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

First post time: 12:10 p.m.

Carryovers: 
Chesapeake Jackpot Pick 6 (races 5-10) — $848
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6)— $4,510
Early Pick 5 (races 1-5) — $0
Late Pick 5 (races 6-10) — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $16,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/8 MILES (GRASS)

1-12-3-10

#1 Midway Vow (6-1) chased the pace and finished second in each of her two career grass starts. She has good tactical speed in a race without a ton of it, so as long as the early pace isn’t too slow, she’ll get a good stalking spot on the rail and get the jump on the rest of the closers. #12 Practical Romance (4-1) is one of the potential speed horses. She went gate-to-wire two starts back at Colonial Downs, then set the pace against a similar field on September 28 and held fourth. The draw won’t do her any favors, but she should still be able to make the rail and the lead with the lack of other speed. #3 Scholar (8-1) unsuccessfully tried to close off of that slow September 28 pace, and finds herself in another similar spot. She’s run consistently strong brisnet figures throughout the summer, and could make some noise with any kind of tempo to close into. 

RACE 2: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 7 FURLONGS

6-7-3-4

Madison Meyers is 4-for-15 with her first-time starters this year with an absurd $7.35 ROI. I won’t get caught flat-flooted should #6 Twin Lakes (10-1) run big at first asking. He spent the late summer at Laurel, then went to Meyer’s base in Virginia for a bit and posted two solid workouts in his final preps for his debut. Johan Rosado, who clicks at 19% when riding for Meyers, gets the call. Lindsay Shultz’s win rate with debuters isn’t as high, but she has won with two of her last three first-time starters. Her latest first-timer, #7 Ur a Collection (6-1), has worked well lately at Monmouth Park, including a bullet four-furlong drill on October 10 in which he outworked several precocious Chad Brown runners. Among those with experience, #3 Caseofthemondays (5-1) looks the most interesting. He was second in a September 26 maiden race which featured a bevy of first-time starters. Hell Ofa Hillbilly, who went gate-to-wire that day, returned to finish a game fourth in the Maryland Million Nursery after getting caught wide on the pace.

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

6-2-9-1

This race features amateur jockeys, along with many horses coming out of the 3rd race on September 27. That race was won by Endless Vow, who is back in race 1 today. If she wins, that’ll boost the stock of some of these. #6 Mischievous Trick (10-1) ran a solid-closing second that day, in a much-improved effort in her third Mid-Atlantic start. She’s one of the lighter-raced horses in here, and should make another decent late bid. #2 Queen Khaleesi (5-2) made up lots of grounds from off the pace and finished third that day, in her second consecutive grass race with a drastically improved figure. Sophie O’Brien has already won three sanctioned races this year in seven mounts, including one here on June 22. #9 Professor Grace (2-1) was transferred by the owner from Rudy Rodriguez’s barn to Brittany Russell’s after a seventh-place effort last out at Aqueduct. Much like Russell’s runner in race 1, she has speed from the outside and should appreciate the class relief.

RACE 4: CLAIMING $7,500 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

6-1A-8-2

#6 B Dawk (7-2) makes his first start for Hugh McMahon and his first start since July 4 (having been scratched sick once and “stewards” once recently). He’s dropping in class from upper-level allowance company, but couldn’t make a dent against them, and should be much better off against these types. Yedsit Hazlewood, who’s winning at an absurd 28% clip at the meet, gets the mount. #1A Mr. Hustle (3-2) has hit the board in each of his five starts since getting claimed by Jamie Ness in mid-June, but has won only once in that stretch. He won his lone start going a one-turn mile here in February 2023, and has a late punch that should take full advantage of the long stretch. #8 Passioned (5-1) drops in class and switches surfaces after a pair of grass tries. He should be on the early pace, and has demonstrated he can fend off challenges at a one-turn mile both here and at Colonial.

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

4-10-2-13

#4 Dr. Hyde (2-1) ran a huge race first off the Brittany Russell claim last out. Sent off as the slight favorite in a similar field at this one, he gobbled up ground off a slow pace and just missed behind a gate-to-wire winner. He should run a bigger race with a better pace setup, which would make him very hard to beat. #10 Owhatanite (15-1) won twice in a row at today’s distance, then stretched out to 1 ½ miles against better last out and faded after setting the pace. He should find today’s distance, field, and pace scenario more amenable. #2 Cap’n Dusty (9-2) was fifth behind Dr. Hyde last out in his first start since joining the Mike Trombetta barn. Him and Dr. Hyde are the only two in the field to run at least a 78 in each of their last three races.

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

8-5-1-2

#8 Royalties Riches (3-1) drops back in for a tag after showing little against maiden special weights in her last two races. She just missed in her first two tries against these types, with a much-improved effort second time out. #5 Princess Charming (6-1) improved ten points to a 67 at second asking, pressing the pace and holding second behind the impressive Russell-trained winner Noble Status. She wore down the early leader, but was unable to hold off Noble Status’s charge. She stays at the $25,000 level today and should work out another good trip. #1 Pinky Swear (30-1) closed decently for third at Timonium last out. She’s worked well since, and we’ll see how her kick plays on the bigger track.

RACE 7: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

4-12-14-10

Graham Motion has two first-time starters here. #4 Gotta Get It Right (7-2) looks like the better of the pair. He’s loaded with grass pedigree; three of his half-siblings won or placed in stakes races on grass. Motion named Jorge Ruiz on this one, a tell-tale sign of who he thinks is best. #12 Sargent (30-1) is the second promising firster of the day for Madison Meyers. Weston Hamilton is in the saddle; they teamed up to win with a 2-year-old first-time starter on October 4. #14 Clever Charlie (5-2) went off favored in his grass debut at the Meadowlands last out. He chased the pace and finished third behind a New York shipper who went gate-to-wire. He’ll try to prompt the pace from the outside.

RACE 8: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $25,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

6-8-4-1

#6 Outdoor Cat (8-5) was impressive in his local debut at this level last out, sitting off the pace and kicking away to win as much the best. He’s facing a tougher field than he saw last time, but a repeat of that effort wins this. #8 Mr. Bogan (3-1) has finished second in his first two starts since getting claimed by Jamie Ness, including a narrow near-miss last out when he came up the rail and lost by a nose. #4 Joe the Jet (10-1) was an easy gate-to-wire winner at this condition on June 8, and now makes his first start off a four-month layoff. He’s run some huge figures in his brief career and will be tough if he runs his best race off of such a long break.

RACE 9: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

6-1-2-9

CHECK OUT THE LATEST OFF TO THE RACES RADIO!