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

First post time: 12:05 p.m.

Carryovers: 
Chesapeake Jackpot Pick 6 (races 7-12) — $1,948
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6) — $35,603
Early Pick 5 (races 1-5) — $0
Late Pick 5 (races 8-12) — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

10-5-9-1

Happy DeFrancis Dash day! Note the slightly earlier than usual first post. #10 B Determined (9-2) has closed well in both of his starts this year, which each came around two turns. He ran brisnet figures in the mid-80s around one turn last year with consistency, and may benefit from a distance cutback. Though this is a step up in class on paper, this is a softer group than what he’s seen in either of his last two races. #5 Sue Loves Barbados (12-1) was a solid-closing fourth in his first grass try of the year last out. The winner of that race, Cactus, won his prior race, and finished second on Sunday. This one is 0-for-18 on the Laurel grass, but he’s hit the board on it ten times with figures competitive with these. #9 By the Sey Shore (3-1) makes his 2025 debut in this spot. He ran well in his first start off the bench last year, so I’m not overly concerned about the layoff here, either. He’s got some of the best late pace figures in the race and should roll in the stretch.

RACE 2: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

4-1-3-5

#4 Stoney (6-5) broke his maiden in impressive fashion last out on October 6, winning in gate-to-wire fashion with an 88. He previously finished second on debut in mid-September with an 87. He was privately purchased by a Madaket-led syndicate between now and his first workout for new trainer Brittany Russell on April 25. If he recaptures anywhere close to his 2-year-old form first off the bench, he’ll win handily. #1 Zero Blitz (7-2) has won three in a row by open lengths, with figures in the mid-80s in his last two starts. He’s climbed the class ladder with ease in his recent wins; we’ll see if he can pass his stiffest test yet. #3 Do It for Michael (5-2) looked like a star in the making after winning the Maryland Million Nursery last fall, which was the third consecutive race in which he ran at least an 89. However, he finished off the board in his next three starts, though he did run his best figure in a while last out when losing a show photo to multiple stakes winner Barbadian Runner. He looks fast enough to set the early pace on his own terms, but can he withstand late challenges from Stoney and Zero Blitz.

RACE 3: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

5-2-10-4

None of the ten horses in here with experience look like much, which makes #5 Deterrent (4-1), the lone first-time starter, look much more appealing. All six of his siblings are winners, including a pair of grass winners, and his dam won her only career start going long on grass. Arnaud Delacour’s prowess with grass runners is, of course, well-documented. #2 Nothingbutbluesky (5-1) was sharp in his local debut, sitting close to the pace and leading briefly in the stretch, ultimately holding on for second behind favored Magical Mondays. It was a much-improved effort from his career debut at Fair Grounds, where he basically went around the track after an awkward break. #10 Pharoah’s Marc (12-1) improved a bit second off a six-month layoff at Monmouth Park last out, sitting closer to the space than usual and hanging around with a career-best 81. 

RACE 4: DEPUTED TESTAMONY STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES, 1 1/8 MILES

3-6-4-2

The first stakes race of the day is named for the 1983 Preakness Stakes champion. All the attention in this race will go to #3 Post Time (2-5), and deservedly so. He crushed the field by 13 lengths in his first start of the year, then finished a solid third in the Blame Stakes at Churchill Downs next out, for yet another graded stakes placing. He wouldn’t have been out of place in the Stephen Foster Stakes under the Twin Spires this afternoon, but Brittany Russell decided against a return trip and will keep him local. The only one with a serious chance to beat him is #6 Offaly Cool (3-1). He’s been on a long form spree between here and Parx, running either a 98 or a 99 in his last four races, including a victory in an open allowance contest last out. He has good tactical speed and will likely get the jump on Post Time, but Post Time should overwhelm him and produce a chalky exacta. #4 Speedyness (8-1) actually managed to win a race last time, believe it or not, and beat Offaly Cool on this track in February, albeit over a speed-favoring strip. In small fields, sometimes a loose leader is dangerous, but I’ve seen his speed-and-fade show one too many times to believe.

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

8-1-6-9

#8 Naymar (6-1) went off favored on debut at Delaware Park, and battled the whole way with another well-regarded horse in Raging Cajun. He outfinished that rival by a nose, but finished third behind two rivals who sat great trips. Still, it was an impressive effort for his debut, and he should only get better with experience. Gary Capuano has been doing fantastic work with his 2-year-olds at the meet. #1 Tartabull (5-2) will certainly attract the most attention in this race. He’s the first foal out of Mid-Atlantic great Anna’s Bandit, who ships down from Belmont Park for Chad Summers. Anna won on debut, and many of her relatives also won early in their careers. This one has worked well and should be ready for a big effort. #6 Let’s Go Lando (9-2), the other Gary Capuano trainee in the race, has lost his first two starts at 9-10 and 13-10, but improved seven points to a 71 last out, so he’s at least trending in a positive direction. 

RACE 6: MAIDEN CLAIMING $16,000, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, 1 MILE (GRASS)

13-4-5-7

#13 Ethics (10-1) makes his first start for the Jack Fisher barn. After finishing well-beaten in his first three starts, he chased the pace, loomed large in the stretch, and held third last out at Turfway Park. He’s gotten in four workouts for Fisher in the past four weeks, switches back to grass from synthetic, and finds a soft spot to make his local debut in. #4 Christmas Spirit (9-2) drops to a career-low level and looks for a rebound after a dull, pace-compromised effort last out. He ran a solid 72 in his prior grass effort. #5 Tyson’s Delivery (5-2) just missed against similar in his grass debut last out. He looks like he’s found his best stride on this surface. 

