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) — $2,268
Jackpot Super Hi 5 (race 6) — $1,808
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, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

5-12-7-9

#5 Tax and Tags (5-1) broke his maiden in a determined effort on the lead last out. He pressed the pace in the two-path early on, managed to clear to the front by the far turn, and held on from there to win at 18-1. He’s making his first start against winners, and his sixth overall, in a race full of horses who don’t like winning. #12 Rare Eclipse (12-1) is another recent maiden winner. He sat a great trip just off the pace, and got up to win in a blanket finish with a career-best brisnet figure of 74, tied with two others for the best last-out figure in the race. He’s shown steady improvement throughout the year, and should get another good setup here. #7 Jigger (6-1) was no factor in Maryland/Virginia-restricted allowance company in his last few starts, but his steady low/mid-70s figures fit right in with these.

RACE 2: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $25,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

1A-6-2-5

Both halves of the Jamie Ness-trained coupled entry look tough. #1A Geostoblame (3-2) is my slightly preferred half. He lived up to 1-2 expectations in his first start for the Ness barn last out, rallying from well off the pace to beat a similar field to this one. The best may be yet to come for him. #6 Good Man Dan (6-1) sat off the pace and conveerted to win his last dirt race at Timonium. Although he’s drawn to the outside, he has the best early pace figures in the field, so if he’s used aggressively, he’ll get a very advantageous trip. #2 No More Calls (6-5) is the only one of these to run in the 80s in each of his last three dirt starts. He’s boxed on from off the pace for small slices against better in his last few races; we’ll see if his closing kick is more potent at this level.

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

6-5-9-8

Many of these come out of the same race at this condition on Sept. 18. #6 Granite Hall (3-2), off a big debut effort at Colonial Downs two starts back, went off favored. She closed well from far off the pace, but couldn’t reel in gate-to-wire winner Brikeli and ended up third. Still, she’s shown a good kick in both of her races, and is lightly-raced enough to make me want to give her enough chance. #5 Lux (4-1) finished well behind Granite Hall two starts back, but turned the tables on that rival when she outkicked her for second in that Sept. 18 race. She showed speed plenty of times earlier in her career, and though she hasn’t been as fast early in her recent races, she might be able to grab early control in a race without a ton of other speed. #9 Charlibu (8-5) was well-bet at first asking on Sept. 18, going off as the 2-1 second choice as the only first-time starter in the field. She showed no interest until late, when she made good ground and salvaged fourth. She could be poised for a big effort second time out.

RACE 4: CLAIMING $12,500 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

6-5-4-2

#6 Ice Shot (8-5) took advantage of a tired early leader to win two starts back at Penn National. The aforementioned early leader, Passionforglory, finished second by a neck next out at Parx, while third-place finisher Good Man Dan won his next start at Timonium and is in to go earlier today. This one should benefit from a class drop after showing little in a tough first-level allowance race last out. #5 Edelweiss (4-1) has hit the board in all three starts at this level or similar, including a game third on the lead last out. He’s gone off favored in all three of those races and has burned plenty of money along the way. You’ll have to demand some value, but he nonetheless merits respect. The lightbulb has gone on for #4 Bad Boy Butch (10-1), who’s won two of his last three starts after beginning his career 0-for-11. He’ll sit close to the pace and get first crack at any embattled leaders.

RACE 5: MAIDEN CLAIMING $16,000, 3-6 YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/8 MILES (GRASS)

11-4-6-14

#11 Quamash (5-1) set the pace last out at the Meadowlands, fought with a perfect-trip getting favored rival, and finished second to him in a determined effort. He has the most early speed in the field, and while he tends to get caught late, he’s at least found a field without much closing speed, giving him an even larger pace advantage than usual. If he’s ever going to go gate-to-wire, it’ll probably be here. #4 Plenty on Tap (9-2) has finished second or third in his last five grass races, including a third-place effort in his most recent start on this surface. He wouldn’t have won even with clear sailing, but he might’ve gotten up for second over next-out winner All Fruits Ripe. He’ll be in a tough spot if Quamash gets the trip he wants, but he can still outkick the others. #6 Seawise (3-1), a recent Florida arrival, went off favored in his local debut last out at Delaware Park, but came up empty. Many of his races from last fall and winter would win this; it’s just a matter of if can recover that form.

RACE 6: CLAIMING $7,500 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

8-6-1-9

#8 Tethered Soul (2-1) went off as the odds-on favorite at Timonium last out, in his first start in non-winners of two claiming company. He got caught wide throughout and was never involved. Any of his races from the spring and early summer, when he consistently ran in the mid-70s and low-80s, would easily beat this bunch. #6 Good Willie (15-1) was a flat fifth last out at Delaware on Oct. 10, but two horses who outfinished him have already come back to win. He ran in the low-70s in his two prior races and is lightly-raced enough to allow me to keep the faith. #1 Spurious (12-1) was a confirmed frontrunner earlier in his career, but has showed a new dimension in his last few. He flew from well off the pace and just missed at 19-1 last out at Delaware with a 73, his best figure in 3 1/2 months.

RACE 7: MAIDEN CLAIMING $35,000, 3-6 YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

6-5-1-9

#6 Napisonmyagenda (6-1) drops in for a tag for the first time on grass and adds blinkers for the first time. He’s run in the 70s both times he’s run on grass, including a fourth-place effort last out behind a pair of next-out winners. #5 Target Market (5-1) has been scratched a few times since his last start on July 12 for a variety of reasons. He improved ten points to a 78 second time out in that last race, finishing a mild fourth against better at Colonial. He’ll get Jorge Ruiz aboard for the first time, making him poised for a career-best effort. #1 Agendum (9-2) closed and missed by less than a length against similar last out at Delaware, and gets a rider switch to Paco Lopez.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W1X), 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 1 MILE

8-2-3-1

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

10-7-5-2

#10 Dream Overture (2-1) ran one of her best races last out to clear her non-winners of two condition. Her only subpar race in recent times came in an amateur rider race two starts back, so her form isn’t as in-and-out as it might look at first glance. #7 Kobe’s Hope (9-2) was a two-time winner on this track last fall, and showed some signs of life second off a nine-month layoff last out when she led most of the way and held third. She might be ready to put it all together here. #5 Carolina Sun (20-1) closed for third at 35-1 in the Glen Petty Stakes at Colonial Downs last out, and has been in steadily improving form since returning from her winter break. She’s very capable of rounding out the exotics at a good price.

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