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

First post time: 12:10 p.m.

Carryovers: 
Chesapeake Jackpot Pick 6 (races 4-9) — $4,797
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6)— $1,806
Early Pick 5 (races 1-5) — $30,636
Late Pick 5 (races 5-9) — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

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

4-1-5-2

The early pick 5 features a big carryover once again, and it starts with an inscrutable race. Just about any of the eight horses in here have a case. #4 Tall Order (12-1) gets the slight nod from me. He’s faced much better in his last few starts, but won a first-level race the last time he was on this track in late April, and has a strong late kick which should enable him to mow them down. #1 Noble Jon (9-2) is the only one in the field to run a brisnet figure in the 80s in each of his last four starts. He made good ground late while close to the pace on the rail last out at Delaware Park, but he might’ve fallen a bit too far off the leader for his own good. If he can stay close to the pace while protecting the inside position, he’s got a good shot. #2 Embolden (3-1) takes a class drop and makes his third start off a year-plus layoff for the Mike Trombetta/Jorge Ruiz trainer/jockey combo. That duo is 10-for-30 over the last 60 days. 

RACE 2: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

2-3-5-6

#2 Byk (5-1) won three in a row against these types at Penn National earlier this year, then finished fifth in a very tough second-level dash last out at Delaware. A repeat of any of his recent races wins this one. #3 Brother Conway (5-2) faded after getting involved in an early duel at Timonium last out, but he’s much better than that race would indicate. He now returns to his favorite track; he’s 7-for-12 here, and most of his losses came against much better rivals than the ones he’ll see here. #5 Don’t Wait Up (6-1) has struggled over wet tracks in his last few starts, but he’ll get a fast surface today, which will help him run his best race.

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

11-9-12-7

#11 Cleopatra’s Nile (6-1) was dominant over the winter at Tampa Bay Downs, reeling off four consecutive wins, three of them on grass. She was second last out at Monmouth Park, in a race where she wore down the odds-on early leader and lost only to a well-bet Paco Lopez-ridden rival. She was claimed out of that race by Dan Ward, and looks to sit another nice trip just off the pace. #9 Don’t Tell Kelly (12-1) faced better rivals on this track for most of the year, then closed well from far off the pace last out at Delaware. She’ll be a late threat with any kind of pace to close into. #12 Put a Rock On It (8-1) has hit the board in her last four starts, showing the ability to both set the pace and come from off of it. She went gate-to-wire at Delaware in her most recent start, and while she may have a hard time clearing to the lead from post 10, she’s versatile enough to work out a trip from the back if need be. 

RACE 4: CLAIMING $7,500 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

7-4-1-6

#7 B West (5-2) faced superior rivals to these in his first start off a five-month break last out at Timonium, and makes his return to the larger track while taking a big drop in class. He was a solid second when last seen against these types, losing to Johnnyfrenchfri, who was in very sharp form at the time. #4 Little Lance (7-2) ran in the mid-80s two and three starts back, but finished well up the track in his last start, and has had a bit of time off since then. It’s no guarantee he’ll rebound, but he’s a contender if he does. #1 Forward Move (3-1) has not been a factor in his last few starts, but has worked well as of late at Parx, gets class relief, and is the only horse in the race with multiple wins on the year. It wouldn’t be much of a surprise if he rediscovered his best self in this spot. 

RACE 5: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, 7 FURLONGS

4-5-6-3

#4 Gualillo (7-2) and #5 Completeeffort (9-2) come out of the same August 9 maiden race at Monmouth. Gualillo was the only first-time starter in that field, and ran a game race, showing promising late interest and getting third. Rick Dutrow trainees tend to run better second time out than first, so this one is in a prime spot to take a big step forward. Completeeffort was the odds-on choice in that race, but showed little in his first start off a 4 ½-month break. However, he was impressive on debut at Gulfstream Park in late March, so the ability’s in there somewhere. #6 Bridoza (5-2), another Monmouth shipper, showed speed for the first time last out. He battled on the pace going a mile and held second, finishing behind a well-meant Chad Brown-trained firster who came from last. 

RACE 6: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 1 MILE (GRASS)

5-3-9-2

#5 Screen Test (7-2) went off favored on debut at Colonial Downs, and finished a solid fifth after getting caught wide early. She’s worked very well since then, goes out for a barn that does well with second-time starters in Graham Motion, and has lots of grass pedigree; she’s a half-sister to Belmont Derby winner Screen Test. Her dam, Joy of Learning, is a half-sister to Admission Office and Coffee Clique, who were graded stakes winners on grass. #3 Lunar Buzz (3-1) ran a solid 76 in her career debut on dirt at Delaware. She’s a half-sister to two grass winners, and looks like she’ll prefer longer distances. #9 Frosty Mojito (8-1) tried winners in her grass debut at Kentucky Downs. She was outclassed that day, but still ran a respectable 70, and now resurfaces in a more realistic spot. Her only sibling to try grass hasn’t missed the board in four starts on it. 

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, MD-RESTRICTED, 6 FURLONGS

2-4-1-3

#2 Grayson’s Girl (2-1) ran a pair of huge figures against better over the summer, then finished a chasing third behind a gate-to-wire winner last out at Timonium. She should run much better over the big track, as should #4 Great Andrei (8-5), who was second in that Timonium race. This one has abundant early speed, and while she tends to set an ambitious pace and get caught, she should at least hold on for a slice. #1 Weekend Wife (12-1) was a Tim Keefe debut winner in April, a remarkable accomplishment on its own. She crushed what proved to be a salty maiden field, with an impressive 88. She ran in the 80s going a mile next out, then went to the sidelines, and makes her first start in almost five months while adding Lasix for the first time. She might need a race, but the ability’s there. 

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

2-3-1-5

#2 Touisset (10-1) finished a hard-charging third behind better last out at Delaware. It was a notable change of pace for her, as she usually races on the pace. In a race with a lot of speed, she might be better off trying to pull off another come-from-behind move. #3 Chickahominy (7-5) hasn’t won in a while, but has been in career-best form as of late, including a near-miss to Hollywood Walk at Colonial last out. A big effort here might set her up for a bid in the Maryland Million Turf Sprint. #1 Mopo (2-1) scratched out of Saturday’s All Along Stakes in favor of this shorter spot. She has blazing early speed, but is unproven going short on grass. Still, if she gets to the front and opens up a big early lead, she might be hard to catch.

RACE 9: CLAIMING $7,500 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE

4-6-5-3

#4 Loving Cup (3-1) is the only one in the field to run in the 70s in each of her last three starts, and has in fact done so eight times in a row. She was an easy winner at Timonium last out, and looks to have enough early speed to make the front and just keep going. #6 Dubstep (9-2) is a camera-shy sort, but she has been pace-compromised in her last few races and still closed well. She should at least get a small share even if Loving Cup runs away with it. #5 Ribbonsinherhair (5-2) just missed making it two wins in a row at Parx last out, losing by a neck after a late surge. She’s rounding back into form since coming off a four-month break in mid-July, with improved figures in each of her last two races. 

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