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

First post time: 12:00 p.m.

Carryovers (mandatory payouts in all wagers): 
Chesapeake Jackpot Pick 6 (races 3-8) — $6,205
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6) — $4,743
Early Pick 5 (races 1-5) — $0
Late Pick 5 (races 4-8) — $0

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RACE 1: CLAIMING $12,500 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

6-7-1-2

#6 Nola Boss (5-2) ran a big race in a similar field last out. He got entangled in an early duel with one of the other favorites, Kissling, sprinting 3 ½ lengths clear of the rest. Kissling finished up the track, but Nola Boss hung in well and finished third behind two rivals who sat perfect trips off the duel. He once again looks like a serious front-end threat. #7 Rampagius (2-1) sat the trip and converted going long on grass last out at Colonial Downs. He hasn’t raced since that early August affair, but his dirt form earlier this year was solid, and he looks poised to run a big race first off the Lacey Gaudet claim. She’s quietly had a fantastic fall meet. #1 Sincerito (30-1) has hit the board in his last eight starts between Delaware Park, Parx, and Penn National. He ran a career-best brisnet figure of 81 last out at Parx. While that form doesn’t always transfer over, he did break his maiden on debut on this track last January, so we know he has some aptitude here.

RACE 2: MAIDEN CLAIMING $25,000, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES

4-3-1-6

#4 Churning Berni (4-5) may be 0-for-23 lifetime, but she almost has to beat this field. She consistently runs in the low 70s/upper-80s, something most of these are hard-pressed to do at all. She was fourth in a very salty maiden special weight contest on this track two starts back; both of the top two finishers returned to win their next start. #3 Zeta Jones (5-1) is one of the lighter-raced horses in here, having competed only four times. She’ll wear blinkers for the first time and has the best early pace figures in a race largely devoid of pace. Ricardo Chiappe may send her for speed and try to take her as far as he can. #1 Hysterics (7-2) surged and just missed on grass last out. She was no factor in her last dirt start, which came in her career debut at Delaware last year, but she’s in much-improved form since then and should put in a solid effort.

RACE 3: CLAIMING $40,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 7 FURLONGS

1-7-6-4

The only bad races that #1 Shkhara Fire (9-2) has run recently have been in stakes company, where she was clearly overmatched, and on grass. She ran respectably well in her last two starts against slightly better with an 83 and an 86, showing different dimensions in both of those starts. She can race equally well from on or off the pace. #7 Synergism (7-2) has won three of her last four races by open lengths, with her only poor effort in that stretch coming when she broke awkwardly two starts ago. The biggest question is the distance; all of those big wins came at a mile or 1 1/16 miles. #6 Devastating (6-1) overcame a poor start to win first off the Robbie Bailes claim last out for her second consecutive victory. She keeps Yedsit Hazlewood in the saddle.

RACE 4: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES

5-3-6-7

#6 Genieinabridle (7-2) has won four straight races, including a victory at this level last out where she opened up a long stretch lead and held on to prevail as the favorite. She’ll likely show early speed, and if she gets the right pace, she’ll be long gone. #5 Golden Eib Microphone (3-1) sat a great trip and got up to win last out at Penn National. She handled the two-turn mile well that evening, after spending most of the season in sprints. That bodes well for her chances at 1 1/16 miles. #3 Atlas Strong (2-1) was flat against better in her last two dirt starts, but should still pack some punch with the right trip.

RACE 5: CLAIMING $40,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

8-4-7-3

#8 Sculos Folly (2-1) shipped from New York to here last out and beat a $25,000 field of winners with ease, dominating on the lead to win by five lengths with an impressive 84. A repeat of that effort wins this one handily. #4 Mr. Supreme (4-1) has lost six in a row following a sharp maiden score at Delaware in July, but has held his own against better rivals and has easily the best late pace figures in the field. #7 Our Day Will Come (9-2) has also beaten winners, in his case, winning at this condition following a long stretch battle. He might prefer more distance, but did win going 6 ½ furlongs at Timonium in late August.

RACE 6: CLAIMING $12,500 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 7 FURLONGS

1-4-8-6

#1 Centsamilla (4-1) is lightly-raced, has speed from the inside, and is the only one in here to run in the 70s twice within her last three starts. She wore down loose leader Ariel Moon (one of the fastest horses around at this level) in her last start, but was outkicked by the favorite and settled for second. #4 Luminous Secret (9-2) drops to a career-low level and switches back to dirt for her third start off a six-month layoff. She’s shown hints of ability on both dirt and grass, and this is as good a spot as any for her to put it all together. #8 Weekend Wife (10-1) has shown little in three starts since coming back from a spring/summer break of her own, but ran in the 80s twice in the spring and also gets career-low class relief.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W3X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

1-3-5-2

Both halves of the Jamie Ness-trained coupled entry have very potent early speed. I give the slight edge to #1 J D Factor (1-1), as he’s won five of his last seven starts and is more consistent than his stablemate, Feeling Woozy, but either one is deserving of being the top choice. #3 Raise Cain (6-5) makes his first start for Brittany Russell and his first start in almost a year. He has plenty of backclass as a two-time stakes winner (including the 2023 Perryville Stakes over Post Time), and consistently ran in the mid/upper-90s last summer before going to the sidelines. If nothing else, this’ll serve as a nice prep for the local older male stakes slate. You never know when you’ll get the best of #5 Goodbye Note (6-1). He’s run in the 90s twice this year, including an impressive win going six furlongs last out, but he hasn’t been nearly that sharp in most of his efforts. Still, if the best version of him shows up, he’s a threat.

RACE 8: CLAIMING $7,500 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/8 MILES

4-7-5-1

We’ll cap off the 2025 Maryland season with some claimers going one full lap of the oval. Remember, we’re off next week. The 2026 season begins on January 9. There’d be no more apropos way to end the year than with a Yedsit Hazlewood victory, and he’ll try to make it happen aboard #4 Waldrip (3-2). He’s run in the mid-80s twice in his last three starts, including a game, pace-chasing second at Parx last out. He should make the front this time in a race without much other speed. #7 Lawyer Up Riley (5-1) steps up in class after going on a hot streak at Charles Town. He also has some speed and should sit a nice trip just off the pace in the clear, giving him every chance to run his best race. #5 Whiskeyinthejaro (4-1) stood little chance against much better in a first-level race last out, and was pummeled by 22 lengths. This field looks much more like his speed, and he’ll be a threat with any kind of pace to close into (which, as mentioned earlier, is no guarantee).

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