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) — $5,795
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: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

6-1-5-3

#6 Tuff Luck (3-1) never got much of a breather last out, as he raced wide every step of the way. He still had plenty left to give in the stretch, battling with Parx shipper Chance before ultimately finishing second. He’s once again drawn towards the outside, but he’s proven that won’t be much of a problem, and a repeat of his last puts him squarely in contention. #1 Armed N Dangerous (7-2) ran brisnet figures in the upper-80s last summer at Colonial Downs, and hasn’t raced since. He got back on the worktab in early December and has worked well since. While Rick Sillaman isn’t great with his starters first off a long layoff, this one clearly has massive upside. #5 Summer Vibes (4-1) didn’t stand much of a chance to catch the impressive gate-to-wire winner Wiffleball last out. However, he ran about as well as he could given the circumstances, making up ground from last to get up for second. He’s stretching out from six furlongs, no easy task, but did run well going this distance on grass last year.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $7,500, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 7 FURLONGS

6-3-4-5

#6 Enigmatic (8-5) set the pace last out at Aqueduct and held second behind a 2-5 favorite who got a perfect setup. She looks like she’ll have a pretty easy time on the lead and is a serious gate-to-wire threat, albeit at a short price. #3 Watch Your Tone (5-2) took advantage of a tiring leader last out and won at this distance in her last start. It’s a step up in class on paper, but this isn’t that much more difficult of a field than last time. She’ll sit off of Enigmatic and hope that one falters. #4 Skip Thru Da Fire (7-2) was forced to check early on and never got back in her element last out, ultimately finishing well up the track. She got a much better trip two starts back and converted it to defeat Watch Your Tone.

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

2-5-1-6

#2 Kuaga (7-2) and #5 Barbados Bulldog (5-2) come out of the same $40,000 claiming race on February 14. Kuaga set the pace and was hounded throughout by eventual winner Rerun Table, but still managed to hold second. Barbados Bulldog, off an impressive win against $25,000 rivals in her prior engagement, sat off that contested pace but couldn’t convert and ended up third. Kuaga looks like she’ll be able to get to the rail and the lead. Though there’s speed from her direct outside, she’s shown she can withstand it, and no one in here has the ceiling of Rerun Table (who was one of the favorites in the Maryland Million Nursery). Barbados Bulldog is likely to get a similar trip as last time with a similar result. West Virginia stalwart Cyndy McKee will make a rare Maryland appearance with #1 Peaceful Union (6-1). This filly rallied from well off the pace to break her maiden at fifth asking at Charles Town last out despite not changing leads. She’ll take advantage if the pace completely melts down.

RACE 4: CLAIMING $40,000 (N/W2L), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

4-6-2-3

#4 Zio Lino (9-2) improved sharply second off an eight-month break last out. He sat just off the pace and got by heavily favored Lanister with a career-best 81. Jose Vargas gets aboard for the first time; we’ll see if he elects to send or take back. This gelding has run big races with either style. #6 Nantucket (5-2) lasted through a three-way duel to break his maiden easily at Penn National in his first start for the Jamie Ness barn. Despite his outside draw, he has enough speed to make the rail and the lead, especially if Zio Lino decides not to go for the front. #2 El Junior (6-1) broke his maiden in impressive style at Colonial Downs last March with a 76. He hasn’t raced since a fourth-place effort at Pimlico in May, but he’s lightly-raced with a high ceiling.

RACE 5: MAIDEN CLAIMING $40,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

6-7-3-1

#6 Flirty Bajan (2-1) was well-beaten on debut, but stepped up dramatically second time out. He battled throughout with eventual winner Caseofthemondays and held on to third, improving 14 points to a 79. There’s four first-time starters in this field, making the pace forecast a bit blurry, but he has tons of early speed and should lead them all the way unless someone takes a big step forward. #7 Greyline Station (5-2) has been in slowly improving form, including a third-place effort behind Close the Gate last out. (Miracle Wood note) #3 Vida (10-1) hit the board five times in a row prior to a dismal 29-length defeat at Charles Town last out. He pressed the pace on the outside and came up completely empty as the 3-10 favorite. He should at least save more ground this time, and if you take that line out, he looks much better.

RACE 6: CLAIMING $12,500 (N/W2L), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

6-4-3-2

#6 Albert Finnigan (6-1) set the pace, withstood pressure, and held on to break his maiden at 12th asking last out. This is a definite class test for his first start against winners, but the pace scenario should at least be favorable. #4 Task Force (7-2) fought hard to win at sixth asking last out at Charles Town, and makes his first start since that October 23 effort. Runner-up Zaptastic, who gave him a fight that night, is a chronic maiden, but third-place finisher Ragtime Scribble did break his maiden by 7 ¼ lengths in his next outing. Fourth-place finisher Pico Plat also won two starts later. #3 Doomed (2-1) makes his first start for Jamie Ness and gets Yedsit Hazlewood up. That combination of factors has done well as of late, albeit at short prices.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 7 FURLONGS

5-1A-4-6

#5 Phlying Phillis (2-1) is the only entrant to run at least a 77 in each of her last three starts, and races for the trainer/jockey dream team of Gary Capuano and Yedsit Hazlewood. She just missed behind Love You More last out, who came back to finish fourth at 26-1 in a very tough second-level race. #1A Shout to the Lord (5-2) broke her maiden impressively at this track and distance in September, defeating Love You More in the process. She had a tough trip going two turns at Parx last out and was no factor, but looks poised to bounce back cutting back around one turn. #4 Bourbon N Lace (8-1) came from way out of it to win at Aqueduct in her most recent race. She has a powerful closing kick and will be a serious late threat as long as she doesn’t fall too far off the early pace.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

3-4-2-1

#3 Grayson’s Girl (9-5) got some time off after a flat effort in the Politely Stakes. In her previous start, she swooped the group to win the Safely Kept Stakes, matching her career-best with a 90. Runner-up Think Fast returned to win the aforementioned second-level contest in her next start as the 11-10 choice. #4 Itsamonstamash (3-1) chased the pace while wide behind Think Fast last out and faded. However, she ran a pair of huge races two and three starts back, and won back-to-back races last fall against slightly softer. That dull last race will drive up her price, and she’ll be a serious threat if she rebounds. #2 Kilo Road (6-1) has been knocking on the door for a while, and has some of the best late pace figures in the field. She can easily spice up the exotics at a decent price.

RACE 9: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 1 MILE

1-3-4-5

Many of these come out of the same race on February 6. #1 I’m a Lil Wicked (4-1) ran the best race of any of those that day, finishing second after making a big move and flattening out. She’s run in the 50s four races in a row and should get a good setup on the inside. #3 Quality Swag (3-1) has been well-beaten in all three starts, but they were against much better maidens. She ran a 56 in her debut at Aqueduct last September; a return to that form puts her in the mix. #4 Fastfeld (7-2) has made mild late rallies to get third against similar fields in her last two starts and could easily do the same in this spot.

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