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) — $0
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6)— $29,299
Early Pick 5 (races 1-5) — $0
Late Pick 5 (races 7-11) — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

2-8-12-13

We’ll start the final week of the summer meet with a wide-open group of starter optional claiming runners on the grass. #2 Masakado (10-1) led almost the whole way against similar last out going a mile, but got caught late and finished by two lengths. He’ll once again be able to get to the lead and the rail without much other speed in the race. He should have an easier time of things, even with the extra sixteenth of a mile. #8 Uninvited Guest (6-1) hasn’t won in a while, but he closed well against slightly better last out and is making his third start off a brief layoff for Jamie Ness. He’s bound to make a late impact with a clean trip. #12 Kendama (3-1) outfinished Uninvited Guest last out, getting second behind loose leader El de Larry. He’s going second off the Kieron Magee claim with Ismerio Villalobos up, who’s second in the jockey standings by one win heading into today.

RACE 2: MAIDEN CLAIMING $10,000, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE

3-2-7-1

Three of these ran against each other at this condition on May 24. #3 Messy Lu (12-1) finished the worst of those three rivals, getting fourth after a wide trip. However, she improved her brisnet figure six points to a 58, and is making only her third lifetime start. Hammy Smith-trained runners tend to do better with more experience and more distance, so the stretchout from six furlongs shouldn’t be a problem. #2 House Alert (8-1) got up for second last out at Charles Town despite not changing leads. The winner, Loving Gaze, came back to win an allowance race next out in gate-to-wire fashion. This one is the only entrant to run in the 60s in each of her last two starts. #7 She Got the Munni (7-5) has taken slow steps forward after a fall swoon, and was third after a wide trip in her last dirt start. 

RACE 3: CLAIMING $40,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

5-8-9-1

Another wide-open contest greets us as we return to the lawn. #5 Naptown (3-1) beat non-winners of two rivals with a rail-skimming move second off a 10-month layoff last out. Runner-up Salted Carmel came back to win a starter optional claiming race next out at Delaware Park, while third-place finisher Primed to Go won a non-winners of two claimer at Monmouth Park in his next start, then finished fourth against starter optional claiming rivals at Aqueduct. #8 Lazlo (5-1) also comes in off an inside-trip win last out, and was taken out of that race by Rick Sillaman. This one is lightly-raced with lots of potential, and could take a big step forward second off a four-month break. #9 Curly Larry and Mo (7-2) has tons of early speed and will try to steal it on the lead in his third race off an 11-month layoff. He’s making his first start for the Brittany Russell barn, which saddled a gate-to-wire longshot winner on grass on Saturday in Regalo.

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

4-3-9-1

#4 Jen d’Oro (3-1) is the most interesting of the six debuters in here. She put in back-to-back bullet workouts at Belterra Park for Tim Hamm. While she is a Maryland-bred in a restricted race, Hamm probably could’ve found a local spot for her, so it’s a sign of confidence that he’s willing to bring her 500 miles east. She’s the first foal from her dam, Jennemily, who was a winner at first asking. #3 Dazzling Dame (5-2) has put in two recent good workouts for Brittany Russell, including a bullet drill at Fair Hill on June 13. She’s by a win-early stallion in Girvin, and her dam, Awesome Dama, also broke her maiden on debut. Among those with experience, #9 Tacit Value (9-2) looks the best. She was completely ignored in the betting on debut, but made a solid, wide move and got third behind an impressive winner in Dreaming of Alys.

RACE 5: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $25,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 7 FURLONGS

2-7-4-6

#2 Key Stat (2-1) was taken out of his element by a bad break last out, but rebounded and finished second to an impressive winner in Joe the Jet. He’ll be able to sit off a bunch of cheap speed and pounce. #7 Tapizar’s Temper (3-1) was an impressive maiden winner two starts back at Turfway Park, and finished a strong second first time against winners at Monmouth last out. Jane Cibelli has sent down six starters at the summer meet. Although none of them have won, she’s hit the board with four of them. #4 Blo By’em (6-1) also broke awkwardly last out and was no factor from there. However, he ran well in his previous three races, running at least a 77 in all of them. He’ll be a threat if he can recover from that race. 

