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

First post time: 12:10 p.m.

Carryovers: 

Early Pick 5 (races 1-5) — $0
Chesapeake Jackpot Pick 6 (races 4-9) — $4,044
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6)— $1,326
Late Pick 5 (races 5-9) — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $25,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS (GRASS)

5-6-7-8

It’s hard to make heads or tails out of this field. I lean towards #5 Sweeterthanwhiskey (10-1) at hopefully a bit of a price. She’s dropping in class form first-level allowance rivals and has the best late pace figures in the field. She’ll hope her rivals mix things up early and set it up for her closing punch. #6 Ithinkiloveyou (9-5) races second off the Anthony Farrior claim and keeps Jevian Toledo in the saddle. She was unable to take advantage of a stalking trip last out (off a pace that was not nearly as destructive as it might look; the top three finishers were the early pacesetters), but it was her first start off a 10-month break, and she was a winner on this track two starts ago. #7 Air One (6-1) hasn’t won in a hot minute, but has been consistently solid all year, and is a must-use in underneath spots.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $12,500 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

5-2-7-4

#5 Win No Joke (7-2) is certainly better than his last race, a dismal effort at Timonium in which he was beaten by 15 lengths. It was his second start off an eight-month layoff, and he was thrown a bit out of his element on the bullring, racing close to the pace. He ran well here over the winter, and a return to that form wins this. #2 Uniwinner (5-2) was no match for a heavily favored Kentucky shipper last out at Colonial Downs, but still ran on well and finished second. He gets class relief here and will sit a great trip off the pace. #7 Kissling (3-1) has won three in a row between Timonium and Charles Town. He has blazing early speed and the potential to clear from the outside post. He’s been in sharp form on the bullrings; how will he do here?

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

3-6-7-5

This looks like one of the softer maiden special weight races you’ll see around here, especially at this time of year. #3 Flatter My Dad (5-1) closed well for third on debut at Timonium, and now tries grass for the first time. He’s by Rainbow Heir, a top Mid-Atlantic grass sprinter whose progeny have done well first time on grass (albeit in a small sample size). Flatter My Dad is in prime position to do just that. #6 Garage Beers (7-2) comes out of the same race as Flatter My Dad. He took action in that race, but broke horribly and lost all chance from there. His dam won on grass, as did two of his siblings, one of whom is stakes winner Alla Breve. #7 Rudiobus (5-1) chased the pace and held third on debut at Penn National. Trainer Erin McClelland is sneaky sharp with horses making their first start on the grass.

RACE 4: CLAIMING $12,500 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

8-7-6-1

#8 Antonacci Girl (3-1) sat a stalk-and-pounce trip to win at Timonium last out. She’s been ultra-consistent as of late, running a brisnet figure of 75 in three of her last four starts. #7 Anotherhope (2-1) overcame a bad start to win at Colonial last out with a career-best 81. It was an especially nice win considering how much she was taken out of her element. #6 Ade (7-2) gets class relief after facing, at worst, slightly better for most of the year. She was flat at Timonium last out, but should appreciate a return to the big track. 

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

14-1-3-4

#14 Shear Magic (4-1) will need some help to draw in off the also-eligible list, but she’ll be very tough if she does. She broke her maiden in impressive gate-to-wire style last out in her second start off an eight-month break. Even if she can’t clear from the far outside, she can work out a trip just off the pace if need be. #1 Corrected Pedigree (2-1) has been getting better with every start since returning from a six-month break in June. He surged and just missed last out, and will likely make a similar surge if the rail opens up for him. #3 Go to Bingo (5-1) has hit the exacta in his last three starts, and while he’s susceptible to trouble, his sharp current form merits respect. 

RACE 6: MAIDEN CLAIMING $25,000, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, 1 MILE

9-8-6-4

#9 Gung Ho (2-1) ran a solid 74 in a very salty maiden race on debut on the Black-Eyed Susan day undercard. He’s raced twice on grass since then, showing speed and getting caught last out, and finds a friendly bunch to make his return to dirt against. #8 Pump It Up (10-1) showed little at Parx last out, but he’s worked well since then, and drops in for a tag for the first time. #6 Tell ‘Em I’m Comin (3-1) has had many, many, many chances, but he’s facing an easier field than he’s seen in a while. That might help his cause a bit, though be wary of taking low odds. 

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, MD-RESTRICTED, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

10-5-4-3

#10 Coringa (1-1) takes a class drop after holding his own against better rivals at Colonial in his last few races. He also has early speed in a race without much of it, so he should be able to make the front and not look back, albeit at a low number. #5 Nothingbutbluesky (10-1) closed well for fourth at this level last out despite an overland trip. He might be pace-compromised given the possible scenario, but he’s lightly-raced, and should at least grab a share. #4 Carvellian Quest (6-1) switches back to grass after a trio of runner-up tries on dirt. He has some tactical speed, which will give him an advantage in a race like this.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W3X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

5-1-6-3

#5 Hittheroadjak (3-1) looked fantastic over the winter and spring, but went to the sidelines following a dismal effort at Delaware Park in May. He’s worked fantastically as of late, with back-to-back five-furlong drills in his lines. A big effort here will likely mean an engagement with the Maryland Million Classic, where he finished fourth last year. #1 Duke of Gloucester (5-2) won in dominating fashion two and three starts back at Parx, then was fourth against some very classy rivals in the Mayor’s Mile Stakes last out. Dexter Haddock comes in for the mount, and looks primed to get a great trip on the rail. #2 Goodbye Note (9-2), another potential Maryland Million Classic contender, faded after racing on the pace last out at Delaware Park. However, he was a sharp winner there two starts ago, and looks primed for a rebound.

RACE 9: MAIDEN CLAIMING $25,000, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

1-6-7-3

#1 Chocolate Brownie (8-1) was the only first-time starter in the field on debut last out, and he was very pace-compromised after falling far off a loose leader. He still ran a solid 70 in that spot, and has room to improve. #6 Oxford Union (8-1) improved sharply in his third start off an eight-month layoff, and second grass start in that stretch, last out. He closed well off of honest fractions to grab second against a similar field as today’s. Another step forward is certainly possible. #7 Basic Miles (6-1) has slowly rounded back into his best form, including a fifth-place finish over Chocolate Brownie in his last race.

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