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) — $0
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6) — $374
Early Pick 5 (races 1-5) — $0
Late Pick 5 (races 5-9) — $7,983

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

1-9-10-3

#1 Close Up (7-5) ran a gigantic trace on the lead last out. Going a mile against similar rivals, she got engaged in an early duel with one of the other favorites, Wikoila Lady. While that one faded and lost by 29 lengths, Close Up hung tough, leading late and ultimately finishing second to a rival who sat a great trip off that battle. This will be her first start going two turns on dirt, but she’s handled this distance well on grass before. #9 Tasty Time (10-1) has raced just four times, and was a respectable second in her lone start at this level, two starts back. She drops back in price after dueling and fading against $25,000 company last out (having been stepped up first off the claim by Kenny Cox) and adds blinkers. #10 Tea Rose (9-2) got up for third in her most recent try, in a race where the top two finishers looked vastly superior to the others on paper. That race was at six furlongs, but she’s also done well going long on grass before.

RACE 2: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 7 FURLONGS

7-1-5-3

#7 Masayoshi (12-1) stood no chance the way his last race unfolded. He chased gate-to-wire winner Mika, who won by 14 lengths after setting an uncontested pace. Mika came back to validate that effort with a huge runner-up effort in the Cigar Mile. This one’s adding blinkers third off a four-month layoff, has the best late pace figures in the field by far, and should get a much more honest pace to close into. #1 Winning Trip (3-1) is 3-for-3 since joining the Mike Gorham barn with improving brisnet figures each time. He gets a class test here after beating starter optional claiming foes in his last two, but his recent races are good enough to contend against these. #5 Intrepid’s Legacy (8-5) easily defeated a Maryland-restricted field second off a nine-week layoff last out with a career-best 95. That was his first win in a while and a much better figure than anything else he’s earned on the year. However, he looks poised to get another great trip and could take another step forward third off the layoff, so a repeat of that race is not impossible.

RACE 3: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 7 FURLONGS

8-3-4-1

#8 Pont Aven (9-2) ran a huge race on the lead on debut, then was knocked out of contention next out when he stumbled badly. He should run a much better race with a clean break, and that bad last line might drive up his price. #3 Awesome Andy (3-2) comes out of the same race as Pont Aven. He went off as the 13-10 favorite that day, and finished second behind the runaway winner, fellow Gary Capuano trainee Very Volatile. He’s run at least a 75 in each of his three career starts, and gets Yedsit Hazlewood, who jumped off of him last time in favor of Very Volatile, back aboard. #4 Matthew’s Ticket (8-1) is the most intriguing of the three first-time starters. He’s Maryland-sired (by Fortune Ticket) and Jersey-bred by Gina and Kelly Lupton. A Lupton-bred, Maryland-sired first-time starter, Lino Padrino, broke his maiden at Meydan on December 5. This one’s worked well for Phil Capuano and should run a big race on debut. 

RACE 4: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

3-4-7-5

#3 Freeze the Fire (2-1) sat the trip and converted to beat a better field at this level last out for his third consecutive victory. He’s run a 96 and an 89 in his last two starts, both much better than any of today’s rivals have run in that stretch. There’s lots of speed in this race, which could enable him to get another fantastic setup. #4 Catahoula Moon (12-1) has run in the mid-80s in just about every start this year, running his peak mark of 86 three times. That’s not good enough to beat Freeze the Fire if that one runs his race, but he should be able to fend off the rest. #7 Excellent Timing (6-1) almost wired the field first off a six-month layoff last out, but tired in the last eighth and finished second to B West. It was a gigantic race considering the circumstances, and he’s the most dangerous of today’s frontrunners.

RACE 5: HOWARD AND SONDRA BENDER MEMORIAL STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, MD-RESTRICTED, 7 FURLONGS

