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

First post time: 12:00 p.m.

Carryovers: 
Chesapeake Jackpot Pick 6 (races 4-9) — $3,032
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6) — $1,571
Early Pick 5 (races 1-5) — $0
Late Pick 5 (races 5-9) — $0

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

16-12-6-11 (DIRT: 11-15-7-14)

#16 Mun Mun Can Run (5-2) went off as the slight favorite in a wide-open maiden claiming contest last out, and gobbled up ground to win from post 12. She was claimed out of that race by Anthony Farrior, who’s always sharp with his recent claims. She’s proven that she can come from off the pace despite a bad draw. #12 Ariel Moon (7-2) loves to get checks, but not win. She’s 1-for-20 lifetime, with her only win coming just over a year ago. She’s run well at this level, outfinishing a few of these to get second last out, so this might be an ideal spot to get that elusive second victory. #6 Aerialist (4-1) opened up a long lead at Aqueduct last out before the fast fractions caught up to her. She carried her speed to win three starts back at Monmouth Park, she’s the dominant speed of this race, and won’t have to go as fast as she did last time.

RACE 2: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE (GRASS)

14-10-2-5 (DIRT: 7-9-11-13)

Bruce Brown shipped #14 Bar Fourteen (3-1) from New York last out. It proved a worthwhile trip, as he cruised to a gate-to-wire win over many of these rivals. He broke from post three that day, and while he’s drawn further to the outside here, he still has early pace figures fast enough to clear to the front and get a similar trip as last time. #10 Bode’s Maker (7-2) closed from the clouds to get second behind Bar Fourteen last out for his fifth consecutive in-the-money finish. If the pace is a bit faster than it was last time, he’ll have a shot to turn the tables. #2 Kendama (10-1) hasn’t won in a while, but has hit the board five times this year in nine starts, including two efforts where he finished just behind Bode’s Maker. He probably can’t outkick that rival unless he finds the sweet spot close to the pace but not right on top of it. However, he can easily shake up the exotics at an overlaid number.

RACE 3: MAIDEN CLAIMING $25,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 6 FURLONGS

1-10-4-7

#1 Knickoletta (9-2) ran a big race on the pace last out. She overcame an awkward beginning to get to the front while wide, and hung in gamely until late. She ultimately finished third behind fast-closing Shenandoah Sunrise and Curlene’s Spirit, the latter of whom broke her maiden next out at this level as the 11-10. This one was claimed out of her last start by Jerry Robb, who has done great work all year with 2-year-olds. #10 Princess Charming (8-1) lost all chance at the start last out when a rival tossed the jockey and veered right in front of her. If you take that line out, you’ll find a filly in improving form, having finished a solid second two starts ago with a career-best brisnet figure of 67. #4 Bella’s Password (6-1) was scratched out of a $16,000 race two weeks ago, in which she would’ve been a big favorite, in favor of this race. She’s run in the mid/upper-60s in both of her starts, and should appreciate cutting back from a mile.

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

3-8-11-1 (DIRT: 7-5-9-10)

#3 The Bullion Bomber (10-1) was in fantastic form over the summer, running in the 80s in three consecutive starts. He struggled in his last grass start after a wide trip, but now draws further inside, gets back to his preferred surface after a dismal washed-off try, and gets the slight nod in a very wide-open field. #8 Noah Chance (4-1) easily handled a Maryland-restricted allowance field in late September. He defeated Cactus and Jolly Boss that day, both of whom have come back to win since. He gets back to a winnable spot for the first time since then, and should go off at a good price with that somewhat obscured form.  #11 Vamos Viejo (5-1) is also trying to rebound after a flat race last out. He was a non-factor after a wide trip in a second-level field last out, and while he’s once again drawn towards the outside, he at least gets class relief.

RACE 5: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 1 MILE (GRASS)

12-5-15-7 (DIRT: 2-11-15-3)

#12 Coach Mazzula (2-1) went off favored at this level last out. She raced on a contested pace and finished more than eight lengths clear of her pacesetting partner. She held in there gamely late, but ultimately wound up third behind well-meant Jimmy Toner firster Tideoftime and next-out winner Siouxese. Brittany Russell adds blinkers for this one’s third start, and Jevian Toledo should have her forwardly-placed in spite of her outside draw. #5 Bless Her (12-1) is a first-time starter for the dream team of Graham Motion and Jorge Ruiz. Motion horses usually do better with experience (as readers of this column know), but he has won with a 2-year-old firster on grass this year, and has won with three 2-year-old maidens on grass in the past month. Watch the board on her before deciding on whether or not to use her in your late pick 5. #15 Frosty Mojito (8-1) almost lasted all the way on the lead two starts back, but was run down and finished third behind Screen Test (who finished up the track at Keeneland next out) and Coach Mazzula. She’s the main speed threat in this race as well.

