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) — $1,823
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6) — $1,862
Early Pick 5 (races 1-5) — $0
Late Pick 5 (races 5-9) — $0

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RACE 1: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

5-9-6-2

#5 Worries Unfounded (5-2) makes her second start off a nine-month layoff. She made a strong move to the front in her first start off the bench, but the effects of the break caught up to her and she flattened out. Still, she ran a brisnet figure of 65, in the range she had been running in the winter and fall, and better than most of these have run before. #9 I’d Rather Not (20-1) battled on the pace and finished second two starts back at Charles Town. She’s had a poor break in three of her five races, including last out, when she was shut off coming out of the gate and lost early position. If she breaks well today, she’ll be a serious front-end factor. #6 My Emi Shiraz (8-1) has worked well over the past few weeks for John Salzman Jr. and is by far the most interesting of the four first-time starters.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $40,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 7 FURLONGS

6-4-1-5

#6 Holiday Express (7-2) broke his maiden going 5 ½ furlongs two starts back, and ran a near career-best 84 last out, even though he was outkicked by runaway gate-to-wire winner Mika. He’s now cutting back from 1 1/16 miles and dropping in class. #4 Platform (6-1) has been very consistent all year, running between a 75 and an 81 in each of his five starts. He’ll try to sit close to the pace and time his move just right. #1 Preacha Meyers (9-5) made a bold rally from off the pace and just missed behind Winning Trip, who returned to crush a starter optional claiming field next out and was second against first-level rivals yesterday.

RACE 3: MAIDEN CLAIMING $16,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

7-4-1-2

#7 Sugar On Fire (7-2) ran a solid second with a career-best 63 at this level last out. He’s facing a similar field today and looks to be trending in the right direction. #4 Gonzalo (6-1) was third behind Sugar On Fire last out, for his fourth third-place finish in five career starts. He’s the only one in the field to run at least a 50 in each of his last three starts. #1 Above the Norm (5-2) pressed the pace and stopped badly on debut going a mile against maiden special weight rivals at Gulfstream Park. He’s another Repole runner turned into a Brittany Russell reclamation project; these types are often boom-or-bust.

RACE 4: CLAIMING $12,500 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 7 FURLONGS

2-6-1-3

#2 Artist Mark (7-2) got knocked around a bit at the start in his most recent race and showed little. He was claimed out of that race by Mike Geralis, who quietly hits at 31% first off the claim. If Geralis gets this one back to his form from two and three starts back, in which he ran an 82 and a 77, he’ll be tough to beat. #6 Half a League (6-1) was third behind Artist Mark last out with a career-best 79, his third figure in the 70s in his last five starts. He’s taking a drop to this level for the first time. #1 Blo By’em (3-1) ran a huge third against better last out, making a strong move from well off a tiring loose leader after a bad break. He ended up third, but he’s been trending in the right direction since returning from a three-month break, and should pack a strong late punch.

RACE 5: MAIDEN CLAIMING $25,000, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

6-2-8-1

#6 Zio Lino (9-2) set the pace and hit the board in his first two starts, with figures in the mid/upper-70s. In his last start, he was bumped around at the break and proved no factor from there. He may have been injured in that race, as he hasn’t been seen since that late April affair. However, he came back to the worktab in early November, has worked well since for Damon Dildovico, and blows these away at his best. #2 Farooq (6-1) got up for third last out while well behind heavily favored Neverworkedaday. He continues his slide up and down the class ladder, dropping from a maiden special weight-quality field in this instance, and will be a serious late factor. I’ve run out of patience with 8 Tell ‘Em I’m Comin (4-1) from a win perspective. Last out, he looked like much the best on paper, but still couldn’t deliver and worsened to 0-for-28 lifetime. Still, he has great late pace figures and this isn’t the toughest field in the world, so he’s not a bad horse to use underneath in vertical plays.

RACE 6: CLAIMING $7,500 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS, 1 MILE

11-8-6-2

#11 P J’s Song (15-1) got up for second in each of his last two starts at this level, including a runner-up effort to next-out winner Pudge Boy Place in his most recent start. He won his last start at this distance last November and did well at a mile and 70 yards over the summer. #8 States United (5-1) chased the pace and finished fourth in his first start at this level last out. Coming into this race, he’s run back-to-back figures in the 80s for the first time in months. #6 What Does It Take (9-2), whose half-brother, Post Time, won the Manfuso Stakes yesterday, went gate-to-wire first off a five-month break at Penn National two starts back. He looks like the controlling speed of this field.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

7-1A-9-10

#7 Otter Mischief (4-1) ran a big race on the City of Laurel Stakes last out, lasting through an early duel and finishing second to Zero Blitz, who took advantage of the fast early pace and rallied from 6 ½ lengths off the pace. This one’s stretching back out from seven furlongs, but went gate-to-wire at Parx going a mile two starts ago. #1A Hagrid’s Flame (3-1) rallied from second at this level last out behind gate-to-wire winner Le Gris. Otter Mischief will try to take this field all the way, but if he can’t, Hagrid’s Flame will be there to take advantage. #9 Worcester (5-2) ran a respectable third against slightly better fourth off a four-month layoff last out. He’s 3-for-5 lifetime on this track, including a victory in the Frank Whiteley Stakes in April.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W3X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

7-3-5-9

#7 Prince of Jericho (9-5) is another Laurel lover, having hit the board 13 times in 17 races here. He pulled clear in the stretch of the Dave’s Friend Stakes last out, his first start off a nine-month respite, but was run down late by Petingas Twin and lost by a nose. Every time he’s come back off a layoff, he’s gotten better in his second start of the break. That’s a scary proposition for the others. #3 Grand Opening (2-1) ran a respectable fourth with a 95 despite an overland trip in the Hudson Stakes at Aqueduct last out. He hasn’t run a bad race since starting his 4-year-old campaign in mid-July. #5 Northern Flame (15-1) set the pace, rebid and fought hard in the stretch, and lost by a nose last out. He’s facing a tougher field than he did last time, but he still has dangerous early speed and will be a great price.

RACE 9: CLAIMING $7,500 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE

8-4-1-2

#7 Prince of Jericho (9-5) is another Laurel lover, having hit the board 13 times in 17 races here. He pulled clear in the stretch of the Dave’s Friend Stakes last out, his first start off a nine-month respite, but was run down late by Petingas Twin and lost by a nose. Every time he’s come back off a layoff, he’s gotten better in his second start of the break. That’s a scary proposition for the others. #3 Grand Opening (2-1) ran a respectable fourth with a 95 despite an overland trip in the Hudson Stakes at Aqueduct last out. He hasn’t run a bad race since starting his 4-year-old campaign in mid-July. #5 Northern Flame (15-1) set the pace, rebid and fought hard in the stretch, and lost by a nose last out. He’s facing a tougher field than he did last time, but he still has dangerous early speed and will be a great price.

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