Laurel Park picks and ponderings: November 1, 2025 * The Racing Biz

Laurel Park picks and ponderings: November 1, 2025

John Piassek
November 1, 2025

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

First post time: 11:45 a.m.

Carryovers:
Chesapeake Jackpot Pick 6 (races 6-11) — $1,229
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6) — $0
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 $25,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE (GRASS)

4-7-9-6

Believe it or not, today’s card WILL be on the grass after Thursday’s heavy rain. Hats off to the entire grass maintenance crew for taking such amazing care of the course, because it certainly wouldn’t have held up as well just a few years ago. #4 Sleepwalker (6-5) was second has the favorite at this level last out and goes first off the claim by Brittany Russell. She was pretty badly pace-compromised in that race, being forced to close off of very slow fractions, including a second quarter in 25.39. She’ll hope for a more honest pace here. #7 Awesome McKinzie (5-1) did managed to close off a slow pace last out, albeit against softer, to break her maiden at eighth asking last out. Third-place finisher Souper Roll came back to win a washed-off contest yesterday as the odds-on choice. #9 My Dear Antonia (8-1) likes to be closer to the pace and could be particularly dangerous if used aggressively enough early by Yedsit Hazlewood.

RACE 2: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $16,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

6-2-7-1

#6 Centsamilla (5-2) was determined in her maiden-breaking victory at Delaware Park, lasting through pace pressure to win at third asking. Runner-up Nit Witness has finished second twice at this meet, while third-place finisher Runsweetly broke her maiden in her next start at Delaware. #2 Fabia (5-1) showed lots of promise with a dominant score on debut here in early June. She hasn’t gotten back to that form, while facing mostly better rivals, but switching back to dirt, cutting back to distance, and getting to face a weaker field than usual should help. #7 Christy My Love (3-1) was no factor against Maryland-restricted allowance foes first off a 10-month layoff last out. She now gets a more realistic spot, and should be well-placed off the pace on the outside.

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

4-8-6-2

#4 Rock Tune (15-1) has never raced on grass before, having spend most of her career on the Presque Isle Downs synthetic. She got over a case of seconditits when she broke her maiden at 14th asking two starts back, and now cuts back after a flat try going a mile last out. She has great late pace figures and good tactical speed, which is an intriguing combination at a big price. #8 Lazy Days (6-1) held well in a three-way duel last out. She pulled clear in the stretch, but couldn’t hold on and ended up third. Her two dueling partners finished last and next to last. #6 My Grey Humor (6-1) broke her maiden in gate-to-wire style last out, and has shown more early speed with each start. There’s plenty of speed to her inside, but she’s shown the ability to run well from just off the pace.

RACE 4: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 2-YEAR-OLDS, MD-RESTRICTED, 1 1/16 MILES

8-2-6-3

#8 Let’s Go Lando (4-1) has already hit the board around two turns, finishing second after setting the pace last out at Delaware. He’s out of a very prolific family which includes many runners who were successful at a mile or longer. #2 Golden Kid (3-1) hit the board in his first two starts, improving to a career-best brisnet mark of 74 last out. He’s going first off the clam by Anthony Farrior, who tends to do well with horses going a route for the first time. #6 Hard Swing (7-2), the only first-time starter in the race, has some good recent workouts for Jamie Ness. His half-sister, Determined Driver, won the Beyond the Wire Stakes at a mile on dirt.

RACE 5: MAIDEN CLAIMING $25,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

3-7-5-9

#3 Let Her Pass By (3-1) gets major class relief after finishing third against a solid maiden special weight field last out. The winner, The Magic Ofmovies, is a very promising Larry Johnson-bred. Runner-up Sin Boldly returned to finish third in a washed-off maiden special weight race yesterday. #7 Lucky Esther (9-2) was no factor going two turns last out, but ran a respectable 72 going five furlongs on debut in August. She has great late pace figures and should be heard from late. #5 Final Moment (8-1) made the early lead at 66-1 in the same race Let Her Pass By exits. While she stopped badly and lost by 11 lengths, it was a marked improvement from her debut, in which she was never a factor.

