impressive sprinters in Haileysfirstnotion and Had to Have Him. The only one here who’s competitive with those two is his stablemate. #7 Exploration (9-2) was completely flat first off a 3 ½-month layoff last out, but has worked very well since and looks primed for a big effort.

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

3-7-4-2 (DIRT: 7-2-3-11)

#3 Intel Agent (9-2) has a hard-to-stomach 0-for-18 career record, but she has vastly superior figures to these. She’s run a 72, a 67, and a 74 in her last three grass starts, while no one else has run better than a 62 in that span. She’ll beat these if she’s ever to win a race. #7 Gala Rose (5-2) was no factor on dirt at first asking at Churchill Downs last September, but has a grassy pedigree and makes her first start for the hot Kieron Magee hand. #4 Kisses for Kate (12-1) improved slightly second time out, and first off a 9 ½-month break, in her last start. She’s getting Lasix for the first time.

RACE 10: STORMY BLUES STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

8-11-6-4 (DIRT: 6-3-2-10)

Today’s feature race is named for the great Maryland-owned filly of the mid-1990s. #8 Roja (4-1) was an impressive winner of a salty maiden race last out, coming up the inside to win going away in her first try on grass. Graham Motion is cutting straight to the chase and putting her in stakes company right off the bat, which is a big vote of confidence. #11 Biscuitwiththeboss (15-1) is undefeated on grass, having run a big race in her lone try on this surface last October. She’s a full sister to three winners on grass, including recent The Very One Stakes winner Bosserati. #6 Impulse Buy (5-2) captured the Fern’s Creek Stakes last November at Churchill Downs with an off-the-pace move, and makes her second start off a six-month break and her first start on grass.

RACE 11: CLAIMING $5,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

8-7-1-6

#8 Kick Startness (6-5) faces a soft bunch and has speed from the outside. He should cross and clear without much drama. #7 Formal Order (9-2) closed well for second off a modest pace last out, and even if Kick Startness runs away from them, he should outkick the rest and round out the exacta. #1 Caerus (9-2) outfinished a few of these last out, holding on for second behind the very impressive, much-the-best winner in Beach Cowboy. His form is somewhat in-and-out, but at his best, he can rally for a good-sized share and shake up the exotics. 

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