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) — $0
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6)— $353
Early Pick 5 (races 1-5) — $0
Late Pick 5 (races 4-9) — $0

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

15-4-12-11

#15 Lover Boy Ness (4-1) showed speed going longer and hung around for fourth against better last out, in a race where the winner and third-place finisher both came from well off the pace. He’ll add blinkers fourth time out for Jamie Ness, and will likely be sent for speed despite his extreme outside draw. #4 Boss Lily (12-1) rallied well for fifth in his first start off a three-month layoff last out. He’s never been beyond 5 ½ furlongs, but he’s at least shown some late punch, and no one in here looks especially potent at this distance. #12 Triathelon (5-2) was completely outclassed in his first two starts against maiden special weight rivals on grass, but now plunges in class and switches to dirt for the first time. Robby Bailes hits at more than 20 percent with horses going from dirt to grass and with horses in for a tag for the first time.

RACE 2: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $16,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

9-7-5-4

#9 Synergism (7-2) crushed a similar field two races back, then regressed badly last out when she got caught wide in a decent first-level field. Dropping back to this level should help her cause. #7 Got Game (2-1) went off heavily favored in the race Synergism won. She got caught in a pace battle and finished up the track. That poor effort is sandwiched in between two dominant wins at Parx in which she was left alone on the lead. She clearly has a high ceiling, but it’s hard to say if she’ll bring her best self today. Is she a pure need-a-clear-lead type? Is she strictly a Parx wonder? #3 Fabia (12-1) won at this condition going six furlongs last out, and broke her maiden at this distance earlier this year. She loses Yedsit Hazlewood but picks up a capable replacement in Joe Rocco, who has been riding well over the past few weeks.

RACE 3: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 2-YEAR-OLDS, MD-RESTRICTED, 6 FURLONGS

7-5-1-6

#7 Skillian (1-1) ran a big race on debut against a decent maiden field last out. He set an ambitious pace and almost won it gate-to-wire, but was caught late by a very experienced rival who had previously run a brisnet figure of at least 78 twice. None of today’s rivals look that good, and this one should take a step forward at second asking, which Lacey Gaudet-trained runners have a tendency to do. #5 This Is the Life (8-1) lost his first two career starts on dirt by a combined 42 lengths, but has since been in improving form on grass. It’s encouraging that Michael Jones is willing to give him another try on dirt, rather than put him away and wait for next year’s grass season to start. #1 Caseofthemondays (4-1) had every chance to run down Skillian last out, but couldn’t do it and settled for third. He’s run into some nice horses in his four-race career, and along with Skillian, appears to be taking a significant class drop. Still, if Skillian repeats his last race, I don’t trust this one to move forward enough to get anything more than a small share.

RACE 4: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES

6-3-4-1

#6 Backstretch Rose (6-1) is one of a few in here coming out of the Thirty Eight Go Go Stakes. She was outkicked by Complexity Jane, who sat close to a slow pace and won going away. However, she still ran a big race, coming from well off that pokey tempo to get third. She’s shown she can win off of modest fractions in previous races, and gets to avoid Complexity Jane and Thirty Eight Go Go runner-up Doctor Abbie, both proven two-turn runners. #3 Cluck Cluck (4-1) might be coming down with a case of seconditis. She’s finished second three times in her last four starts, including a defeat in the Maryland Million Distaff Starter Handicap in which she looked like she was about to blow by and hung. Still, she’s run well going a mile or longer before and has good tactical speed, so she can’t be dismissed completely. Still, I’d advise treading lightly. #4 Stop Watch (3-1) has recently won twice going two turns on grass. She showed some promise in her lone dirt start to date, in which she rallied for second on debut at Delaware Park. It wouldn’t be surprising if this proved to be a perfect spot for her.

RACE 5: CLAIMING $7,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES

4-1A-9-2

#4 Maximo Madness (7-2) switches back to dirt after competing on grass for most of the year. She ran a 77 and an 84 in her last two dirt races in April, both of which are better than almost anyone else has run recently. She’s also getting class relief after facing starter optional claiming rivals in most of her last few starts. #1A Major Houlihan (3-1) fought hard on the lead to win on this track two starts back, then went to the sidelines after a runner-up effort at Delaware in mid-July. Hugh McMahon hits at a solid 19 percent with his runners first off a layoff of 90 or more days. #9 Chublin (5-1) won going away at Charles Town last out with a stalk-and-pounce trip. She should get a similar setup here.

RACE 6: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE

5-14-13-12

#5 Close Up (7-2) makes his first start on dirt after spending her previous 12 starts on grass and the Gulfstream Park Tapeta. She finished a strong second two starts back in a race for amateur jockeys, then was fourth, beaten less than a length, in a driving, blanket finish last out. Anthony Farrior hits at a strong 21 percent with his runners going grass to dirt, and that number will improve if this one’s form transfers over. #14 Nobody’s Girl (6-1) is also making her first start on dirt, but ran in the mid/upper-60s in her last two grass starts, and has raced just three times. She looks like she has a high ceiling and should be a decent price. #13 Autumn in Vermont (8-1) hit the board four times in five starts at this level this spring, and ran a respectable 62 first off a 4 ½-month layoff last out.

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

8-10-9-1

#8 Kerness K (5-2) ran a huge race on the lead last out, in his first race off a 10 ½-month break. He battled through fast fractions, including a 22.95 second quarter, and drew off to win with a career-best 90. He should get even better in his second start of the year, and could prove a serious factor in Maryland-bred stakes competition over the winter. #10 Cattivo Ragazzo (9-5) was third behind Kerness K two starts ago, then returned with a dominant win against Maryland-restricted allowance foes with a season’s-best 96. He should get a nice trip just off the pace on the outside for the white-hot Gary Capuano/Yedsit Hazlewood trainer/jockey combo. #9 Crab Daddy (12-1) has closed for minor shares at good prices against these types in his last two starts. He has great closing speed, and though six furlongs might be too short for him, he’s worth respecting for a minor spot.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W3X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

4-1A-3-2

#4 Sunny Breeze (6-1) was third at this level last out behind easy winner Petingas Twin, who returned to win the Dave’s Friend Stakes last Saturday. This one hasn’t won in a while, but he’s still been running well. He’s one of two in here to run in the 90s in each of his last two starts, and will be by far the better price of the two. The other is #1A Rominski (1-1), who was last seen on September 21. He easily defeated another third-level field that day with a 96, the third time this year he’s run a figure that high. Something likely went amiss with him that day, as a claim on him was voided and he missed the Maryland Million Sprint, in which he would’ve been one of the favorites. He’ll be very hard to beat if he runs his race. That said, his work pattern is a bit alarming. He got back on the worktab in late October, worked twice, didn’t work again for a  month, and has had only one workout in November, a mid four-furlong drill last Friday. #2 Take a Hint (3-1) dominated a starter optional claiming field with a 98 last out, a career-best mark and a dramatic improvement from his previous few races. He has plenty of backclass, having won four times on this track, including the Not For Love Stakes last year. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him at least come close to that figure again.

RACE 9: MAIDEN CLAIMING $25,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

1-3-5-2

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