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) — $6,397
Jackpot Super Hi 5 (race 6) — $1,972
Early Pick 5 (races 1-5) — $0
Late Pick 5 (races 5-9) — $0

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RACE 1: MAIDEN CLAIMING $35,000, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

7-1-10-5

#7 Cowboy Roy (9-5) showed promise on grass last year, running back-to-back brisnet figures of 75 and 80. He’s shown speed and faded in his last two starts on the Turfway Park synthetic, but he’s now returning to his preferred surface and getting class relief. #1 Garage Beers (10-1) drops in for a tag for the first time and adds Lasix for his 3-year-old debut. He was getting better with each start last fall, and has put in two sharp workouts at Penn National in anticipation of his sophomore bow. #10 Baltic (6-1), who also has plenty of early speed, makes his grass debut for Cal Lynch. This one has a grassy pedigree, and Lynch hits at a respectable 15% with his runners switching surfaces.

RACE 2: ALLOWANCE (OPEN), 3-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

5-2-4-1

#5 Crossingthechannel (4-5) absolutely blew the doors off of a Virginia-restricted allowance field at Colonial Downs last out. He set the pace unopposed and never looked back, winning by 9 ½ lengths with an impressive 92. That’s far from a fluke effort; he’s run in the 90s three times in his four-race career. His career-best figure of 97 came last fall at Aqueduct behind Iron Honor, who went on to win the Gotham Stakes. #2 Magic Wallet (4-1) captured the Dover Stakes from off the pace at Delaware Park last August, but hasn’t raced since. He may need a race to rediscover his best self, but he has a high ceiling and should contend for at least a slice. #4 Our Day Will Come (8-1) has already beaten claimers multiple times, and answered his latest class question affirmatively last out when he won a first-level allowance sprint going away. He’ll hope for a contested pace to set up his rally.

RACE 3: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 6 FURLONGS

4-7-1-6

#4 Malibu’s Rumrunner (5-1), a full sister to multiple stakes winner Malibu Moonshine, was well-bet in her career debut in September. She was roughed around a bit at the break, but recovered well to finish second behind the runaway winner. She hasn’t raced since then; however, she’s worked well at Penn National and faces an apparently easy field for her return to the races. #7 Stately Girl (5-2) overcame a slow start to get second at Parx on debut. Based on the late pace figures, her late rally wasn’t as great as the visual might indicate, but she’ll still be a threat as long as she improves a bit off the 73 she ran at first asking. #1 Rocker Roller (7-2) has a long, long worktab under her belt for Brittany Russell to prepare for her debut. That many workouts for a firster can be a red flag, but Russell debuters are always dangerous; she’s hitting at 3-for-7 with them at Laurel this year.

RACE 4: CLAIMING $16,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

14-13-1-4

#14 Endless Vow (4-1) drops into a non-winners of two grass race for the first time. The outside post doesn’t do her many favors – her only dull race last fall came when she was caught wide on both turns – but she’s held her own against better before, and gets the slight nod in a very wide-open affair. #13 Lady Lena (3-1) also gets class relief for her first start of the season and has abundant early speed. If she’s able to cross and clear, look out. #1 Gravity Hill (9-2) did nothing on dirt in her season debut last out, but it was at least a nice tune-up for a spot like this one. She showed a solid closing kick on grass last year and will be dangerous if she packs her best punch.

RACE 5: CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

5-8-3-2

#5 Dancing Denae (3-1) was an easy winner going six furlongs against $20,000 types three starts back. He hasn’t been as visually impressive in his last two starts going longer against better, but this race looks like a perfect scenario for him. #8 Impressiveness (7-2) beat winners at Parx last out and has worked very well since then at Delaware Park. #3 Fayes Heart (8-1) has improved with each start, most recently leading all the way to break his maiden at fifth asking. He’s getting a class test here, considering this is his first start against winners and that was a particularly soft maiden field. However, his early speed is nonetheless very potent.

RACE 6: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

3-5-12-7

#3 What Say Thee (9-2) beat third-level rivals at Churchill Downs a year and a half ago and was graded stakes-placed last year at Fair Grounds, running in the upper-80s and low-90s with consistency. Horacio De Paz claimed him out of a third-place finish for $25,000 at Turfway Park last out and adds blinkers. He looks ready for a big effort in his first grass start of the year. #5 King’s River (15-1) finished in the exacta in three of his four starts on this track last year, with the only exception a tough first-level field which included the likes of Mission North and Coringa. Like What Say Thee, he should be flying late. #12 Recker Point (9-2) was second at this level in his lone grass try last season. He didn’t do much on dirt at Parx last out, but has worked well since and has every chance to improve for the Jamie Ness/Yedsit Hazlewood combo.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

3-11-1-12

#3 Best Girl Magic (10-1) made up tons of ground while wide and finished third by a neck in her lone grass start last fall. This lightly-raced filly didn’t do much at Turfway last out, but is now back on her home coast and is worth a look in a wide-open race. #11 Finch (15-1) was an impressive off-the-pace winner on debut last September at Colonial Downs, and gets class relief after making her 3-year-old bow in the Melody of Colors Stakes. She should also fly late. #1 Hue (9-2) is another Horacio De Paz trainee who made an unsuccessful appearance at Turfway this winter. She looks poised to get a great trip off the pace on the inside, and just about any of her grass efforts from last year would win this.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

3-2-5-1

#3 Greek Heiress (7-2) ran a big race on the lead last out. She gave Ms Notion all she could handle in an early duel, ultimately holding second to the impressive winner. Ms Notion further validated her form when she demolished a field much like this one last Friday. #2 Sassafrassness (3-2) went off as the odds-on favorite that day, but couldn’t take advantage of the duel and did no better than third. She outkicked Ms Notion and next-out winner Spencer Tiara to win two races ago; we’ll see if she can return to that type of form. #5 Mad for Maddy (5-1) won impressively going six furlongs two races back, and should benefit from cutting back after a flat 1 1/16-mile try last out.

RACE 9: CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

6-3-7-5

#6 Bigtonten (5-1) wasn’t at his best going two turns in his last two starts, but was an impressive winner in his last try at a one-turn mile at the start of the meet. He should sit close to the pace and pounce on the far turn. #3 Bold Endeavor (7-5) has somewhat in-and-out form, but his best, which he displayed in an easy win at Parx last out, would make him tough to beat. #7 Daddy Yankee (15-1) has a decent closing kick, which, while seldom enough to win, should earn him a slice of the exotics at a good price.

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