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) — $2,717
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6) — $888
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, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

11-3-2-8 (DIRT: 7-2-10-1)

#11 Wonder Girl (9-5) was an easy winner at this level last out, sitting off the pace and drawing off for an open-length win. She’s in prime position to work out another great stalking trip. #3 Quick Power Nap (5-2) makes her first Maryland appearance since November 2023, which is also the last time she won. In the interim, she’s been outclassed by New York-bred allowance rivals, but she should find these more manageable. #2 Golden Can (10-1) was second to Wonder Girl last out at 22-1. She hasn’t won since May 2022, but she’s always good for a check against these types, and will pick up a slice if she can find room in the stretch. 

RACE 2: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $16,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

4-1-6-2

#4 Night Time Nap (3-1) hasn’t trailed at any point of call in either of his two dirt starts, winning both on the lead by open lengths. He’s in improving form, while many of his chief rivals are coming in off subpar performances. One of those is #1 Key Stat (5-2), who was well-beaten at Timonium last out. However, he was in consistently sharp form prior to that effort, running brisnet figures in the 80s three times in a row earlier this season. Within that stretch, he won at this distance at Charles Town. The best version of him will be able to run down Night Time Nap if that one falters on the lead. #6 Tuff Luck (2-1) has some tactical speed and won twice here over the winter and spring, both times sitting off the leaders and drawing away.

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

7-1-5-3 (DIRT: 2-1A-6-9)

#7 Call Me Babe (12-1) took a nice step forward second time on grass last out, running a career-best brisnet figure of 73 to secure third after sitting off a fast pace. She’s been somewhat prominent early on in both grass starts, and might find herself on the lead in a race without a lot of speed. #1 Selvaggia (7-5) stretched out around two turns on grass for the first time last out, and promptly ran a much-improved 73. Mychel Sanchez gets the call for the first time; he and trainer Michael Pino hit at a 40% rate when they team up. #5 Feather Wish (20-1) rallied wide and outfinished Call Me Babe last out in what was by far a season’s-best performance. Yan Rodriguez keeps the mount, and may also send her for speed.

RACE 4: MAIDEN CLAIMING $16,000, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

6-11-1-3 (DIRT: 1-10-11-8)

#6 Call Me a Cab (6-1) makes his first start off a 10-month break and gets Lasix for the first time. He set the pace and held second on debut on grass last September at Gulfstream Park, then went to the sidelines after a flat try on dirt in November. This is a fairly soft field to make his first start of the year in, and he’s shown enough ability to merit respect here. Outside of a very dull result two races back, #11 Italiano Kid (5-1) has been in steadily improving form, peaking at a 65 last out. He’ll try to run them down from off the pace on the outside. #1 Dave the Great (7-2) acted up in the gate before the race last out, couldn’t make the front, and faded to fourth. He’s at his best when he’s able to make the lead, and you have to figure he’ll be hard-sent from the inside.

RACE 5: CLAIMING $12,500 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

7-2-8-5

#7 Birravino Blvd (5-2) has a “triple fig” advantage over his rivals. He’s run at least a 77 in each of his last three dirt starts. No one else has run better than a 74 in any of their last three starts on this surface. He’s also dropping into a non-winners of two claimer for the first time. #2 Speedy Alex (10-1) was well-beaten the last time he tried this distance. However, he’s in improved form since then, including a maiden-breaking score on this track four starts back with a career-best 74. #8 Blue Marble (6-1) tracked a slow pace and just missed in his first two-turn try last out. There isn’t a lot of speed here either, but he’ll contend as long as he doesn’t fall too far off the lead.

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

1-11-9-8 (DIRT: 13-12-4-1)

#1 She’s No Uncle (5-1) went gate-to-wire twice at Colonial over the summer. She faded going six furlongs last out, but should appreciate the cutback in distance, and profiles as the main speed. #11 Wise and Elegant (6-1) improved 20 points to an 84 in her second start off a three-month layoff last out. Her best races have come on this track, including a win last November when she sat off a strong early pace and converted. #9 Diane Lee (9-2) has hit the exacta in her last three starts, including a going-away win last out with a career-best 80.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

15-5-11-4 (DIRT: 12-7-9-5)

#15 Simply Stated (7-2) won twice at this level over the summer at Colonial, and now drops from a third-level race there into a fairly easy second-level contest. She often gives her backers a sweat, with both of those wins coming by less than a length. However, she’s got enough late punch to get the job done. Jamie Ness has a pair of runners in here, both of whom are serious contenders. #5 Central Casting (5-2) made her first start on grass last out, and wired a first-level field while racing clear on the lead throughout. She won three times on dirt earlier this year, and may be equally talented on both surfaces. Her stablemate, #11 Mystic Seaport (4-1), is battle-tested on the lawn. She’s won six times in 11 grass starts, including a last-out win at Delaware Park. She’ll sit near the pace and take advantage if her barnmate tires on the pace. 

