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

First post time: 12:07 p.m.

Carryovers: 
Chesapeake Jackpot Pick 6 (races 5-10) — $6,488
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6) — $857
Early Pick 5 (races 1-5) — $0
Late Pick 5 (races 6-10) — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

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

4-8-1-10

#4 Ky Thirty Won (4-1) improved sharply second off the Michael Dini claim last out, rallying from off an average pace to get fourth against similar at Colonial Downs. He’s run a brisnet figure in the 80s twice in his last three starts; no one else has run that fast at any point within their last three grass races. #8 White Blue (10-1) was compromised by a bad break in his grass debut three starts back on this track, but ran well in his next two races at Colonial, including a maiden-breaking win last out. Hot-riding Jorge Ruiz gets the mount for the first time. #1 Regalo Perfetto (7-2) drops after a pair of tries against Virginia-restricted allowance rivals, and should sit a nice trip on or near the pace on the rail.  

RACE 2: CLAIMING $12,500 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

7-6-4-5

#7 Formal Affair (9-2) drops in class after a game third behind gate-to-wire winner Night Time Nap in a starter optional claiming contest last Saturday. He should show good late foot in his second start off a two-month break. New York-based Michelle Nevin hasn’t had a Maryland starter in almost three years. She’ll break that drought with #6 Aleah Aleah (7-2), in his second start off a seven-month layoff. This gelding has blazing early speed, but with the exception of a gate-to-wire win three starts back, he tends to stop badly. Still, there isn’t a lot of other speed in here, and loose leaders can be very dangerous around a one-turn mile. #4 Andras (8-1) has won two in a row after starting his career 0-for-9. He’s been fairly prominent early in his two victories, so he could sit off Aleah Aleah and get first jump if that rival backs up.

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

11-7-8-3

More starter optional claiming foes line up here, in the slightly weaker division of the two. #11 Sneaking Suspicion (12-1) stretched out to a route for the first time in a while last out, against a similar field to this one. He rallied well from off of honest fractions and got third with a 78, by far his best figure on any surface this year. He was further off the pace than he might’ve liked to be that day, but he’ll be especially potent if he’s closer to the pace. #7 Balance of Power (5-1) fought hard on the lead in his second start off an 8-month layoff last out. He put away his dueling partner and ended up third behind a pair of rivals, including the 3-10 favorite, who sat well off the pace. He’s proven he can withstand early heat, and this lightly-raced gelding should be even better in this third start of the season. #8 Super Chunk (10-1) won at 1 ⅜ miles last out for his first flat victory. He also won over jumps last October. This might be too short for him, but he’s in improving form, and could get there with a well-timed move

RACE 4: MAIDEN CLAIMING $25,000, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

4-8-6-7

#4 Devilish One (2-1) drops in for a tag for the first time for her first start since late May and adds blinkers for the dynamic duo of Brittany and Sheldon Russell. #8 Over My Cents (5-1) ran into a very tough maiden special weight field last out, including runaway winner Shout to the Lord, in her second start off a 10-month layoff. She ran some promising races as a 2-year-old last year, so the ability to chase down the early leaders and pull the upset is in there. #6 Far Away Eyes (30-1) has shown good closing speed in her two starts on grass. She switches to dirt for the first time here, and while she might leave herself with too much to do early, she could shake up the exotics at a very big price. 

RACE 5: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 1 MILE (GRASS)

11-9-1-6

#11 Harry O (4-1) is one of two first-timers in this field, and merits respect in a race where no one has great established form. His dam won on grass, and his half-brother Founder, was a stakes winner on the surface. This one has worked well lately for Shug McGaughey, and while he’s not great with first-time starts, this is a prime spot for him to pick up such a win. #9 Shakin My Head (3-1) improved five points to a 66 in his first try around two turns last out, despite a wide, pace-compromised trip. I would’ve liked to have seen a workout since that September 3 race, but he’s at least trending in the right direction. #1 Sun Above (10-1), the other first-time starter in the race, debuts for Madison Meyers, who hits at a sneaky 24 percent with her runners at first asking. This one’s dam was a grass winner, as was his only sibling to try the surface.

