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) — $4,240
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6) — $1,571
Early Pick 5 (races 1-5) — $0
Late Pick 5 (races 5-9) — $0

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

11-7-14-13

#11 Cap’n Dusty (5-2) has run well in two starts against better fields at this condition this meet. Yedsit Hazlewood gets the call for the first time, he has the best late pace figures in the field, and those factors give him a slight edge in a very wide-open affair. #7 Owhatanite (9-2) got a hot pace to close into last out and took full advantage, rallying for second behind near-favorite Koru. It was a noted improvement from his race two starts back, where he got blocked in the stretch and couldn’t produce his usual rally. #14 Go Take Charge (8-1) finished a head behind Owhatanite last out in his fourth consecutive third-place finish. He got fanned very wide in that race and still had strong late foot. That inspires optimism in spite of his rough draw.

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

3-4-8-6

#3 Last Gift (5-1) was scratched from a first-level race last Friday in favor of this softer spot. She’s the only two-time winner in the field, having sat a great trip to win going away last out with a career-best brisnet mark of 76. She’s always near the pace, and while she faded the last time she was in front after a quarter-mile, she looks fast enough to make the lead without getting involved in a destructive battle. #4 Tacit Value (5-2) makes her first start since an impressive 6 3/4-length maiden-breaking win at Delaware Park in late July. She’s worked well since getting back on the worktab in late October, and will be tough if she can repeat her last effort. Yedsit Hazlewood was named on three horses on the overnight, and picked #8 Nemain (6-1) for Hugh McMahon. She came from well off the pace to get third behind Last Gift last out in her first start off a 2 1/2-month break. McMahon puts the blinkers on for her first start for his barn, and Hazlewood should have her more forwardly-placed.

RACE 3: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W1X), 2-YEAR-OLDS, 1 MILE

2-4-8-7

#2 Hollywood Import (2-1) gobbled up ground to break his maiden going six furlongs on debut at Delaware, then rallied for second behind the very impressive Balboa in the James Lewis Stakes last out. He’s never gone beyond six furlongs, and there’s not much pedigree to indicate much either way, but he’s shown lots of promise and merits respect. Fellow Gary Capuano trainee #4 Wild Warrior (8-1) has won at a mile, breaking his maiden at this distance two starts back. He ran a strong third in his first start against winners last out despite getting caught behind a loose leader while racing wide. After three consecutive runner-up finishes, #8 Power Grid (4-1) won easily at fifth asking last out, crushing a field that looked salty on paper by 7 1/2 lengths with a career-best 86. He’ll look to prompt the pace from the outside for a Jerry Robb barn that has done very well with 2-year-olds this year.

RACE 4: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $16,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE (GRASS)

9-12-1-16

#9 Rock Tune (12-1) ran well going two turns on the Presque Isle Downs synthetic earlier this year. She made her grass debut at 5 1/2 panels last out, and made mild ground with a solid 72, one of the best last-out figures int he race. Jorge Ruiz gets aboard for the first time, which gives her a slight edge in my book in a very wide-open affair. #12 Endless Vow (7-2) broke her maiden on the lead two starts ago, but got caught wide off the pace last out and finished up the track. Her ceiling is very high and her floor is very low. J.G. Torrealba will assuredly have his foot on the gas from the outside draw. #1 Bossy Jeans (9-2) turned in two dull efforts at the Meadowlands. In both cases, she couldn’t make the early lead and ran a subpar race. When she made the lead at Colonial Downs this summer, she didn’t win, but ran a pair of figures in the mid-70s. Her draw isn’t great, either, but she’s also a threat if she can get her preferred trip.

RACE 5: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $16,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

4-9-7-1

#4 Tuff Luck (2-1) ran a game second last out behind an impressive gate-to-wire winner in Night Time Nap. This one hasn’t raced since that late September effort, but has a strong closing kick and has been very successful on this track, hitting the exacta four times in five starts here. #9 Indy Charges On (3-2) was claimed out of his last start at Churchill Downs by Anthony Farrior, who puts Yedsit Hazlewood up for this one’s local debut. He’s the only one in the race to run in the 80s in each of his last three starts. #7 Straight to Water (10-1) rebounded from a summer swoon with an impressive win at seven furlongs last out, earning a 91, his best figure in months. His peak effort contends with these, but he’s not very consistent.

RACE 6: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

14-6-12-4

#14 Cougar Cocktail (7-2) came from way out of it to beat a decent maiden field on debut. She’s worked well since for Brittany Russell, who puts Sheldon Russell aboard after Horacio Karamanos rode this filly last out. #6 Ithinkiloveyou (4-1) cuts back around one turn after almost wiring the field going 1 1/16 miles last out. She’s won twice going one turn on this grass course this year, and is sure to be dangerous on the early lead. #12 Big Earn (6-1) saw her three-race win streak snapped after a flat effort last out. She has every shot to rebound for the Mike Trombetta/Jorge Ruiz dream team.

RACE 7: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $30,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

6-9-7-1

#6 Murray (6-1) won at this level in June over the very tough Brother Conway, and ran exactly a 90 three times in four starts in the spring. He was no factor going long on grass, which seemed like a strange spot for him in the first place, but cutting back in distance from 1 1/16 miles and switching back to dirt is bound to help his cause. #9 Arrow Speed (3-1) has recently developed a case of seconditis, having finished second or third in his last five races. Still, he has a solid sustained kick which should play well on the one-turn mile, and the Jamie Ness/Martin Chuan trainer/jockey combination has started to heat up. #7 Don’t Wait Up (8-1) was claimed out of his last race, a dominating 6 ½-length win earned with the help of a great trip, by Kieron Magee. His form is somewhat obscured by a series of poor efforts on wet tracks, but that won’t be a problem today.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

11-4-2-10

#11 Mister Lincoln (9-2) has run into stretch trouble in each of his last two starts, but has rallied well and lost by less than a length each time (he was elevated to victory two races back via disqualification). The outside draw may enable this Ness/Chuan runner to get a slightly cleaner trip than usual. #4 Boltage (6-1) hasn’t been much of a factor in his last few races, but those were all against much better rivals than those he’ll see here. He ran at least an 86 in each of his last three starts; if he does it again here, he’ll likely win. #2 Hold Out (8-1) was a flat fourth going two turns at this level last out, but he lost to better horses than today’s opponents. His tactical speed has been an asset going long; we’ll see how it plays on the cutback.

RACE 9: MAIDEN CLAIMING $25,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

1-8-4-6

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