RACE 6: WILLA ON THE MOVE STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 1/2 FURLONGS

1-12-4-3

Today’s first stakes race is named in honor of a pair of great Maryland-bred sprinters with the same name. #1 Onyx Ten (9-2) took the step forward she needed to take second off the bench in the Maryland Million Distaff, rallying down the center of the track to earn her third stakes win at Laurel this year. She should be even better third off the layoff for the incredible duo of Gary Capuano and Yedsit Hazlewood. Michael Moore has a pair of interesting horses. I give the nod to #12 Alani (6-1), considering she’s been racing consistently throughout the year. She ran a big race on the lead at Parx last out and finished second to Foxy Junior (who was third to Onyx Ten in the Maryland Million Distaff). She’s 3-for-4 on this track and is the only one in the race to run in the 90s in each of her last three starts. Her stablemate, #4 Takethemoneyhoney (5-2), hasn’t raced since taking the Serena’s Song Stakes at Monmouth Park in mid-May. She’s a nose away from a perfect 5-for-5 record, she’s undefeated on this track, and has a very high ceiling. She’s also run huge off a long break before, so her latest respite shouldn’t be that big of a deterrent.

RACE 7: DAVE’S FRIEND STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

8-2-1-5

Stakes action continues with a race named for the star Maryland-bred of the early 1980s. #8 Prince of Jericho (5-2) is also coming off a long break, having most recently finished second in the General George Stakes in mid-February. However, Brittany Russell tends to do well with horses off of long breaks, including a win last Friday with Lute Warm. This guy loves Laurel, with seven wins in 16 starts here, and any of his races from last winter win this one. #2 Petingas Twin (6-1) tailed off over the summer and was sent to the sidelines in late August by Anthony Farrior. He returned to the races in mid-October with a very impressive three-length win in a third-level sprint, earning a career-best 100 in the process. It’s not terribly far off from the 90s he earned earlier this year, and if he can keep moving forward second off the break, he’s in with a shot. #1 Subrogate (5-1) is also racing second off the bench. He won the DeFrancis Dash here in June, then finished a respectable fourth in the Bold Ruler Stakes at Aqueduct in his most recent try. Jorge Duarte had a slow start to the fall meet, but has started to heat up.

RACE 8: RICHARD W. SMALL STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/8 MILES

5-2-6-1

The third and final stakes of the day pays tribute to the longtime Maryland trainer, best-known for training Maryland-bred Concern, who won the 1994 Breeders’ Cup Classic. #5 Barbadian Runner (6-5) has been in fantastic form all year, earning his fifth win of the season last out in the Maryland Million Classic over Post Time. He overcame a loose leader setting a slow pace to win that one, so a potentially slow pace here shouldn’t deter him too much. #2 Phantom Speed (4-1) flattened out after a wide trip last out, but races third off the bench and has shown peeks of promise in his brief career. He could pack a strong late punch if he’s able to save ground near the pace. #6 Secret Zipper (9-2) was scratched from the Maryland Million Classic, has worked four times since then, and is set to return here in his first start off a nine-week break. At his best, he’s a serious threat to lead all the way, and any horse trained by Gary Capuano and ridden by Yedsit Hazlewood cannot be easily dismissed.

RACE 9: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

5-3-4-8

#5 Neverworkedaday (2-1) was heavily bet on debut and did nothing. He was cold on the board at second asking, but improved 17 points to a 74, setting the pace and holding on for a clear-cut second. This Capuano/Hazlewood runner should keep moving forward in a rather soft field. #3 Stanza (9-2) has run in the 70s three times in his four-race career, and he fell in the only race in which he didn’t. All those efforts came on grass, however. It’s hard to say if his form will switch over, but he’ll be a serious threat if it does. #4 Notion in Motion (10-1) showed some promise on dirt in late 2023 and early 2024. His recent grass figures are not far off from Stanza’s, and he’s at least worth a look for the underneath spots.

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