RACE 6: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

4-10-14-8

#4 Bodecream (4-1) saw his three-race win streak snapped last out at Delaware. He chased a gate-to-wire winner and lost second by a nose in a blanket finish. He crushed a field like this one two starts back as the heavy chalk last out; this time, he’s only a slight morning line favorite. Value may emerge out of that not-as-impressive last line. #10 Tom Hagen (8-1), one of two 10-year-olds in the field, won here earlier this year, and hasn’t run a bad race on grass in a while. He should sit close to the pace, and will try to make a better-timed move than the one he made in the Maryland Million Turf Starter Handicap last out. #14 American Unity (6-1) may have won last out if gate-to-wire winner Cloud Music didn’t drift out in the stretch and impede his progress. A jockey’s objections against Cloud Music was disallowed, American Unity stayed in second, and he’s now going first off the claim by Mario Lopez. He has great closing speed which has allowed him to compile an impressive resume on grass, he’s 8-for-20 in the win column and 17-for-20 in the money on this surface.

RACE 7: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

3-5-6-4

#3 Mose Perfect (5-1) had no punch at all in the Maryland Million Starter Handicap, but he had dangerous early speed in prior starts. He’s facing an easier field here and has a good post, so he should be able to cross and clear and get the trip he wants. #5 Morning Thoughts (10-1) sat a great trip and converted to win going away last out, running in the mid-80s for the second consecutive race. He looks poised for another good setup. #6 Lord of War (30-1) has no early speed to speak of, but he’s shown some good late punch in his recent races at Parx, including runner-up finishes at 13-1 and 15-1. He could do something similar here.

RACE 8: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $16,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

4-16-10-9

#4 Summer Vibes (3-1) rolled down the center of the track to win at this condition last out, in his first try around one turn on grass. He’s facing a tougher field than he saw last time, but he’s in improving form and will be hard to beat if he gets his trip. #16 Uncle Dar (3-1) is the only one of these to run in the 80s in each of his last three grass starts, and has never run worse than a 77 in his four career grass tries. He’s dropping in class after racing evenly against second-level runners last out. #10 Deadpan (5-2) goes first off the claim by Anthony Farrior, who switches him from a dirt route to a grass sprint. He’s run well on grass before, and should sit a good trip near the pace.

RACE 9: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 1 MILE

3-5-6-4

#3 Limited Vintage (3-1) makes her third career start on as many surfaces. She showed some late interest on the Presque Isle Downs synthetic, following a fifth-place effort on the Colonial Downs grass on debut. Jevian Toledo gets the call on this Brittany Russell trainee for the first time. #5 Nothinglesswilldo (9-2) and #6 Velocity Girl (12-1) come out of the same race on October 10, a seven-furlong contest won by odds-on Russell trainee Prosecco Girl in a runaway. Nothinglesswilldo, who was completely ignored in the betting, gobbled up ground in the stretch and got up for third. Of her three siblings to make the races, two of them won after getting experience in their 2-year-old season. Velocity Girl made a middle move and flattened out in that spot, but now goes second off a brief layoff and should get a good trip in the clear.

RACE 10: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, MD-RESTRICTED, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

4-8-5-1

Post 12 couldn’t slow down #4 Sharmin (3-1) in the Maryland Million Turf Distaff Starter Handicap. She took control and crushed by field by four lengths for her second consecutive win on grass. She’s making her first start for trainer James Casey, who sent out a first-time-in-the-barn winner yesterday. #8 Mopo (2-1) makes her first appearance since being scratched from the Maryland Million Ladies, a race where she would’ve been one of the favorites. She looks like this race’s controlling speed. #5 All Gas No Brakes (3-1) did run in the Ladies, and finished a rather punchless fourth. She won from off the pace two starts back at Colonial with a strong late bid; we’ll see if she can recapture that form.

RACE 11: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $16,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

4-8-5-1

#4 Mr. Bogan (2-1) gave odds-on favorite Outdoor Cat a scare last out. He rallied in the center of the track and just missed behind the winner, who raced a few paths closer to the rail. He was claimed by Jonathan Maldonado after three big races for the Jamie Ness barn, but he was in sharp form even before Ness took him over the summer. #8 Rapidity (10-1) makes his first start off a three-month layoff, and his first start on dirt since late June. He might need a race off the bench, but he has great late pace figures and held his own against similar types earlier this year. #5 Daddy Yankee (7-2) was little factor against much better in his last few starts, but his recent figures fit in with these.