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) — $0
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6)— $0
Early Pick 5 (races 1-5) — $0
Late Pick 5 (races 6-10) — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: MAIDEN CLAIMING $20,000, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE

6-7-8-10

Heavy rain yesterday washed today’s four scheduled grass races to dirt. That bodes well for #6 Commemorative (2-1), the only one here with much established dirt form. She finished second on this surface first off a nine-month break at Delaware Park in early July, getting second behind the impressive, favored winner, Conch Fried Rice. That rival came back to win a first-level contest on dirt next out. Rick Sillaman entered a pair of interesting runners. #7 Katarzyna (7-2) has never raced on dirt, but showed speed in her last two starts on grass and turned in a much-improved effort on the pace last out. She could be dangerous if left alone on the front end. #8 Souper Roll (3-1) was no factor on debut on dirt in May, but has shown overall improved since both on grass and the Presque Isle Downs synthetic. She can’t be written off on dirt, especially considering the lack of proven dirt ability from the others.

RACE 2: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $16,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 7 FURLONGS

3-5-1-2

#3 Who Says So (9-5) was second against a softer field last out. He pressed the pace and sent the other two frontrunners into a double digit-length defeat, ultimately second to odds-on choice Candycrumbs, who’s the only one out of that race who could run with these. This one goes first off the Phil Capuano claim and is reunited with Yedsit Hazlewood. #5 Artist Mark (5-2) broke through to win at 10th asking last out, coming from off the pace to handle a maiden claiming field as the odds-on choice. All of his best races have come on this track, and he has the best early pace figures in a race without lots of speed. #1 Straight to Water (5-1) ran some big races earlier this year, but has tailed off in his last two starts, losing them by a combined 29 lengths. We’ll see if he can bounce back in his second race off a two-month break.

RACE 3: MAIDEN CLAIMING $25,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 1 MILE

4-7-2-3

#4 Watch Me Sparkle (6-1) is the only first-time starter in a largely formless field. That’s been a particularly potent angle as of late; there’s been three instances this month of a 2-year-old being the lone first-time starter in a race. Two of them won, paying $23.20 and $73.40, respectively. This one looks well-meant for a longer distance. Her dam, Sandy’s Surprise, won three times at a mile or longer, including the 2017 Zia Park Oaks. #7 Bella’s Password (4-1) drops in for a tag for the first time and looks to improve off a respectable debut. She was no match for a runaway Russell-trained winner, but was involved in a blanket finish for a minor share. Speaking of Russell, she’ll send out #2 Fighttown (7-5) for Repole Stable. Repole has very big fish to fry and rabbits to rail against this weekend, but he has a good shot to pick up a win here as well. This one’s raced near the pace in both career starts on grass, improved sharply last out, and now adds blinkers while getting class relief.

RACE 4: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

11-1-4-7

#11 Noah Chance (9-2) hasn’t raced on dirt in a while, but his overall form on this surface is impressive. Two of his four career wins have come on wet dirt tracks: a 6 ¼-length victory on a good track in December 2022, and a 4 ¾-length triumph on a muddy surface two months later. His three most recent dirt starts, in early 2024, were disasters. However, he was in overall sour form, considering he went to the sidelines for a year not long afterwards. He should be in much better shape today. #1 Katie’s Notion (3-1) also has a wet track win in his lines; he crushed a maiden field in the slop three years ago. In more recent times, he’s run well from off the pace against these types or better on grass. #4 Icing (5-1) faces the best dirt field he’s seen in a while, but he held his own against better around this time last year. He’s shown improvement with each start since returning from a six-month break in mid-July.

RACE 5: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 6 FURLONGS

4-2-1-9

#4 Juniper’s Jubilee (5-2) chased the pace and won a photo for second on debut at Delaware Park for Gary Capuano, who has done great work all meet long. This one went four furlongs in a sharp 47 ⅖ last Saturday, the fastest of 53 times (outworking Weber City Miss Stakes winner Complexity Jane). #2 Cupid’s Choice (3-1) briefly struck the front on debut at Colonial Downs, and though she faded late, she held second with a strong brisnet figure of 76. She was entered and scratched on September 26, and has since failed to draw in off the also-eligible list twice (once at Aqueduct!). However, she’s worked well as of late and looks ready to go. I’ve spilled much ink on #1 Celtic Harp (12-1), who has looked ready to go on debut many times, but keeps scratching. If she goes to the post today, she’s worth watching on the board, at least.

RACE 6: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

7-8-2-1

#7 B West (6-1) hasn’t won in seven starts this year, but he’s been in great form against better. He’s run in the 80s in his last four starts on this track. Last out, he was third as the favorite behind Forward Move, who won next out at Parx and was second in the race afterwards. This one has great closing speed and should get a pace to close into. #8 One Way Farrior (20-1) makes his first start in two months since a disastrous try at Delaware in late August. He was an easy winner the last time he ran six furlongs, and is 7-for-15 overall at this distance. #2 Borracho (2-1) has sharp speed from the inside, and while he’s bound to get pressed on the pace, he’s shown he can withstand hot fractions and still run well.

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

10-3-2-12

#10 Ginger Snap (10-1) is already stakes-placed, having finished third in the Maryland Million Lassie behind stablemate Slewperstitus and Doc’s Miracle. She’s already well-proven on dirt, and can run well from on or off the pace. #3 Dutchman’s Map (8-1) is another example of the aforementioned first-time starter angle. She’s turned in three bullet drills at Fair Hill over the past few weeks, outworking many other promising 2-year-olds in the process. #2 Omahamoiselle (6-1) was well-bet on debut at Monmouth Park, but broke awkwardly and showed little from there. She improved sharply second time on grass, and will try to keep moving forward second time on dirt.

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

1-6-7-4

Jamie Ness trains both of my top two picks, both of whom have early speed in a race without a lot of it. #1 Rowsie Express (3-1) was pressed on the pace against similar last out, including a strong second quarter of 23.64, and held second to a rival who sat a great trip off the pace. #6 How Sweet She Is (9-2) has run in the 80s in each of her last three dirt races, and six of her last seven starts on this surface. While any of her recent races contends in here, I’m a bit apprehensive about taking a low price on her. She’s gone off at 2-1 or less in each of her last four dirt starts and has won only one of them. #7 Whocouldaskformo (2-1) gets major class relief and improved sharply to an 80 second off an 11-month layoff last out. She has plenty of backclass and is primed to take a step forward third off the bench.

RACE 9: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, MD-RESTRICTED, 1 MILE

11-4-9-12

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