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) — $2,182
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6) — $3,087
Early Pick 5 (races 1-5) — $0
Late Pick 5 (races 5-9) — $0

This article contains affiliate links. If you click and buy, we may earn a commission at no extra charge to you.

Check out our other handicapping here!

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

8-6-1-2

#8 Watch Me Sparkle (3-1) wasn’t much of a threat against better maiden claimers over the summer, but ran a brisnet figure of at least 67 in each of them, right in the range she needs to be in to beat this soft field. She’s shown some tactical speed in the past and should try to stay close to the leaders. #6 No Monkeyin Around (10-1) closed well and was beaten less than three lengths in her grass debut two starts back. She’s stretching out around two turns for the first time, but is lightly-raced and has a chance to improve. #1 Feather Wish (5-2) is 0-for-20 lifetime, but races third off a nine-month break and has speed from the inside.

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

5-6-8-2

#5 Fan Club (9-5) fought hard in the stretch and just missed in his first start off a four-month break at Timonium last out. He won the battle with his stretch dueling partner, but lost the war to Aztec, who sat a great trip to get up and is also much better than anyone in here. This one hit the board three times against tougher over the winter; a repeat of any of those races wins this. #6 New Plex (8-1) has speed in a largely paceless affair. His draw isn’t great with the short run to the first turn, but if he can make the rail and the lead by the time they hit the bend, he’ll be in a great spot. #8 Rapidity (5-1) has fallen far off the early pace and rallied for shares in his last few races. He’s shown tactical speed in the past, like when he pressed the pace and won here in May, his only victory of the year this far.

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

6-3-7-1

#6 Reckless (1-1) won twice in three starts on the Colonial Downs lawn this summer, including a stalk-and-pounce win against similar last out in his second start off the Jamie Ness claim. The main speed in here looks fairly soft, so this race looks like it’ll fall into his lap. Recent California invader #3 Promissio (9-2) was beaten 4 1/2- lengths by Reckless last out after a wide trip. He might’ve been best two starts back, when he rallied for second despite a trouble-filled trip. The winner, The Brigade, won a starter allowance contest at 2-5 next out, then got second in a first-level allowance contest at Kentucky Downs in his following start. Third-place finisher Zevon won a first-level race of his own here in April. #7 Fly Now (8-1) has improved in each of his four starts, and converted a perfect trip to an open-length win last out. He’s poised to get another great setup off the pace in the clear.

RACE 4: RATINGS HANDICAP OPTIONAL CLAIMING (<65), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

5-7-2-1

This is the ratings handicap race, based on the horse ratings created by Equibase. We saw one here on the last weekend of the summer meet, and there’s a few written for the coming weeks. We’ll see how they play out and how they stack up class-wise. #5 Rampagius (5-2) has kept the lightbulb on since getting claimed by Lacey Gaudet last summer. He’s run no worse than an 89 in four dirt races since then, and was most recently a hard-luck fourth in a second-level allowance sprint on June 14. The relatively brief layoff is the only concern, but he’s run well off of similar breaks before. #7 Petingas Twin (3-1) defeated Barbadian Runner in a stakes-quality allowance at Charles Town last out, but has struggled in two starts since. He’ll try to bounce back here after seven weeks off. #2 Five Dreams (12-1) faded after getting caught up in a duel last out, but he’ll at least get to be the controlling speed from the inside here.

RACE 5: MAIDEN CLAIMING $35,000, 3-6 YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

2-1-8-7

#2 Love Yourself (2-1) races for the first time since May 28, when he faded in his first start around two turns at Delaware Park. He finished second in three starts going short here over the winter and spring. The winner and third-place finisher of his most recent one-turn start both came back to win their next races. #1 Scrutinator (7-5) ran a career-best 85 second off a 10-month layoff last out. He battled for the lead in the early stages with Crevalli, and while that one kicked away to win, this one held off the others for second. Note that, because he’s not a Maryland-bred, he’s in for the claiming tag. #8 Lasting Legacy (6-1) cuts back around one turn after a dismal two-turn try in the Churchill Downs mud last out, and should rebound first off the Lacey Gaudet claim. She’s been working with him for a while; this will be his first start since May 24.

RACE 6: RATINGS HANDICAP OPTIONAL CLAIMING (<65), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

12-3-8-4

#12 Nothing Better (3-2) oozes class, with five stakes wins and just shy of $1 million in career earnings under his belt. The 9-year-old veteran isn’t quite who he used to be, as his last speed-and-fade try at Saratoga would indicate, but he still has early speed and looks to have enough in the tank to beat these. If he doesn’t draw in, #3 Elvis Himself (12-1) becomes much more dangerous. He has blazing early speed and a great post from which to flaunt it from, and he’s held well on the lead in spots where, on paper, he should’ve stopped long before the wire. #8 Noah Chance (4-1) was second after a wide trip last out to favored Jungle Glow, who raced closer to the rail throughout. This one likely hopes that Nothing Better draws in and makes the potential pace hotter.

RACE 7: MAIDEN CLAIMING $35,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 5 FURLONGS

2-4-7-10

#2 Dolce Far Ninete (2-1) was well-backed on debut at Colonial, and closed well for third despite being forced to check at the top of the stretch. You might not get the 9-2 you got last time, but he’s still very promising and a serious threat. #4 Engaged is Better (7-2) chased gate-to-wire winner Metallican the whole way and finished second at first asking at Timonium last out, finishing five lengths clear of the rest. He’s another one who could take a big leap forward here, and may find himself setting the pace this time. #7 Aruba Ariba (6-1) looks like the best of the four first-time starters. Both of his recent workouts have been very sharp for Jerry Robb, who’s always solid with 2-year-old first-timers. He’s a half-brother to 11-time winner and stakes-placed Al Loves Josie, who debuted in the Maryland Million Nursery and broke his maiden one start later.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, MD-RESTRICTED, 1 1/16 MILES

6-3-1-4

RACE 9: MAIDEN CLAIMING $16,000, 3-6 YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE (GRASS)

2-5-9-1

#2 Roasted Reds (6-1) took a step backwards at third asking last out at Saratoga, but showed some decent late punch in her first two races up here, and takes a career-low drop in class. She’s a great alternative to the likely heavy favorite, #5 Seger Songs (6-5). This one closed from last and missed by a nose against a similar field last out, finishing in between a pair of next-out winners. However, she’s looked good on paper many times before and has yet to deliver, as indicated by her 0-for-15 career record. #9 Gotta Be Da Shoes (5-1) has gotten better throughout the year, and proved her aptitude around two turns in her last two races with a pair of solid-closing efforts.

21+ where applicable. Please bet responsibly. Need help? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit the National Council on Problem Gambling.

CHECK OUT THE LATEST OFF TO THE RACES RADIO!