RACE 7: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $25,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

7-13-9-2

#7 Parola Sicura (3-1) went off as the slight favorite against slightly better last out, but checked sharply early on and fell far behind. She still made up good ground and lost by only 2 ½ lengths, not a bad effort for her first start off a seven-month break. #13 J Z’s Last Shance (4-1) hasn’t run a bad race in four career grass starts, earning figures in the mid-70s each time, but often leaves herself with too much to do late. She’s a good bet to round out the exacta behind Parola Sicura. #9 Sara’s Rose (15-1) ran some credible races on the lawn at Gulfstream Park over the winter and gets reunited with Jorge Ruiz.

RACE 8: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $30,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

5-1-9-6

LATE PICK 5 STARTS HERE. CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO ANALYSIS

Many of these are coming out of the same race at this condition on June 6. #5 Brother Conway (9-2), in my opinion, ran the best race that day. He made his second start off a 10 ½-month break that day, and raced on a contested pace before pulling clear in the stretch. He got caught in the last few strides by #9 Murray (5-2), who has great closing speed, but tends to do his better work at seven furlongs. The June 6 race was at seven furlongs, now they’re cutting back in distance, and that should do wonders for Brother Conway third off the bench. #1 Ceepeegee (7-2) won his last two starts at Oaklawn Park with figures in the mid/upper-80s both times. He’ll be sent for speed from along the rail. 

RACE 9: ALMA NORTH STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 1/2 FURLONGS

8-4-2-1

The stakes action resumes with a race named for the top Maryland-bred sprinter of the early 1970s. All eyes will be on #8 Mystic Lake (7-5), and deservedly so. She’s won three stakes races in her last five starts, with her only dull effort coming against some of the best female sprinters in the country in the Derby City Distaff. Undeterred, she bounced back with an impressive gate-to-wire win in the Memorial Day Sprint at Lone Star Park with a 98, a near-career-best mark. You probably won’t get much more than the 3-5 she went off at that day, if even that, but she’s very dangerous and a worthy single on pick 5 tickets. #4 Easy Red (4-1) sat the trip and converted to beat second-level rivals at Keeneland last out. Three of her four best figures have come since returning from a 10-month break in late November. While her ceiling isn’t as high as that of Mystic Lake, she’s trending in the right direction and is at least an underneath threat. #2 Alani (12-1) did nothing in the Rehoboth Beach Stakes at Delaware last out, but was in sharp form prior to that, and may try to contest Mystic Lake for the lead.

RACE 10: PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

1-2-7-3

This is a very wide-open race; just about any of the seven have a chance to win. #1 Crystal Quest (4-1) and #2 Trikari (2-1) both come out of the Dinner Party Stakes, run over a soaked grass course. Crystal Quest made decent ground off of very slow fractions – even considering the condition of the course – while Trikari made a move on the turn, but his dislike for the track caught up to him, and he ended up well-beaten. Crystal Quest has won this year, taking the Esmark Turf Classic against Florida-breds at Tampa Bay Downs, and has great closing speed. Trikari won a trio of graded stakes last year, and while he hasn’t won in 10 ½ months, his backclass cannot be ignored. #7 Wolfie’s Dynaghost (10-1) made his first start off a 16-month layoff last out at Woodbine. He broke poorly and lost his usual position, but still closed well given the circumstances. At his best, he’s a serious threat with his early speed. 

RACE 11: DEFRANCIS DASH, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

5-6-7-2

The final stakes race of the day is named in tribute to the owner of Laurel in the mid/late-1980s. #5 Subrogate (3-1) was second in the Mr. Prospector Stakes at Monmouth first off a 10-month layoff last out, beating some of the rivals he’ll see here. He ran some great races last year, with back-to-back triple-digit figures at Saratoga and Aqueduct, to the point where he was one of the favorites in the Vanderbilt Stakes. He’s worked very well since the Mr. Prospector, and should run another big race second off the layoff. #6 Super Chow (5-2) was fourth in the Mr. Prospector after getting pressed on the pace, but bounced back to win the off-the-grass Get Serious Stakes next out. He has sharp early speed and will likely try to take them gate-to-wire. Last year’s winner, #7 Dean Delivers (7-2), was third in the Mr. Prospector in his first start off a long break. He was in very sharp form last year, taking four stakes races in a row in the region, and has the ability to gun for the lead or sit just off of it.

RACE 12: MAIDEN CLAIMING $16,000, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, 1 MILE (GRASS)

10-6-1-5

#10 Storm Force (9-2) closed well for third at this level last out, a much-improved race from a pace-compromised effort in his first local start of the season. He’ll make a late impact if he can stay in the clear. #6 Regalo Perfetto (10-1) is lightly-raced and takes a class plunge as he drops in for a tag for the first time. He faced very tough maiden special weight fields in his first two races, but should relish facing these rivals. #1 Imperial Spy (6-1) gobbled up ground in his grass debut last out and was a fast-closing fifth, showing a much stronger punch than he ever had on dirt. 

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