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) — $9,404
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6)— $20,400
Late Pick 5 (races 5-9) — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

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

2-4-9-1 (DIRT: 4-9-1-7)

#2 Silk Suit (5-1) cuts back around one turn for his second start off a year-plus layoff. He lasted a long way on the pace last out and faded, but the shorter distance and the race under his belt should be beneficial. #4 Suremeanttobe (8-5) went off favored in his first start on the lawn last out, and finished second to Knockanara, who won against starter optional claiming rivals next out at Delaware Park. He should also be on or near the early pace. #9 Serendipitymonday (10-1) makes his grass debut for Diana McClure. He’s a half-brother to Maryland Million Turf Distaff Starter Handicap winner Don’t Tell Deren, and showed tons of early speed in his three dirt starts over the winter. If he gets an easy enough early lead, he might not be able to be caught.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $5,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE

2-6-3-4

#2 The Haunted Room (5-1) was second at double-digit odds in each of her last two starts. You won’t get that kind of price here, in all likelihood, but she’s dropping from conditioned 7,500 types, and has by far the best late pace figures in the race. She’ll mow them down if she stays within 4-5 lengths of the early leaders, like she did last time. #6 At First Sight (5-2) went off as the 9-10 favorite against softer last out. She didn’t do much that day, but that was at six furlongs, and historically, she’s run her best race at or around today’s distance. #3 Loving Cup (9-2) has shown a bit of early speed in the past, and in a largely paceless race, she’d benefit from an aggressive ride from Yan Rodriguez.

RACE 3: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, MD-RESTRICTED, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

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

#8 Mopo (8-5) broke her maiden on the lead against a salty field on the Black-Eyed Susan day undercard last out. She’s by far the commanding speed of the race, and should cruise in gate-to-wire fashion. #4 Krone (5-1) is the only one in the race who has beaten winners on grass, and she’s done so three times. She sat the trip and converted first off an eight-month layoff at Delaware last out (just seven days ago!), and will take advantage if Mopo falters on the lead. #5 Dead Sexy (10-1) showed improving form on grass throughout last year, and gets Jevian Toledo aboard for her 2025 debut.

RACE 4: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $25,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

5-4-3-1

#5 Bold Diversion (5-2) finished second in his last two starts behind a pair of well-regarded runners in Saxton and New King. He faces much easier rivals here, and should have his way with them. #4 Rapidity (6-1) was third behind New King and Bold Diversion last out, making up good ground off a modest pace, along with Bold Diversion. He’s found himself too far behind to contend in sprints as of late, but should at least rally for a share. #3 Schrader (4-1) crushed a field of 3-year-old claimers two starts back with a career-best brisnet figure of 95. Next out, against a softer field at this level, he ran a tremendous race, putting away his dueling partner and holding second to a rival who came from far off the hot tempo.

RACE 5: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE (GRASS)

13-5-6-4 (DIRT: 9-1-2-3)

#13 Tom Hagen (5-2) made his 10-year-old debut a winning one last out, sitting off the pace in a departure from his usual tactics and holding on over late-surging King’s River, who won next out from well off the pace. He doesn’t have a great draw, but there’s also not a lot of speed to his inside, so he should make the front if used aggressively enough by Sheldon Russell. #5 Kendama (7-2) was second in each of his first two starts of the season, including a game second last out to El de Larry, who got away with an easy pace and cruised gate-to-wire. It’s not hard to imagine the same scenario playing out here- Tom Hagen gets loose, Kendama outkicks the others and rounds out the exacta. #6 Prince Khozan (15-1) hasn’t won in forever, but closed well in his last two races, including a fourth-place effort behind Kendama last out. He’ll also be in trouble if Tom Hagen sneaks away, but he should get up for a share. 

RACE 6: CLAIMING $16,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

7-5-14-12 (DIRT: 8-16-14-7)

#7 Tik Tok Daddy (4-1) made his first start off a six-month layoff last out. He surged for second behind Upsidedown Man, who returned to win a conditioned claiming race here on June 6. That was easily his best performance on grass, and he’s worked well since then. #5 Athletic Star (7-2) broke his maiden at first asking on this course last year, showed little against a salty first-level field next out, and hasn’t been seen since that mid-September outing. Rick Sillaman is 4-for-9 in the exacta since the start of the Pimlico meet, and has done his best work in grass races. He should have this one well-prepped off the bench. #14 Pallino (3-1) hung around until late on the lead against better last out at Delaware with a career-best 77. He’ll appreciate the class drop. 

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

2-5-1-3

#2 Falcon Blue (5-2) has been well-beaten in his last few starts, but he’s consistently run in the 70s, which is good enough to beat his rivals with experience. The two first-time starters, #5 Brightshininglight (8-1) and #1 Big Tankness (2-1) are the wild cards. The former is a Hillwood Stable homebred, the first foal out of Shimmering Aspen, who won multiple stakes races for Hillwood. He’s worked consistently since getting on the worktab in mid-April, and put in a very strong drill on June 12, going four furlongs in 47 ⅘. That matched the fastest time at the distance that day; he worked the same time as multiple stakes-placed runner Inveigled and Meg, who’s in earlier today. Big Tankness, a Jamie Ness homebred, has worked very well between here and Delaware, and if the morning line is an indication, he might be good enough to at least beat these at first asking. 

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP AND UP, MD-RESTRICTED, 1 1/8 MILES (GRASS)

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

#6 Coringa (3-2) was no match for the impressive Mission North last out, but finished a strong second while five lengths clear of the others. There’s no one of Mission North’s caliber here, and it looks like he’ll lead these gate-to-wire at a very short price. #5 The Last Scip (4-1) closed well behind gate-to-wire winner El De Larry last out in his second start off a six-month layoff, improving to an 84, his best figure in a year. Some of the ones he ran against last out are in the 5th race. If they run well, it might boost his stock a bit. #3 King’s River (8-1), as noted above, ran very well in his first two grass starts of the year, but was completely flat behind Mission North and Coringa last out. He doesn’t have a very steady rallying style, with middle and late pace figures all over the place, but at his best, he’ll get involved for a minor share. With his last race throwing bettors off the scent a bit, you’ll get a good price

RACE 9: MAIDEN CLAIMING $10,000, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

5-8-2-3

#5 Musgrave (5-1) acted up on debut and showed little. Next out, he was involved in the early pace and improved his figure by seven points. A lightly-raced horse trending in the right direction is a good bet in a race like this. #8 Colonel Tully (6-1) is the only first-time starter in the race, but he’s put in three bullet workouts in the past two months. He only has to run in the low-60s to contend here, and he looks more than capable of doing so. #2 All Fruits Ripe (5-2) just missed on grass last out and has shown abundant early speed in his dirt races.

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