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) — $1,761
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6)— $0
Early Pick 5 (races 1-5) — $0
Late Pick 5 (races 5-9) — $0

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

1-6-4-2

Note that Yedsit Hazlewood is not riding today. He’ll be back in action tomorrow. #1 Flatter My Dad (3-1) was no match for odds-on favorite Skillian last out, but held in admirably and lost a photo for third. He’s run brisnet figures of 69 and 70 in his two dirt starts, which haven’t been good enough for maiden special weight company, but look good enough to beat these. #6 Rhodes (2-1) has stopped badly in all four starts, but drops in for a tag for the first time and cuts back to 5 ½ furlongs for the first time since his debut. In that first start, he was shuffled back at the break and lost all chance, then got caught in duels in his next three races. It’ll be interesting if he’s able to set a mostly uncontested pace. #4 Close the Gate (8-1) has worked very well since coming back to the worktab in early October, including a pair of recent bullet drills. He’s the most promising of the four first-time starters.

RACE 2: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

5-3-4-1

#5 I Can Do It (6-1) makes her first start since a third-place finish in the Maryland Million Distaff Starter Handicap. She has by far the best late pace figures in a race loaded with early speed. #3 She’s a Gem (5-2) battled on the pace and drew off against Maryland-restricted rivals last out, defeating heavily favored Rina is Fire in the process. She’s shown she can come from off the pace and run well, as evidenced by her stalk-and-pounce win three starts back. As such, she’s not as susceptible to a destructive early duel as the other speed. #4 Golden Rocket (2-1) drops in class and switches back to dirt for the dangerous Jamie Ness/Martin Chuan trainer/jockey duo. She’s done her best running around two turns, but the early pace may benefit her quite a bit as well.

RACE 3: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/16 MILES

3-6-8-7

#3 Bodybuilder (3-1) is one of the lightest-raced horses in the field. He’s started only three times, and never for this low a tag. In his lone dirt start, he chased gate-to-wire winner Bernie the Star and finished second with a 70. #6 Soo Handsome (10-1) has hit the board in three consecutive two-turn starts at Penn National. He’s had very similar trips every time, sitting off the pace and hanging around for shares in all three races. #8 Dats My Pharaoh (7-2) is 0-for-17 lifetime, but he’s run a 77 twice in his last three races, and faces an easier field than he has in any of those recent starts.

RACE 4: CLAIMING $12,500 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

6-2-4-5

#6 Keen Surge (3-2) was second as the 7-10 favorite in his last dirt start. This looks like an easier field than the one he saw last time, and he might go off at a better price based on his last line, in which he turned in a flat effort against starter optional claiming foes on grass. #2 Repeatingofcourse (5-2) has shown speed and faded in his last two starts under similar circumstances. He’ll have every shot to make the rail and the lead in this spot, and from there, he can last at least long enough to hold on for a slice. #4 Twice Gold (9-5) has taken a clear lead in the stretch and faded in his last two races, extending his losing streak to 17 in a row. He’s gotten better as the year has gone on, and could snap his streak with a well-timed move.

RACE 5: CLAIMING $7,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

6-7-8-2

#6 R Averie Lynn (9-5) has finished second or third seven times in a row, including a near-miss last out at Delaware Park where she led almost the whole way and got caught in the last jump. Her only two wins this year came on this track, both of them from just off the pace. #7 Rumint (5-2) makes her first start for the Keri Brion barn and comes back to Maryland after spending her fall at Finger Lakes. She won her last two starts of the season, running a 79 and an 82 in those races, winning one on the lead and one from off the pace. She’ll hope R Averie Lynn once again flattens out on the pace. #8 Royal Seamstress (4-1) has hit the board against tougher opponents in her last two starts. She finished behind Lady Charlotte, who was second as the 1-2 favorite two Fridays ago, in both of those races, and She’s a Gem two starts back, who’s one of the favorites earlier on the program. She’s bound to take another step forward in her third start off a three-month break.

RACE 6: MAIDEN CLAIMING $16,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/16 MILES

1-3-8-2

#1 Triathelon (2-1) and #3 Tug (5-1) come out of the same race on November 28. Triathelon was in the midst of a potentially winning move when Tug bumped him. Tug crossed the wire first, but was disqualified to third for interference. Both of them ran big races that day, and look like the logical contenders in this spot. #8 Gonna Make It (6-1) was knocked out of contention after a bad break last out, and should sharply improve with a cleaner break, in his first start off the Brittany Russell claim.

RACE 7: MAIDEN CLAIMING $40,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 6 FURLONGS

8-4-2-3

#8 My Girl Back Home (9-5) debuted in a salty maiden special weight affair last out. She showed speed before fading, holding on to fourth with a respectable 69. Of her seven rivals today, five are first-time starters, which should make her job much easier. #4 As the Belle Toles (5-1) has been hampered by awkward breaks in her last few starts, but drops in for a tag after racing in the 60s in her last few starts. That wasn’t good enough to contend against straight maidens, but that will put her in the mix against these. #2 They Got Curry (8-1) makes her career debut for Claudio Gonzalez. He hasn’t won with a first-time starter at the meet thus far, but he’s 6-for-8 in the money with them.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE

1A-6-7-11

#1A Think Fast (3-1) made her local debut in the Safely Kept Stakes last out off a pair of impressive races in Illinois. She pressed the pace and wore down favored Onyx Ten, ultimately holding on for second behind the strong closer Grayson’s Girl. This one is lightly-raced, in improving form, and should sit another great trip off the pace. #6 Backstretch Rose (10-1) closed off a very disadvantageous pace in the Thirty Eight Go Go Stakes and grabbed third in her most recent race. She won her last start at this distance going away with a strong off-the-pace move. #7 Cluck Cluck (6-1) is the only one in the race to run in the 90s twice in her last three starts, but has developed a particularly severe case of seconditis over the past few months, with a string of no-excuse near-misses. She’s a good horse to key underneath.

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