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) — $3,758
Jackpot Super Hi 5 (race 6) — $3,316
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, 1 MILE (GRASS)

11-1-13-2

#11 Majestic Blue (5-1) broke his maiden in sharp fashion on dirt at Delaware Park last July, and has been butting heads with much better than these ever since. He closed well from way out of it going 5 1/2 furlongs on the lawn last out, and takes a drop in class in a race where many of them don’t like to win. #1 Triathleon (4-1) showed some late interest and closed for third last out, in a race where he was the only one who made up much ground. He’s taken big steps forward with every grass start. #13 Fairfield Bay (15-1) makes his first start for the Justin Nixon barn after a winter at Tampa Bay Downs. In his lone grass start, which came seven weeks ago, he fell further behind than usual, but closed with interest in a race where the top two finishers raced on or close to the pace throughout. He’s only lost to winners once and never on this surface.

RACE 2: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $30,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

3-1-6-5

#3 Lannister (7-2) tried two turns last out after running some big races around one turn. He raced wide throughout and stopped badly. He gets to cut back to six furlongs, a much more comfortable distance for him, and that dismal last line may throw some bettors of the scent. However, it’s not representative. #1 Zio Lino (4-1) broke his maiden two starts back with a stalk-and-pounce trip, beating Lannister in the process. In his first start against winners last out, he was second to the very sharp gate-to-wire winner Galpin Sunday. He has speed from the rail, and has proven he can run well from on the pace or just off of it. #6 Neverworkedaday (9-5) went off as the 7-10 favorite in his first start off a four-month layoff last out, but was forced to check hard going up the backstretch and never got involved from there. He showed promise as a 2-year-old last year, and could live up to that promise with a cleaner trip.

RACE 3: MAIDEN CLAIMING $35,000, 3-6 YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

6-4-7-9

#6 Spinning Class (5-2) went off favored at this level last out, and closed well for third despite a wide trip. This is a tougher field than the one she saw last time, but still not as tough as the ones she’s seen through most of her career. With a better trip, she could prove tough to hold off. #4 Magic Beam (7-2) ran well on debut last out. As one of two first-time starters in the field, she closed from last and led briefly, but was overtaken by the wide-closing Lovely Lookin Lili and was forced to settle for second (outfinishing Spinning Class by a nose with a more ground-saving trip). She looks poised to improve at second asking and keeps Jorge Ruiz in the saddle. #7 Firestreak (4-1) certainly outran her 118-1 odds on debut at Delaware last September, closing for third, beaten less than a length. She hasn’t raced since then, but if she runs close to the brisnet figure of 79 she ran in that race, she’ll be a threat.

RACE 4: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3-6 YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

5-6-3-1

#5 Beauxbatons (5-2) makes her career debut for Whit Beckman, who is 6-for-18 with his first-time starters this year. Her recent workouts at Churchill Downs have been sharp, and she’s facing a very soft field in which none of the four who have run have shown much ability. If she can run in the low-70s at first asking, she’ll win. #6 Peace Before Chaos (12-1) improved dramatically to a 66 at second asking last out following a dull debut. Runner-up Lovely Lookin Lili came back to break her maiden in her next start. #3 Pneumo Warrior (8-1) has hit the board in her last two dirt starts and decent late speed. She should at least pick up a slice against these.

RACE 5: CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE (GRASS)

12-10-2-1

#12 Magical Ways (7-2) closed well for third last out at Penn National in his first start of the Jamie Ness claim. He ran huge figures on the grass against better last summer in New York, and a return to that form makes him an easy winner. #10 Fully Booked (8-1) made a last-to-first move off of modest fractions to win last out at Turfway Park. He won on the grass at Monmouth Park last September with a similarly strong closing move, and will be heard from late as long as he doesn’t get caught in traffic. #2 Sell Something (10-1) rallied from last to get third last out behind a determined gate-to-wire winner in Read On. We’ll see if he can improve second off a five-month layoff.

RACE 6: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE (GRASS)

14-3-8-5

#14 Outrunner (1-1) broke his maiden on this track at first asking in October 2024, and though he didn’t win last year, he finished graded stakes-placed twice. He’s worked well for Jorge Duarte in his first start since November. Duarte hasn’t won a grass race yet this meet, but his two most recent starters on this surface both race well. #3 Sun Above (15-1) broke his maiden from off the pace on debut on this track October, then closed well from off of slow fractions in the Central Park Stakes at Aqueduct in November, his most recent start. He gets Lasix for the first time in his 3-year-old debut and looms as the best alternative to the imposing favorite. #8 Dairago (5-1) was an impressive winner as the heavy favorite in his local debut. Runner-up Summer Vibes beata conditioned claiming field as the favorite two weeks ago. This one’s facing a much better field this time than last, but he has plenty of potential and keeps Yedsit Hazlewood in the saddle.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

4-8-1-7

Wesley Ward won a first-level allowance race with a 3-year-old on Sunday, and he’ll try it again here with #4 Wonder Mist (2-1). He pressed the pace and drew off to win easily last out at Aqueduct with an 88, his second figure that large in his last three races. #8 Mizner (5-2) made short work of the field last out, setting the pace and drawing off under a drive to run in the 90s for the second consecutive race. He’s trying winners for the first time and should work out a trip just off the pace on the outside. #1 Palacios (9-2) flattened out after a wide trip last out, but was an easy winner against open claimers two races ago. With his inside draw, he’ll hope to get a better trip and turn in a better effort.

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

6-5-1-2

Much like Lannister earlier in the card, the form of #6 Roger Roger (3-1) is obscured by a bad try going two turns last out. He pressed the pace and stopped badly last out at Keeneland going 1 1/16 miles, but he was an easy maiden winner going two turns in his prior outing. He’s run in the 90s in his last three dirt starts, and that kind of effort would win this one. #5 Paco the Taco Man (3-1) has won three of his last four starts, and hasn’t trailed at any point in his last two races. He looks fast enough to clear to the rail and the lead despite his outside draw. #1 Surgical Precision (2-1) finished a pace-chasing second first off a year-plus layoff. He looks poised to sit in the catbird seat on the rail off of Paco the Taco Man.

RACE 9: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3-6 YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

8-7-3-6

The second and third-place finishers from the same race on April 10, #8 Clearly Sophia (5-1) and #7 Sin Boldly (3-1) are back here. Sin Boldly finished second, closing with a rush to get up by a nose over Clearly Sophia, who chased gate-to-wire winner Erice throughout. I give Clearly Sophia the slight edge because of her early speed, but they have very similar chances of winning. Watch the board on both of them and make a decision from there. #3 Lucky Lis (8-1) improved significantly to a career-best 77 last out. She also has early speed from closer to the inside and should benefit from the cutback from one mile.

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