RACE 8: MAIDEN CLAIMING $25,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

4-3-7-5

#4 Countingmyblessings (5-1) is by Practical Joke, who hits at 15% with first-time starters, and has worked well at his Penn National base for trainer Chris Davis. It wouldn’t be surprising if he ran a big race at first asking. #3 Vida (7-2) went off as one of the favorites in his debut at Timonium, and finished a pace-chasing third. He ran a respectable 60 that day, and will be hard to beat if he improves off of that mark. #7 Mister Roscoe (3-1) has already raced five times, and has run in the 60s three times. He’ll need to show more early speed if he wants to win this one, but he could at least rally for a small share.

RACE 9: LAUREL FUTURITY, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

4-1-11-6 (DIRT: 8-2-5-3)

#4 Proton (3-1) broke his maiden impressively going 5 ½ furlongs last out at Colonial. He sat off the pace on the rail, kicked on when asked, and drew off with style. This is his first time going two turns, but his pedigree indicates he’ll have no problem with the extra distance. His dam, Charged, won multiple times going two turns on grass. Second dam Kiawah Cat was stakes-placed three times going long on the lawn, and third dam Nastique was a grade 1 winner on grass, taking the 1988 Matriarch Handicap at Hollywood Park (she also won the Delaware Handicap on dirt twice). Several aunts and uncles also showed aptitude in grass routes. #1 Jutland (7-2) has notably improved with each start, and is stakes-placed, having finished second in the Kitten’s Joy Stakes last out. He chased a gate-to-wire winner who set flow fractions that afternoon, but still ran on well as best he could and finished a clear-cut second as the 13-10 favorite. #11 Sunrise (9-2) showed heart in his maiden-breaking score at Saratoga last out. He raced wide on the pace, dismissed his dueling partner and led in the stretch, then fended off a determined late challenger to win by a nose. He improved six points to a 77 that day, and looks like a dangerous shipper for Todd Pletcher. 

RACE 10: SELIMA STAKES, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

3-6-2-8 (DIRT: 4-5-2-1)

This race is named for one of the foundation mares of the Thoroughbred breed, who was imported to Maryland in the early 1750s. #3 Ultimate Love (3-1) has already won twice going two turns on grass. She dazzled on opening day of the fall meet, making a strong move from off a modest pace and drawing away to a 6 ¾-length score with a much-improved 83. Jorge Ruiz gets back aboard after riding her in her debut win, and her late punch should be more than enough to handle these easily. #6 Oscar’s Encore (9-2) ran an impressive 88 going 5 ½ furlongs on debut at Saratoga. Off that win, she went off as one of the favorites in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies Turf, but couldn’t last on the lead and was beaten three lengths. While she did deal with some traffic trouble late, she wouldn’t have won even if she wasn’t forced to check in the last sixteenth. Still, she’s dropping in class, has great early pace figures, and is the only one in the field to run in the 80s twice. #2 Lovely Grey (5-1) showed little against first-level rivals at Kentucky in her last start, but broke her maiden with a strong late move at Colonial in her first start. 

RACE 11: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

4-8-1-10

#4 Railroad Inn (5-1) battled for the lead with an even-money favorite at Delaware last out, outfinished him by a length, and got second to a rival who sat a perfect trip. That was his first start in which he showed early speed, after three races of falling too far behind to seriously contend. It looks like he’s getting good at the right time. #8 Artist Mark (2-1) drops in for a career-low tag, and is the only one in the race to run in the 70s in each of his last two starts. He just missed two starts back at Timonium, faded last out going a mile, and now gets a distance more in his wheelhouse. #1 Furious George (12-1) switches back to dirt after a flat try on grass. His two best figures came in his last two dirt starts, including a game effort on this track in late June in which he missed by a half-length. 

CHECK OUT THE LATEST OFF TO THE RACES RADIO!