1-5-4-2

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

Today’s first stakes race is named for the longtime Maryland owners and breeders. On pure talent, #1 Quint’s Brew (6-5) is the best Maryland-bred in training. He started his season with a pair of dazzling stakes wins on this track, then ran a pair of game seconds in stakes company at Aqueduct in the spring. He went to the sidelines over the summer, came back to the worktab at Delaware Park in November, and is now ready for his return. His career-best figure of 106 came off a long layoff in early January, so the break shouldn’t slow him down much, and if he runs his race, the others will be left in his dust. #5 Blue Kingdom (5-2) went gate-to-wire at this distance last out at Aqueduct with an impressive 96. That was his third win at seven furlongs this year in as many starts. He was under consideration for the Cigar Mile, but Jamie Ness opted to wait for this local spot. He’s fast enough to make the early lead without trouble, and from there, he might prove impossible to catch. #4 Slam Notion (4-1) scratched from the City of Laurel Stakes, in which he would’ve been a big favorite, a few weeks ago, and now returns here. He sat off the pace and pulled away in the stretch to win the Maryland Million Sprint last out, running in the 90s for the third consecutive dirt race. He loves this track and has improved throughout his sophomore campaign, but he hasn’t faced anyone of Quint’s Brew’s ability or with the pace advantage of Blue Kingdom.

RACE 6: CAROUSEL STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES

11-4-1-10

#11 Intrepid Mo (6-1) has run no worse than an 88 in her last three starts, including a 90 last out in a dominant first-level victory. Her far-outside draw doesn’t do her any favors, but she’ll have a longer run into the first turn with the added distance, so she should still be able to work out a trip. #4 Complexity Jane (7-2) is a two-time stakes winner on this track, both times racing on or near the pace. She beat a few of these last out in the Thirty Eight Go Go Stakes, and will have every chance to get a similar trip this time. #1 Sultry Lass (5-1) has held her own against better for most of the year in Kentucky. She ran at least an 87 in three of her last five starts; the only times she didn’t was once on a sloppy track and once when she had an awkward break.

RACE 7: POLITELY STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, MD-RESTRICTED, 6 FURLONGS

3-5-1-2

We’re cutting back around one turn to pay tribute to the first two-time Maryland-bred Horse of the Year. #3 Takethemoneyhoney (3-2) lost a stretch duel to New York shipper Grammy Girl in the Willa On the Move Stakes last out. It was still an impressive effort, as she just missed her career-best mark of 96 in her first race off a 6 ½-month break. She’s two photo finishes away from being 6-for-6 lifetime, and will be very dangerous if she keeps moving forward second off the bench. #5 Grayson’s Girl (5-1) sat the trip and converted to beat fellow 3-year-olds in the Safely Kept Stakes last out. She’s trending in the right direction and will be a serious late threat. #1 Miss Harriett (10-1), like Takethemoneyhoney, made her first start off a long layoff in the Willa On the Move. She set a clear early lead and flattened out to third, but she’s gone gate-to-wire on this track several times in the past, and will have every chance to open up another long early lead and take them all the way.

RACE 8: ROBERT T. MANFUSO STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

1-2-3-8

The final stakes race of the day is named for the longtime Maryland owner and breeder. Along with partner Katy Voss, he bred many Maryland-bred greats, including Breeders’ Cup Sprint champion Aloha West. #1 Not This Boy (5-2) gave Dubai World Cup winner Hit Show a thrill at Mountaineer two starts ago, battling with him in the stretch in the West Virginia Governor’s Stakes and losing by a head. He dueled on the lead and faded last out at Churchill Downs, but looks like the commanding speed from the inside in this spot, and as such is poised to run his best race. #2 Barbadian Runner (4-1) looks to cap off an impressive season with what would be his sixth stakes win. He easily defeated the Richard Small Stakes field last out, then overcame slow fractions and wore down Blue Kingdom two starts ago. He’s been in sharp form all year long, but this is a much better field than the one he saw last out. This will be a serious class test. #3 Teachintherelease (9-2) has won five in a row and seven of his last eight starts at Charles Town. If his form transfers to the big track, he’ll be very tough, but that’s a big if.

RACE 9: MAIDEN CLAIMING $16,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 6 FURLONGS

1-7-4-9

#1 Just a Click (5-2) switches back to dirt, drops in for a tag for the first time, and adds blinkers. She’s run in the 60s three times in four starts, which isn’t enough to beat New York-bred maidens like the ones she’s been facing. However, today’s class drop should help. #7 She’s a Good Girl (6-1) improved to a 67 second time out last out, chasing the pace and just holding on for third. She’s also dropping in class, in her case from the $25,000 level. #4 Fastfeld (15-1) ran a big race from post 12 on debut last out. She broke awkwardly and was forced to check in the stretch, but still ran on well and lost second in a blanket finish.

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