In which we pick the races from Laurel Park each day…

First post time: 12:00 p.m.

Carryovers: 
Chesapeake Jackpot Pick 6 (races 5-10) — $4,856
Jackpot Super Hi 5 (race 6) — $397
Early Pick 5 (races 1-5) — $0
Late Pick 5 (races 6-10) — $12,893

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

12-2-14-8

#12 Call Me a Cab (3-1) made his 2025 finale a winning one, winning with a dramatic rush as the odds-on favorite. He hasn’t raced since November 9, but the Hugh McMahon barn does well with horses first off of those types of layoffs, and Yedsit Hazlewood keeps the mount. #2 Frye Island (9-5) was in improving form against classier maidens last year at Horseshoe Indianapolis. He showed speed and faded last out at Turfway Park in January, but was claimed out of that race by Anthony Farrior, who has freshened him up and should have him primed for a big effort. #14 Strand Road (12-1) hasn’t shown much in his last few dirt starts in New York, but he displayed a decent closing kick on the lawn last June at Delaware Park. He’ll be an interesting late threat if that form reappears.

RACE 2: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

2-5-3-6

#2 Mr Saltn’vinegar (6-1) chased the pace and faded going a mile last out, but ran a decent fourth at this distance on debut at Parx at this distance. He’s adding blinkers here and has had a gate workout since his last race, suggesting he’s got a need for speed. #5 Flying to Work (7-5) has finished second or third in his last four starts. In his last race at this level and distance, he was second to Impressiveness, who beat starter optional claiming rivals next out at Parx in determined fashion. This one has by far the best brisnet figures and late pace figures in the field; we’ll see if this is his breakthrough spot. #3 Dan Gamble (5-2) goes first out for Justin Nixon, who has good numbers with first-time starters, and has shown some promise in the morning at Tampa Bay Downs. As long as he runs at least in the upper-50s at first asking, he’s got a shot.

RACE 3: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 1 MILE

6-1-3-4

#6 Virginia Gentry (3-1) showed promise when second on this track two starts back, but was completely flat at Colonial Downs last out. He’s worked well since and should improve on the return to this oval. #1 Sir George (5-2) outfinished Virginia Gentry by three lengths in that Colonial race. This one came back 15 days later around two turns, and finished a strong-closing second after falling further off the pace than he might’ve liked. The addition of blinkers should keep him closer to the pace. #3 Ballinaclash (9-5) should also show speed for his first start beyond seven furlongs. Trainer Phil Schoenthal hits at a sharp 29% with horses making their first start at a route in recent times.

RACE 4: STARTER ALLOWANCE $7,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/8 MILES

5-3-7-2

#5 Hay Chief (7-2) saved ground most of the way and surged to beat a similar field to this one in his last start, for his first victory since March of 2024. A bit of time off earlier in the meet might have done him some good, and he’ll be tough to hold off if he repeats that last effort. #3 Mr Scatter (6-1) made his Mid-Atlantic debut a winning one last out at Charles Town, circling the field to win from off of modest fractions. He’s also bound to be a serious late presence with any kind of pace to close into. On the flip side, #7 Masakado (8-5) is bound to be forwardly placed. While his draw isn’t ideal, he’s shown he can win from just off the pace as well, like he did last time,.

RACE 5: CLAIMING $30,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

4-7-10-1

#4 Patrick’s Promise (2-1) has run at least a 79 in each of his last four grass starts, something none of his rivals can do with regularity even once. He also has by far the best average late pace figures in the field. His usual effort would win this race without much trouble. #7 Longhi (5-1) is lightly-raced and drops in class from a first-level allowance contest at Gulfstream Park while getting Lasix for the second time. The Graham Motion/Jorge Ruiz combination is always potent on the lawn. #10 Clavin (4-1) worked hard to break his maiden on debut going six furlongs on dirt, and was claimed from that race by Kieron Magee. While he’s never done anything like this before, his pedigree suggests he’ll like the surface. Two of his half-siblings, King Cause, and Bell’s the One, were stakes winners on grass.

RACE 6: CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

4-8-1-9

#4 Noble Jon (8-1) closed well and missed by less than a length last out despite not changing leads. It was his first start in 2 1/2 months, and was a strong effort given those circumstances. He had a string of near-misses against better rivals on this track last year. #8 Noah Chance (6-1) won going away against Maryland-restricted rivals on this track last year, continuing an impressive string of efforts on this track. His only time out of the exacta here came when he dipped into deep waters in the Maryland Million Turf Sprint last year. #1 Bushido (5-2) has blazing early speed, as evidenced by his impressive gate-to-wire win on dirt two starts back. He ran some big figures against better in the midwest last year, but has proven himself somewhat pace-dependent in his last few races.

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

8-7-2-5

#8 Watch Your Tone (4-1) beat a few of these in an impressive effort at 1 1/16 miles two races ago. She didn’t fire at six furlongs last out against better, but should benefit from getting back to a distance that’s more in her wheelhouse. #7 Baby Sox (15-1) stepped up in her first start for the Jonathan Maldonado barn last out. She circled the field to win with a 76, her best figure in a while. We’ll see if she can keep the momentum going. #2 Dubstep (6-1) sat off the pace and opened up a long lead last out, but she flattened out and finished second to Watch Your Tone. She looks like the main speed of this race, and may try to wire them while setting more moderate fractions.

RACE 8: CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE (GRASS)

7-9-3-8

#7 Stella Mars (5-1) rallied up the inside to win her last start on this track last June, and ran a sneakily excellent race in her prior start here. She showed nothing on the Parx dirt last out, but it was her first start in four months, it wasn’t on her ideal surface, and it was, if nothing else, a prep for this spot, which Jamie Ness has probably had in mind for a while. #9 Classicals Finale (10-1) closed from the clouds to hit the board five times in six starts at Tampa Bay Downs this winter. She’s susceptible to traffic, and has dealt with it in her last few starts, but will be tough to hold off with any kind of setup. #3 Princess Javoncia (5-1) was entered in the Dahlia Stakes last Saturday, but was scratched in favor of this more reasonable spot. She was in improving form towards the end of last year, and ran one of her biggest figures of the year in her first start off a seven-month break in June. This suggests she’ll be ready for a peak effort in her first race in 167 days.

RACE 9: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES

5-3-7-6

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