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

9-11-12-1

The jackpot super high 5 race of the day is a typically wide-open contest, with only two days to go under Sunday’s mandatory payout. #9 Superlastingsecret (3-1) was fifth in a Maryland-restricted tilt last out, chasing the leaders in vain. The winner, Knockanara, won a starter optional claiming race at Delaware next out, while runner-up Suremeanttobe won an off-the-grass event here this past Friday. He’s taking a drop in class here, and will likely chase softer speed and take advantage this time. #11 Band Tour (4-1) might have won at this level last out if he didn’t drift out in the stretch. As it were, he got second by a neck with a career-best 74, and has a chance to improve third off the bench. #12 D Hopper (9-2) cuts back from 1 1/16 miles, at which he almost wired the field last out, and looks fast enough to cross and clear. From there, it’s a matter of if he can hold off the likes of Superlastingsecret.

RACE 7: MAIDEN CLAIMING $16,000, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

9-3-7-1

#9 Breezing Up (6-1) hasn’t been first, second, or third at any point of call in his four races, but he’s also been facing some very salty maiden special weight runners. He’s run no worse than a 67 in any of his four races, and that kind of mark is good enough to beat these. The only serious risk is if he runs down to his level of competition. #3 Speedy Alex (5-1) matched his career-best figure with a 68 second off a five-month layoff. He was a hard-fought second that day in his first try against older rivals. #7 Head of the Class (5-2) dropped to a career-low price last out, opened up a long early lead before fading to third. That was the most early speed he’s shown in a while, and he drops another notch in claiming price. He’ll assuredly once again be sent for speed and may prove tough to catch. The ones in here with the best late pace figures have no early speed at all, and may find themselves too far back to contend.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE (GRASS)

10-7-6-9

#10 Strutsherstuff (9-2) was third with an inside trip against a better yield at this class last out. She just missed her career-top mark with an 85 in her first start around two turns. She stays at one mile here and should work out a good trip off the leaders in the clear. #7 Bay Street (6-1) lost to Strutsherstuff by 1 ¼ lengths two starts back, then led most of the way and was third behind Lifelovenlaughter next out. That rival came back to win the Jameela Stakes last Saturday. This one has the ability to go to the front or just sit off the pace, and she may elect to rate considering the presence of the very speedy Payout Ratio a few spots to her inside. #6 Don’t Tell Kelly (15-1) has closed good ground from well out of it in her two grass starts, and gets a rider switch to Angel Cruz, who has previously ridden her to victory.

RACE 9: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, MD-RESTRICTED, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

1-8-9-4

#1 Noah Chance (8-1) ran a respectable fourth in his first start off a 13-month layoff last out. He had nowhere to go in the stretch, found room at the eighth pole, and made moderate ground when clear. Look for him to take a step forward second off the bench. #8 Claudee Boy (5-1) outfinished Noah Chance two starts back in his first start off an eight-month break, rallying well in the stretch and missing by a length. He wheeled back in six days in an open first-level contest on the Black-Eyed Susan day undercard, and finished a solid fourth after a wide trip behind, among others, next-out winner Incincerator. #9 Elvis Himself (12-1) tried to make his grass debut on May 31, but it was washed off. He stayed in the race and did what he usually does- go for the front. Unlike other times when he managed to get clear, he ended up entangled in a duel and was well-beaten. He has the best early pace figures in this one, so he should be able to cross and clear and lead for however long he can.

RACE 10: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES

5-1-6-4

#5 Cluck Cluck (2-1) has found her best self in her last two starts, crushing a pair of first-level fields by a combined 9 ¼ lengths with figures in the 90s both times. She’s never faced a field this tough before, but a repeat of either of her last two races wins this. #1 Beautifulcrazygirl (9-5) ran a game race on the lead at Parx last out. She battled for the lead throughout and shook off most of her challengers, but was unable to fend off the classy Doctor Abbie and lost by a neck. She ran in the 90s in her prior two races, crushing first-level rivals easily both times. Frankie Pennington comes in from Parx for the mount, and should send her to the lead from the inside. #6 Next Girl (5-1) has won her last three dirt starts, all from well off the pace, and would take advantage if Beautifulcrazygirl gets collared on the lead. 

RACE 11: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, MD-RESTRICTED, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

5-4-2-8

Keri Brion looks to have a hammerlock on this race; she trains my top two picks. #5 My Brazilian Girl (7-5) went off as the odds-on favorite against some well-regarded maidens on the Black-Eyed Susan day undercard last out. She broke awkwardly and raced wide towards the back of the pack, but made good ground off a modest pace and got fourth. Even though it’s a tougher-than-usual field for this level, any of her recent races would beat these. #4 Dark Pool  (7-2) ran in an off-the-grass race first off a 9 ½-month layoff last out, possibly just for the sake of getting a race into her. She showed little that day, but she now switches back to her preferred surface, and ran well on grass and jumps throughout last year and the year before. #2 Pegster (6-1) chased the pace and held third last out, and she’ll try to make the lead from towards the inside. 

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