Laurel Park picks and ponderings: October 19, 2025 * The Racing Biz

Laurel Park picks and ponderings: October 19, 2025

John Piassek
October 19, 2025

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

First post time: 12:10 p.m.

Carryovers:
Chesapeake Jackpot Pick 6 (races 6-11) — $2,731
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6) — $0
Early Pick 5 (races 1-5) — $0
Late Pick 5 (races 7-11) — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: CLAIMING $40,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

6-5-7-3

Butch Reid will make a rare non-stakes Maryland appearance in here, sending out #6 Huggy (5-1). He was well-beaten in his lone grass try at Saratoga this summer, but that was around two turns at Saratoga. This looks like a more appropriate class and distance. He’s shown mild late punch against better in his last few dirt starts, so the drop in class should wake him up. #5 Rockingham Joe (12-1) has an unsightly 1-for-19 career record, but most of those races came against better rivals. He also has tactical speed in a race that looks like it’ll have a very hot early pace. #7 Moon Sniper (7-2) also gets class relief, having shown little against tough first-level rivals at Kentucky Downs last out. Like Rockingham Joe, he’s primed to get a good trip right off the early leaders.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $12,500 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

6-4-2-3

#6 City Panda (5-2) got involved in an early three-way duel last out. While odds-on choice Strategist ran away from the field, this one held clear of the others and finished second while well clear of his dueling partners. He once again looks like one of the main speed threats. #4 Brindano (9-5) closed strongly to break his maiden here in late June, and was a respectable third at Timonium two starts back in his lone try against non-winners of two claimers. He’s taking a further drop in class here, and is in an improving form cycle. #2 Issano (5-1) hasn’t broken through against these types since arriving in the Mid-Atlantic from Canada earlier this year. However, he’s almost always good for a check, and has the best average late pace figures in this race by far.

RACE 3: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/8 MILES (GRASS)

3-2-5-6

#3 Tight Line (5-1) made good ground off of a moderate pace to get second on debut at Monmouth Park in late May. She regressed first off a 4 ½-month layoff at Aqueduct last out, but now goes second off the bench and gets Jorge Ruiz back in the saddle. Neither Chad Brown nor Samuel Marin spend much time down here, but they must think #2 Queen’s Fable (7-2) is worth the trip. She matched her career-best brisnet mark of 81 last out with a third-place finish behind stablemate and next-out winner Pretty Picture, who returned to finish third in the Sands Point Stakes yesterday. Brown won a grass maiden race here earlier this year, and is in a good position to grab another one. #5 Firestreak (8-1) certainly outran her odds on debut, getting third, beaten a neck, at 118-1 at Delaware Park last out with a frantic late rally. She’ll be a serious threat if she can duplicate that race, though you won’t get the same odds this time.

RACE 4: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

5-7-6-3

#5 Railroad Inn (3-1) has improved his figure in each of his last three dirt races, peaking at a 73 when third in a slightly softer field last out. #7 Furious George (7-2) set the pace and finished second in his most recent race, outfinishing Railroad Inn in the process. It was the first time he’s shown that much speed in a while, an encouraging sign for today’s race. #6 Jose Can’t Say (30-1) showed little going a mile last out, but tends to run better going shorter, and will enjoy the distance cutback.

RACE 5: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W3X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE (GRASS)

8-2-5-7

#8 Eff Thirty Five (5-2) flattened out after making a big move last out, but it was against a very in-form field. The winner, Dripping Gold, came back to win next out, as did runner-up Raptor’s. He won here going away in late April with a big, sweeping move, and will try to make a similar move to victory here. #2 Wow Whata Summer (8-1) was sixth behind Eff Thirty Five in that rival’s last start. Wow What a Summer has raced twice since then, and fought hard to beat a second-level field last out at 19-1. It was his first win in a while, but his late kick is often good for a small slice at a big number. #5 There Are No Words (7-2) almost wired back-to-back stakes races at Monmouth, but got caught late both times. There’s some speed to his inside in Hittheroadjak, but he’s shown he can withstand fast early fractions and still run well.