RACE 6: MAIDEN CLAIMING $16,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

5-2-4-10

#5 In Honor of Jeff (5-2) chased the pace and flattened out to finish third last out at this level. Golden Sand, who was second that day, came back to win on Sunday. This one looks like much the best and is primed to break through, albeit at a short price. #2 The True Egoist (4-1) looks like the better of the two Claudio Gonzalez first-time starters. He’s worked very well as of late, and Gonzalez named his first-call jockey, Yedsit Hazlewood, on this one, perhaps signaling which one he thinks is best. #4 Runaway Rooster (20-1) got some action last out after running a respectable 55 on debut. However, he wasn’t able to get settled and stopped badly, losing the one-mile contest by 26 lengths. You’ll get a better price today if you still believe. 

RACE 7: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $16,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS (GRASS)

1-4-5-7

This race got so many entries for yesterday, it was written back for today and attracted another good-sized bunch. #1 Mycroft (5-2) led almost the whole way and got caught last out at Penn National going two turns. He should be put into play early again in his first start going one turn on grass. #4 Agent Kelly (4-1) rebounded from a flat start two races ago to miss by less than a length against better last out. He was closer to the pace than usual in that spot, and it may serve him well to be a bit closer again. #5 Corrected Pedigree (8-1) went off as one of the favorites against similar last out, but was checked out of contention late and finished five lengths back in a race won by an impossible longshot. He declined sharply in that race, but ran in the 70s in four of his previous five efforts.

RACE 8: CLAIMING $12,500 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

2-1-7-3

#2 Kissling (2-1) has won four in a row in gate-to-wire fashion. After three victories in a row, he opened up a long early lead and held on to win on this track. He’ll once again be tough to catch. #1 Uniwinner (5-2) almost caught Kissling last out, but could only manage his third consecutive runner-up finish. He has a tendency to fall just short, but he’s still a good bet to round out a (short-priced) exacta. #7 Inchon (6-1) competes in a dirt sprint after spending most of his career going long on grass. In both of his recent dirt races, he hit the front and struggled late, but both of those races were at a mile and 70 yards. He may well be at his best going short on dirt. 

RACE 9: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE (GRASS)

4-2-11-1

#4 More Than Work (5-2) went off favored last out, and finished third after tracking a very slow early pace. Because of the slow fractions, he declined to a 75 in that race, but he ran in the 80s in his previous four races. He’ll bounce back to that form if the pace is more honest, and he has enough speed that he can set the fractions himself if no one else wants to. #2 Kendama (4-1) got plenty of checks over the summer at Colonial, but hasn’t won in a while, usually sitting stalking trips and hanging around. He’s likely to rate off the pace on the inside and hang around. #11 Fatima’s Blessing (6-1) outkicked Kendama to win two races back, and has run consistently strong figures all year. His only dull race came when he was badly pace-compromised three races ago; otherwise, he almost always runs in the 80s.

RACE 10: MAIDEN CLAIMING $25,000, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

5-6-7-1

There’s lots of speed-and-fade types in here, which could sit it up beautifully for #5 Gung Ho (9-5). He rated off the pace and faded going a mile last out, but he’s now cutting back in distance, and will sit a great trip off of what could be an extremely contentious pace. #6 Knucker Puck (20-1) ran a career-best 75 last out in mid-February before going to the sidelines. He showed some promise against better-regarded fields over the winter, and could also take advantage of a hot early pace. #7 Wiley Willard (3-1) set the pace and faded in his last two races, including a runner-up try last out at Charles Town to Falcon Blue, who had struggled to beat these types. He also has lots of speed, but has also shown the ability to race well from just off the pace. As such, he could work out a trip where he sits just off the speed and gets first crack when they fade. 

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