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

First post time: 12:10 p.m.

Carryovers (mandatory payouts in all wagers): 

Early Pick 5 (races 1-5) — $0
Chesapeake Jackpot Pick 6 (races 6-11) — $0
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6)— $42,330
Late Pick 5 (races 7-11) — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

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

10-3-12-1

We’ll kick off the final day of the summer meet with a wide-open field of grass sprinters. #10 Great Kisser (5-2) raced a few days ago at Penn National, but if he wheels back off a few days’ rest, he’ll be live. He lasted a long way on the lead in that race, but got nailed on the wire and was second by a nose. It was a game effort for his third race off the break and he should be put on the pace once again. #3 Borletti (2-1) is one of a few in here coming out of the same race at this condition on June 6. He surged on the outside and just missed by a nose. He’ll take full advantage if Great Kisser burns out on the lead. #12 Tik Tok Daddy (6-1) was second to Upsidedown Man on May 26 in his first race off a six-month layoff, and should improve with a return to grass after getting washed off last out.

RACE 2: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 6 FURLONGS

6-5-3-2

#6 Laura’s Aura (9-2) pressed an experienced rival on debut at Delaware Park, and managed to hang around late to lose by less than two lengths in a blanket finish. She ran a brisnet figure of 76 in that race; further improvement would make her very tough to beat. Ned Allard runners tend to run better second time out than first. #5 Suitefourfourthree (8-5) also ships in from Delaware; in her case, for Greg Compton. She ran a 75 twice at Oaklawn Park over the winter after breaking slowly both times. If she’s figured out her gate issues between her last race on May 2 and now, she’s very live, but that’s a big “if” at a low price. #3 Chilly Girl (8-1), the only first-time starter in the race, is from a win-early family. Of her three siblings to race, two of them won at first asking, and the other won at second asking. Hammy Smith doesn’t win with too many firsters, but he did connect with one on June 1.

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

7-6-2-3

#7 Mopo (5-2) lasted a long way in her maiden-breaking effort last out, setting the pace and defeating a nice field on the Black-Eyed Susan day undercard. One of the rivals she beat, My Brazilian Girl, came back to break her maiden on Friday. She’s the only one in this race to run in the 80s in each of her last two starts. #6 In This Moment (9-5) defeated Mopo last out with a strong closing move in her first start for Brittany Russell. She took advantage of a hot pace that day, so she’ll hope Mopo gets a bit too excited early and sets it up for her. #2 Krone (12-1) won first off an eight-month layoff from well off the pace at Delaware last out. She’s another late-running threat at a much better price than In This Moment.

RACE 4: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

5-3-2-1

#5 Drill Baby (1-1) is another well-regarded Greg Compton-trained maiden. He’s run at least a 77 in each of his last three starts, including a second-place effort to the impressive Pediatrician last out. His only rival who’s come close to that is #3 Veneto (7-2), who’s run a 77 in each of his last two races, but is 0-for-10 lifetime, while Drill Baby has raced just four times. As long as Drill Baby runs his race, he’ll be very tough to beat, though you’ll have to take low odds. #2 Divine Swagger (8-1) looks like the best option if you want to try and defeat the top two. He recovered from a bad start and gobbled up ground in his dirt debut. Even if the top two outkick him, he looks like much the best of the others.

RACE 5: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $25,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

7-11-3-6

Niall Saville has quietly had a great year, with a 7-for-23 record in sanctioned meets. He’ll send out #7 Korea (15-1) in her first American start on the flat. She won over the jumps at Middleburg earlier in the year, got in over her head against stakes company at Percy Warner next out, and now finds a soft landing spot for her return to the flat. If you got near her morning line, that would be a steal. #3 Buzzaway (3-1) closed well to break her maiden in her 2024 finale. After a pair of flat efforts to begin her 2025 season, she put it all together third off the bench and closed furiously last out to lose by a length. J.G. Torrealba, who rode her to that narrow defeat last out in his first race aboard her, keeps the mount. #11 Its Satisfactual (3-1) is the only one in the race to run in the 70s in each of her last three starts. She ran on grass all winter at Gulfstream Park and didn’t make much of an impact- in fact, she hasn’t hit the board in five starts this year- but this looks like a field she can handle.

