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

First post time: 12:00 p.m.

Carryovers: 
Chesapeake Jackpot Pick 6 (races 5-10) — $5,514
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6) — $2,514
Early Pick 5 (races 1-5) — $0
Late Pick 5 (races 6-10) — $0

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RACE 1: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

8-6-14-4 (DIRT: 5-12-13-4)

Graham Motion has an intriguing pair of runners: #8 Alakan (3-1), who was second, outfinishing many of these, on debut on October 18, and first-time starter #6 Lesotho Promise (6-1). Motion runners tend to get better with experience, and that’s been true with his 2-year-olds on grass. Of his six winners in a 2-year-old maiden race on grass this year, four of them had at least one start under their belt. Lesotho’s Promise’s big advantage is that it’s not a particularly strong field, so as long as he can run a brisnet figure in the low-70s at first asking, he’s got a shot. #14 Rafa Junior (6-1) got some action on debut at Aqueduct, and made decent ground after falling far behind early. Rick Dutrow runners hit at a respectable 16% when trying a route for the first time.

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

4-1-6-3

#4 Fowl Mouth (5-2) finished up the track against better in his last two starts. However, he showed plenty of promise when he broke his maiden in easy fashion on debut at Delaware Park in October, and should benefit from class relief. #1 Mister Roscoe (9-2) crushed the field at fifth asking two starts back, then stepped up to a career-best 75 when second behind the runaway winner, Mo Missile, at this level last out. I don’t think anyone in here is of Mo Missile’s caliber; that one was lightly-raced and coming in in improving form. #6 Feels So Right (5-2) stood little chance from post 13 in the Maryland Million Nursery last out, and unsurprisingly finished up the track. He led all the way to win at Timonium two starts ago. While Timonium form should always be taken with a grain of salt around here, the truth of his current form is probably somewhere in between his last two races.

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

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

#6 Call Me a Cab (9-5) was second in his first start at this level two starts ago, when he rallied for second despite getting bumped around a bit. The winner, Kohoutek, and the third-place finisher, Italiano Kid, have come back to win since. He didn’t do much against better maidens last out, but now gets to drop back in class. #3 Sports Hero (3-1) ran a strong 81 in his only grass start, a sixth-place finish against maiden special weight types at Ellis Park in July. He was no threat in his first start off the Jim Ryerson claim at Aqueduct in October, but, freed from claiming jail, he comes down here and finds a spot where he should thrive. #7 Superlastingsecret (6-1) just missed against these types in his last grass start in late June. Damon Dilodovico does well with horses first off of long layoffs, so this one should turn in a solid effort in his first start of any sort since July.

RACE 4: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

5-4-7-1

#5 Fan Club (10-1) ran no worse than an 84 in four starts here over the winter, peaking at a 92 in victory three starts back. He hasn’t raced since late May, a race in which he was headstrong throughout and proved no threat. He’s worked steadily since late September, and looks primed to pop at a price. #4 Night Time Nap (5-2) couldn’t quite last going 1 1/8 miles last out, but easily handled 1 1/16 miles two starts ago, and now gets to cut back to that distance. #7 Tops the Chart (20-1) is probably hoping that the wet weather forecast doesn’t pan out. He ran subpar races in the mud at Penn National earlier this year, but he won with a 94 the last him he ran two turns on a fast track. Although he was flat last out, he should run better second off a five-month layoff.

RACE 5: MAIDEN CLAIMING $16,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 6 FURLONGS

3-7-6-1

#3 Bella’s Password (9-5) has run a 64 and a 67 in her two career starts. Only one of her rivals has run that fast on dirt at any point in their lives, and that one went on to lose her next two races by a combined 43 lengths. The morning line would be an absolute bargain if it holds. #7 Genecho (3-1) showed brief speed and faded in both of her starts. This Brittany Russell trainee is dropping in for a tag for the first time and getting a rider switch to Jevian Toledo. Russell is historically razor-sharp with her runners in maiden claimers, though not as much lately. #6 Knowledge is Good (5-1) races first off the claim by James Casey, who has quietly had a very good meet. From 13 starters, he’s won three times and come in second three more times. This one made mild ground for second going a mile last out, and now gets to cut back in distance.

RACE 6: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE (GRASS)

6-1-11-13 (DIRT: 10-5-4-9)

#6 Cloud Music (5-1) has gone gate-to-wire in three of his last four starts, and finished second after leading for most of the way in the other. He’s lasted through pretty fast fractions in those spots, and will be especially potent if allowed to set even moderate fractions. #1 Sell Something (8-1) hasn’t won in a while, but he’s always good for a smaller share, having finished third three times in four starts this year. #11 Bodecream (4-1) saw his three-race win streak snapped last out when his usually potent closing kick was nowhere to be found. He was a trainer scratch out of a similar spot last Saturday, and hasn’t worked since that last race on October 8. If Jamie Ness was able to cure whatever ailed him that day, he’ll be a threat.

RACE 7: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

4-3-2-1

#4 Rina is Fire (1-1) made her debut in late February in what proved to be a very key maiden race. She led most of the way and finished second by a nose. The first, third, fifth and sixth-place finishers in the six-horse field have all won since. This filly got back on the worktab in mid-August, has worked consistently well since, and looks ready to fire a big one for Gary Capuano. It’s been so long since she raced, Yedsit Hazlewood, who has the mount, wasn’t even a member of the colony during her last start. #3 Chilly Girl (6-1) has drastically improved in her last few starts, peaking at a 75 last out when she showed speed for the first time. #2 Sugar Rocket (8-5) was a $500,000 purchase at the Keeneland Yearling Sale two years ago. After what one would imagine have been many stops and starts, she’s finally ready to debut for Brittany Russell. Her recent workouts have been sharp, including two bullet drills, but she has the disadvantage of being the only firster in the field.

RACE 8: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

1-5-7-8

The ever hard-knocking #1 Monday Morning Qb (5-1) was no factor first off an eight-month layoff at Charles Town last out. However, he now returns to his favorite track, on which he’s 8-for-20 lifetime and 11-for-20 in the exacta. #5 Catahoula Moon (2-1) was fifth in the Maryland Million Sprint last out, a race which has already produced a pair of next-out winners. He’s struggled against better for most of the year, but should find this bunch to his liking. #7 Formal Affair (9-2) has quickly discovered his best self, running an 82 and a 91 in his last two starts after spinning his wheels for most of the season. He might be better off going longer, but he should get at least a share.

RACE 9: THIRTY EIGHT GO GO STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES

7-2-4-1

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