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) — $3,230
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: CLAIMING $16,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

3-4-5-9 (DIRT: 5-4-8-13)

#3 Cheese (5-1) adds blinkers for her first start of the season, and returns in a spot where she looks like one of the main speeds. She turned in a bullet workout on April 4, going the fastest of 103 workers at four furlongs on dirt. #4 Over My Cents (4-1) also has some speed to her outside, and hit the board in her last two races against these types on dirt. #5 Gripen (6-1) is one of the lighter-race horses in this contest, having broken her maiden at third asking with a stalk-and-pounce trip in her most recent start. She has a respectable grass pedigree, but doesn’t need to be a world-beater on this sale to win this.

RACE 2: MAIDEN CLAIMING $35,000, 3-6 YEAR-OLDS, 7 FURLONGS

6-2-1-3

#6 Upshot (3-1) improved sharply at second asking last out, running a career-best brisnet figure of 78 while a strong-closing third behind two rivals who were much the best. He’s facing an easier field than last time, and should benefit from stretching out from six furlongs. #2 Bald Cypress (12-1) matched his career-best mark with a 72 last out, in his first start off a 13-week break. He looks poised to take a step forward second off the bench at a good price. #1 Summerinthecountry (1-1) runs in the 70s pretty consistently, which would be enough to win this race. However, if the morning line is any indication, he won’t provide any value.

RACE 3: MAIDEN CLAIMING $16,000, 3-6 YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

9-12-5-4 (DIRT: 5-4-3-13)

#9 Freedom Glider (2-1) ran no worse than a 67 in five grass starts last year, including four marks in the 70s. A repeat of any of those races likely wins this, although be advised that that 67 came on a Meadowlands grass course labeled “good.” Should today’s races stay on the lawn, the course will likely have some give to it. #12 Gordito (6-1) ran respectably well at this level throughout last year. He tends to run the same race over and over again, and while that wasn’t good enough to break through last year, this looks like as easy a spot as he’ll ever find around here. #5 Oxford Union (5-1) got one start in over the winter, finishing fifth in mid-January, and returns to his preferred surface here. He spent most of last year hodling his own against slightly better.

RACE 4: CLAIMING $12,500 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

4-2-5-7

#4 Poor Mans Lady (12-1) rallied from far out of it to break her maiden under Yedsit Hazlewood three starts ago. She cuts back to her preferred distance after two tries going longer and gets Hazlewood back in the saddle. #2 The Great Maybe (1-1) sat trips but couldn’t convert against better non-winners of two types in her last two races at Fair Grounds. She’s taking a needed drop in class here, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see her hang once again, this time at a very low price. #5 Sweet Honey Bee (6-1) loves to get checks at tis level, having finished second or third in her last three starts at this distance and condition. Look for her to race near the pace and hang around for a share.

RACE 5: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

4-6-10-5 (DIRT: 1-13-8-14)

#4 Zevon (20-1) may want to go further than this, but he has, by far, the best late pace figures in the race, and was second to better at this level last fall. The 8-year-old gelding will add Lasix for the first time, and may be sitting on one of his career-best races at a generous price. #6 Edgerton (4-1) has run career-best figures in his last three starts, peaking at an 87 last out when he overcame a wide trip to win at Fair Grounds. #10 Drilling for Gold (3-1), after some sharp maintenance races at Fair Grounds this winter, is back on a track on which he’s already won twice in three starts. He’s one of the dominant speeds, and looks fast enough to clear to the rail and the lead despite his draw.

RACE 6: CLAIMING $7,500 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

3-9-5-1

#3 Let’s Have a Party (10-1) was second to the classy Pit Stop Man when last in for $7,500 three starts ago. He was flat in his last two races against better, but is bound to benefit from the drop in class. If #9 Beach Cowboy (2-1) repeats any of his races in the past year, he’ll win without much trouble. However, a claim on him was voided by the vet from his last start on February 20, and his workouts since then haven’t been that great. Buyer beware at a short price. #5 Keeping It Country (8-1) came from way downtown to win at Penn National last out, and looks poised to pick them up and lay them down once again.

RACE 7: CLAIMING $30,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE (GRASS)

5-11-6-10 (DIRT: 8-2-6-10)

#5 Pegster (7-2) isn’t coming off quite as long a layoff as the running lines might indicate. She finished second in 1 1/4-mile training flat race at the Old Dominion Hounds point-to-point on April 4, a fantastic prep for today’s race. She ran in the 70s consistently last year and gets Yedsit Hazlewood up for the first time. #11 Bint Mischief (2-1) sat a stalk-and-pounce trip to break her maiden at Gulfstream Park two races ago, and was a sharp second last out while chasing a gate-to-wire winner. #6 Nick’s Notion (3-1) hasn’t raced in 10 months, but ran a big race the last time she competed on grass. She gobbled up ground to get second behind the classy Doesn’thurttoflirt last Memorial Day weekend.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

6-10-7-3

#6 Where’s the King (2-1) has won his last two starts in dominant gate-to-wire fashion, once here, once at Parx. He’s certainly fast enough to work out the trip that he wants, and from there will lead them a long way. He’s one of two horses in here to run in the 90s twice in their last three starts; the other is #10 Reynolds Channel (3-1). This New York shipper overcame a wide trip to get third at this condition at Aqueduct last out, and was an easy winner there three starts ago after a stalking trip. He should get a similarly good setup here. #7 Straight to Water (6-1) has tons of heart and class, and will be heard from late as long as the early pace isn’t too slow.

RACE 9: MAIDEN CLAIMING $35,000, 3-6 YEAR OLDS, 1 MILE (GRASS)

13-14-5-7 (DIRT: 2-7-10-12)

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