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

14-3-11-5

This race is the mandatory payout race for the Jackpot Super High 5, with a $1 minimum wager. #14 Dancing On Our Own (5-2) chased the speedy Jewish Mother last out, who returned to beat non-winners of two claimers next out, and wound up fifth. She’s run in the 70s twice in three grass starts, the only one in the field to run that fast on the surface multiple times. #3 Feather Wish (8-1) closed well in two grass starts towards the end of 2024, and makes her first start of the season. She has a recency disadvantage compared to the rest of these, but anything close to her races last year makes her a threat. #11 Holy Brick (4-1) ran a huge race on the lead from post 12 in her grass debut, holding on to second at 34-1. She’s once again drawn towards the outside, but she looks like the fastest one in this field, so a similar trip may be in the works. 

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 7 FURLONGS

4-5-1-8

#4 Shigeko (5-1) chased gate-to-wire winner Pink Rose last out at Penn National, but held second to run in the 80s for the second race in a row. Pink Rose won her most recent start at Penn after a fourth-place effort at Presque Isle Downs. She has easily the best late pace figures in the race, and lures Tyler Conner, who had a big night at Penn on Friday, in for the mount. She’ll be a threat in this soft-for-the-level field with a pace to close into. #5 Red Hat Hanna (12-1) got caught up in the pace and last out and was eased, but she ran well on the lead last year, and should last longer on the front end in her second start off  a six-month break. That last line will drive up her price, but she’s much better than that performance. #1 Dazzy (4-1) has hit the board in her last three starts against mostly better fields, including a second last out to Cluck Cluck, who was second in a second-level route on Friday. She should sit close to the pace on the rail.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W3X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

5-7-1-4

If #5 Haileysfirstnotion (7-5) won at 4-5 last out, we might have seen him in yesterday’s DeFrancis Dash. As it were, he battled on the lead and was second to On the Mark, who got a great trip off the hot tempo. He ran some huge races here earlier this year and once again looks very tough to beat, albeit at a low number. #7 Bouncer (3-1) has battled and lost photo finishes in his last two races, and will be able to work out a trip just off the pace on the outside. #1 Radical Right (5-1) was third to On the Mark and Haileysfirstnotion last out, and was third on the Preakness undercard in his prior race behind the impressive Band Camp. He ran well at big odds in both of those races, and is a good horse to key underneath to try and spice up the exotics.

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

8-2-9-5

Brittany Rusell thought enough of #8 Salty Senorita (5-2) to keep her with her Keeneland string and debut her at Churchill Downs. She pressed the pace while wide and faded in what ended up being a salty maiden field, then broke her maiden in an off-the-grass event here. She has tons of grass pedigree. Her older half-brother, Taking Candy, won the Fair Grounds Stakes earlier this year and was second in yesterday’s Wise Dan Stakes at Churchill. Her older half-sister, Rascality, was second in the Senorita Stakes last year. #2 Boujee Bubblez (3-1), after some flat tries on dirt to begin her career, raced on the pace and held fourth in her last start at Delaware in a very game effort. Like race 7, this is a soft field for the level, and she gets to stay on the lawn. #9 Sweeterthanwhiskey (6-1) closed well in her first start off a six-month layoff last out despite getting into traffic trouble. She’s stepping up from starter optional claiming rivals, but her late kick should still be potent.

RACE 10: MAIDEN CLAIMING $16,000, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

5-2-6-4

One more to go, then we’re on break. #5 Buckin’ Right (4-1) ran promising figures of 69 and 74 over the winter against better, then went to the sidelines after a dull race in early February in which something was assumedly amiss. She’s dropping to a career-low level, and a repeat of either of her first two starts wins this. #2 Anita Beer (6-1) also drops to a career-low tag, having made four of her first five starts against straight maidens. She’s run at least a 66 twice in her last three starts, and has good tactical speed that will serve her well against these types. #6 Anotherhope (8-5) has finished second five times in nine career starts. Her recent figures are fast enough to contend with these, but can you take a low price on a horse with that kind of record. If you can, and you’re right, you’ll have plenty of money to play opening day at Timonium on August 22, the next live race day in Maryland. Have a great summer!

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