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) — $9,868
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6) — $3,871
Early Pick 5 (races 1-5) — $0
Late Pick 5 (races 6-10) — $0

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RACE 1: MAIDEN CLAIMING $16,000, 3-6 YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

10-5-3-2

#10 Forty Seven Smoker (9-5) was entered and scratched yesterday and returns here. She surged and just missed at this level last out, despite some traffic trouble, and should do well with clearer sailing against a softer field. #5 Final Moment (6-1) makes her first start at this condition in her season debut, and showed speed in her last two starts of last year. An aggressive ride would make her hard to beat. #3 Contra (5-2) has flattened out in her last two starts, including last time, where she opened up a clear lead but faded to third. The ability’s in there somewhere; it’s just a matter of if she can keep maturing and make better-timed bids.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $7,500 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES

1-4-3-5

#1 Margaret P (2-1) ran on well and finished second against similar last out behind the runaway winner, Diamond Sue. She hasn’t raced this far before, but none of her five rivals seem to really want this distance, and she’s at least run well at a one-turn mile. #4 Naomi an Ruth (9-2) battled for the lead and kicked on to break her maiden at fifth asking last out despite drifting out in the stretch. If nothing else, she’ll make the front, and that’s a big advantage in a race where no one has good late pace figures. #3 Yo Leven (3-1) tailed off towards the end of last year after running brisnet figures in the 70s in the earlier part of the season. She got the winter off, came back to the worktab in late March, and is now set for her first start since November. We’ll see if the time off did her good.

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

7-1-6-3

#7 Wine Collector (6-1) occasionally pops up and tries second-level allowance company, with not-so-great results. He was third and second in two starts against these types at Tampa Bay Downs this winter, and should find this field to his liking as well. #1 Fully Booked (5-1) made a last-to-first move off of modest fractions to win two starts back at Turfway Park, then was a respectable third in a washed-off affair last out. 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. #6 Villain (5-2) competed against much better throughout last year, and takes a big drop in class for his first start of the season, having faced $80,000 foes at Churchill Downs in November. He has early speed in a race without much of it, so if he wins, it’ll likely be in gate-to-wire fashion.

RACE 4: MAIDEN CLAIMING $20,000, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

3-5-1-2

#3 Farooq (9-5) ran well in first start off a five-month layoff last out, closing well for second behind odds-on gate-to-wire winner Rickie’s Kin. He’s run in the 70s in each of his last two dirt starts, one of only two in here who’s even come close to doing so. The other is #5 Country Bumpkin (1-1). That one pressed the pace and faded on grass last out, but has shown more aptitude on dirt, and should put it all together in his third start off the bench. #1 Silver Saber (12-1) woke up third time out last out. He opened up a long early lead going two turns on grass, setting ambitious fractions in the process. He eventually faded, but it was an encouraging effort nonetheless. We’ll see if that form can translate to this spot.

RACE 5: CLAIMING $16,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE (GRASS)

7-1-4-6

#7 Owhatanite (4-1) closed very well off of slow fractions for third in his last grass start. He showed speed and stopped badly in his last start, a washed-off affair on a very sloppy track, but looks right at home in a race like this. #1 Finn McSorley (5-2) consistently ran in the 70s on the Indianapolis grass last year, right in the range he needs to be in to win. His recent dismal lines on dirt and over jumps might throw bettors off the scent and drive up his price. #4 Sticktothesystem (2-1) was a respectable third against slightly softer in his last grass start, and has early speed in a race without a lot of it. It wouldn’t be a shock if he led them all the way.

RACE 6: MAIDEN CLAIMING $16,000, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

1-5-6-16

#1 Skedaddling Home (4-1) ran well against better maidens throughout the Gulfstream Park winter, including a strong second-place effort two starts back where he set a clear early lead and held second. He looks fast enough to make the lead from the inside, and Horacio Karamanos, who rode him over the winter, keeps the mount. #5 Star Atlas (6-1) surged behind the very speedy Karma’s Inthehouse and lost by less than a length. He was flat in his first grass start of the season two starts back, but ran a 68 and a 70 in his two races on this surface last year. #6 Fortune Hill (8-1) drops to this level for the first time in his fifth career start and has abundant early speed.

RACE 7: CLAIMING $30,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

5-2-3-7

#5 Misty Sixtysix (3-1) has been a check-getting machine in her home state of Pennsylvania, having finished in the top three in her last 12 starts there. She’s run in the 80s four times in her last five starts and has tremendous late pace figures. Her usual effort will see her gobble up ground late and win. #2 Susan’s Mule (5-1) got caught up in an early duel and faded last out, but she’s the fastest horse in this field, which minimizes her chances of getting burned up once again. #3 Belleofthebluegrass (3-1) has won three of her last four races from just off the pace. She chased the pace while wide and faded in her only start here, but she’s in overall improved form since then, and looks poised to sit a great trip for the Anthony Farrior/Yedsit Hazlewood duo.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, MD-RESTRICTED, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

6-9-8-5

#6 Rye Diggitydog (2-1) surged up the inside and just missed in his first start of the season last out. Big Tankness, who beat him that day, returned to win an open first-level allowance race on the Black-Eyed Susan undercard as the odds-on favorite. #9 Enzo (5-1) has raced just once in the past 12 months, a poor fifth on dirt in mid-March. His grass races last spring were very sharp, as he ran in the 80s twice in three starts. He sat just off the pace in many of those races, but his pace figures compared to these look fast enough that he can establish firm early control. #8 Jessica’s Eyes (6-1) is a two-time winner at this distance and gets massive class relief after racing wide throughout in the James Murphy Stakes last out.

8-4-6-9

#8 Wonder Girl (3-1) won twice at this level last fall, and sat near the pace and hit the board in her first two starts of this season. Her sustained early speed will be an asset in race where no one has great late speed. #4 Fivecommatwo (20-1) turned in an improved effort second off the bench last out, making mild ground while improving five points to a 77. She hasn’t won in a while, which makes her hard to endorse for a win bet. However, her usual race will be good enough for a share. #6 Lady Zeta (5-1) looks for a rebound after a flat try following a wide trip last out, and gets a key rider switch to Jorge Ruiz. She’ll also sit close to the pace.

RACE 10: MAIDEN CLAIMING $20,000, 3-6 YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

4-7-2-1

#4 Pinky Swear (7-2) showed nothing at first asking, but improved 12 points to a 66 second time out at Timonium last out. The winner of that race, Doc’s Miracle, won or placed in stakes company in each of her next four races. This one might need a race first off the bench, but she has the highest ceiling of anyone in the field. #7 Hurricane Lynn (4-1) switches back to dirt second off the Kieron Magee claim and has shown slow and steady improvement in each of her last three races. #2 Truly an Honor (5-2) has shown speed and hit the board in her two career dirt starts, and gets Yedsit Hazlewood up for her first start off the Anthony Farrior claim.

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