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) — $7,115
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6) — $1,054
Early Pick 5 (races 1-5) — $0
Late Pick 5 (races 5-9) — $0

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RACE 1: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $25,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 7 FURLONGS

1A-2-3-7

#1A Shadow Surge (2-1) makes his first local start and his first start for the Jamie Ness barn. He went gate-to-wire last out at Aqueduct, and has run well on the lead in three of his last four races. His only poor effort this year came when he had a traffic-filled trip two races ago. #2 Straight to Water (5-1) was an easy winner against slightly softer two races ago, then finished second last out to the very impressive winner, Indy Takes Charge. That one finished second in a first-level route next out, 6 ½ lengths clear of third while losing only to the dominant Maclean’s Rook. #3 Tiny Lake (6-1) has very inconsistent form, but at his best, he displays a late kick that would be good enough for at least a share.

RACE 2: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/8 MILES

4-5-2-1A

#4 Masakado (7-2) cruised to a gate-to-wire win last out after shaking off early pace pressure. No one else in the field has early pace figures close to his, so he should make the front and be long gone under new rider Yedsit Hazlewood. #5 Catacumbo (5-1) has run brisnet figures in the upper-80s in each of his last two starts and gets class relief after finishing third to Armando R and Dolice Vita in his last race. #2 Fan Club (4-1) pulled off an 18-1 upset against a similar field two starts ago with an 88, in his first start off a 5 ½-month layoff. He’s looking for a rebound following a flat effort last out.

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

6-3-2-7

#6 On a Proud Note (5-2) broke awkwardly last out and never got involved from there. She may have been injured at the break, considering she hasn’t raced since that October 26 race, and had a claim on her voided that day. She’s worked well since, so I trust that whatever ailed her that day has been cured. She won two and three starts back, winning once on the pace and once from off of it. #3 Infastuation (10-1) won a non-winners of two race from just off the pace last out. She’s been in improving form since arriving in the Mid-Atlantic earlier this year, and will take full advantage if On a Proud Note tires on the lead. #2 Lost River (2-1) has gone gate-to-wire in three of her last six starts, and Xavier Perez is sure to protect the rail and the lead as best he can.

RACE 4: MAIDEN CLAIMING $25,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 1 MILE

5-3-4-1

#5 Tiz the Great (3-2) made what looked like a winning move and pulled clear in his last start, but was run down by a well-regarded Brittany Russell trainee who rallied up the inside. This one’s cutting back slightly from 1 1/16 miles, and is the only entrant to run in the 70s twice. #3 Greyline Station (7-2) closed well for fourth at this condition two starts back, and steps back down after a flat try against straight maidens. #4 Lino’s Fire (9-2) finished less than a length behind Tiz the Great last out in his first start at a mile or longer. He’s improved with each race in his three-start career, peaking at a 69 in that last effort.

RACE 5: CLAIMING $40,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 1 MILE

3-7-1-4

LATE PICK 5 STARTS HERE. CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO ANALYSIS.

#3 Our Day Will Come (8-1) has both won at today’s distance and has beaten winners, the only horse in the field to do so. He was little factor in the Maryland Juvenile Stakes last Saturday, but drops to a more realistic level today. #7 Fowl Mouth (3-1) was second at this level last out, giving chase to longshot gate-to-wire winner Sculos Folly. He goes first off the claim by Hugh McMahon, who hits at 16 percent first time at a route. #1 Golden Sand (5-1) was an easy winner going a mile three starts back, and also gets class relief after finishing up the track against better in his last two races. He’ll draft off the pace and gobble up ground in the stretch.

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

7-5-8-3

#7 Do It for Michael (7-5) set the pace and held third at this level last out. His only subpar race this year came when he was knocked around at the break two starts ago at Delaware Park. With a clean start, he’ll make the front and last for at least a while. #5 Rapidity (8-1) was second to a runaway winner in Shootersgottashoot, who finished second next out at this condition. He loves to rate near the pace and hang around for a share without winning, so he’ll hope that the pace is especially hot and he can take advantage. #8 Fear Nothing (6-1) has won his last two starts on dirt, beating next-out winners in each of those races. The only downside is the layoff; he hasn’t raced since October 4.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

3-1-6-2

The wire came just in time for #3 Cativo Ragazzo (3-2) last out. He made what might have been a premature four-wide move to the front, pulled clear, and just barely held off the late-running longshot Dewy’s Beast. He’s stepping up in class from first-level rivals, but his figures are still superior to these, and his middle kick will be hard to hold off. #1 On the Mark (3-1) defeated Haileysfirstnotion in a 10-1 upset in early June, part of a fantastic form spree in which he ran in the 90s three times in five races. He’s dropping in for a tag in his first start since July 10. His best effort wins this, but I’ll be a bit cautious with him. #6 Swill (5-2) won at this level on grass in July at Colonial Downs, and has since hit the board without winning five times in a row against similar. He has some early speed in a race without a ton of it; we’ll see how aggressive Gokhan Kocakaya wants to be.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, MD-RESTRICTED, 1 MILE

6-5-2-3

#6 Formal Affair (9-2) saw his three-race win streak snapped last out in the Richard Small Stakes. He may have simply been outclassed in that spot, and dropping to this condition should help his cause. Yedsit Hazlewood gets back aboard after abdicating the mount last time. #5 Crab Daddy (8-1) has run well at good prices in his last few starts. He showed promise earlier in his career with a victory in the Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes and a near-miss to Barbadian Runner in the Spectacular Bid Stakes. He’s never won at this distance, but he’s done well at seven furlongs, he’s trending in the right direction, and should be a good price. #2 In the Dance (2-1) took advantage of a hot pace to win against similar at Delaware last out with a career-best 96. He’s unlikely to get circumstances that favorable again, but he’s won from off of more moderate fractions before and is in ascending form if you take out his runner-up effort on the Timonium bullring two starts ago.

RACE 9: CLAIMING $25,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 6 FURLONGS

4-3-6-7

#4 Last Gift (5-1) was scratched from a 40,000 spot last Friday in favor of this softer bunch. She won at this level two starts ago, and looks to rebound after getting chewed up in a duel last out. #3 Kuaga (5-2) broke her maiden in a dominant 12-length triumph last out, running a 77, her career-best figure by 15 points, in the process. She clearly has plenty of potential, and will be tough if she comes close to duplicating that race. #6 Oscar Bound (7-2) also broke her maiden in impressive fashion two starts back, winning by 11 lengths at Aqueduct with a 74. She was eased in the Shesastonecoldfox Stakes at Finger Lakes last out, but has worked well since and takes a class drop. This will be just the second Maryland starter for New York-based trainer Melanie Giddings; she finished off the board in a maiden race here last October.

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