RACE 6: MAIDEN CLAIMING $25,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

2-3-6-7

#2 My Little Nico G (3-1) went off as the second choice against softer on debut. He sat a great trip off the pace and worked his way past the leaders, but ended up third behind two rivals who came from way out of it. He’s taking a slight class jump on paper, but should still be tough if he repeats his last race. #3 Tiz the Great (7-2) has run well in both of his one-turn starts, with his only subpar effort coming at a mile two races back. He was second to Lundi Loot, who was third in the Maryland Million Nursery, on debut. Next out, he was third behind Our Day Will Come, who won at Timonium in his next start. #6 Prince of Darkness (6-1) held third, beaten less than a length for second, behind a runaway winner at first asking. This looks like a tougher field, but he has experience under him and a chance to improve.

RACE 7: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $16,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

1-11-10-2

Sharmin ran away and hid in the Maryland Million Turf Distaff Starter Handicap, so the third-place finish earned by #1 Divining Smile (5-1) was about as good a finish as one could reasonably hope for. Usually, she’s more forwardly-placed that she was last out, so a combination of class relief and a better trip would make her hard to beat. #11 Bella Estrela (8-1) won at this level last out albeit against a softer field, with a well-timed move from off the pace into a very slow second quarter. She went off as the slight favorite that day, and while this is a jump in class, you’ll probably get a better price today if you still believe. #10 Buzzaway (3-1) has won twice in four starts on this course, along with a runner-up finish by a length. The only time she didn’t win here was when she was making her first start off a seven-month layoff. She should gobble up ground in the stretch.

RACE 8: MAIDEN CLAIMING $16,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 1 MILE

7-6-1-8

Almost no one in this field has shown even the slightest hint of ability, which elevates the only first-time starter, #7 Lux Et Veritas (5-2). Brittany Russell hasn’t been as sharp with her 2-year-old first-timers as of late, but this one has shown at least some life in the mornings, and gets Jevian Toledo aboard. If he can run in even in the low-60s- not a high barrier- he should handle these. #6 My Boy Bud (6-1) ran a career-best 64 last out, pressing the pace and fading in his first start at a mile. He might be able to take command of a race without a lot of apparent speed. #1 Birdy Whisper (2-1) earned a solid 61 against maiden special weight types on debut, and gets class relief after regressing against better in his next two starts.

RACE 9: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE (GRASS)

9-1-3-2

#9 Stop Watch (7-2) is easily the lightest-raced horse in the field. She improved to 2-for-2 on grass in her third overall start last out, getting up to win a first-level contest thanks to a well-timed ride from Daniel Centeno. She’ll win this if she keeps improving. #1 Flowers for Me (5-2) has taken big steps forward since coming back from a 21-month layoff inmid-July. She won on this track in the fall of 2023, and was second in the Selima Stakes two months prior in her other start here. #3 Sal’s Blue Jacket (9-2) broke awkwardly last out and couldn’t get early position, but went gate-to-wire two starts ago. She has very solid late pace figures for a frontrunner, and will be especially dangerous if left alone on the lead.

RACE 10: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W3X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

9-1-3-2

At this time two years ago, #5 Seven’s Eleven (15-1) looked like a budding star. He clinched the 2023 Maryland-bred 3-year-old honors with four wins in five starts to end the season, including a pair of stakes wins. However, he started tailing off after leaving the Carlos Mancilla barn, and has won just once since the start of 2024. He now returns to the Mancilla stable, which could mean a wake-up call at a generous price. #8 No Cents (15-1) has somewhat obscured recent form. He lost all chance three starts back when he broke terribly, then didn’t do much at a mile two races ago. He overcame a slow start to win here in gate-to-wire style in April, improving his record to 4-for-12 on this track with a further four in-the-money finishes. #11 Worcester (4-1) went on a tear over the winter, winning three starts in a row on this track. He’s only raced once in the past 5 ½ months, an uninspiring effort in the Reigh Count Stakes in late July. However, coming back here might wake him up.

RACE 11: MAIDEN CLAIMING $16,000, 3-6 YEAR-OLDS, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

4-6-10-12

#4 Long Straw (20-1) didn’t make much impact against better maidens in two grass starts, but ran in the mid/upper-60s in those races, which are good enough to win here. He gets my call in a race where many of the favorites have question marks. #6 Quamash (3-1) has set the pace and faded in each of his three grass races, including a nose defeat as the 9-10 choice last out. He’ll have every chance to make it to the rail and the lead again; from there, it’s a matter of how long he can hold it. Most of the recent figures earned by #10 Dats Tap (5-1) would win this race, but his 0-fer streak keeps growing, now sitting at 18. He’ll find a friendly enough field sooner or later, no?