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

First post time: 12:00 p.m.

Carryovers: 
Chesapeake Jackpot Pick 6 (races 3-8) — $2,763
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6) — $6,322
Early Pick 5 (races 1-5) — $0
Late Pick 5 (races 4-8) — $0

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RACE 1: CLAIMING $7,500 (CONDITIONED), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

3-4-7-1

#3 B West (9-5) had no punch at all against starter optional claiming types last out in his first start off a two-month break. He’s dropping to this level for the first time in a while, and it looks like a good confidence-boosting spot. #4 Woodline (5-1) set the pace and led all the way against similar last out. While there was no one in that field of B West’s quality, this one is at least the controlling speed. #7 Bigdaddysboy (12-1) has too little early speed to be a serious win threat, but if he can stay a bit closer to the pace, he can shake up the exotics at a good price.

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

3-1-4-5

#3 Laysen (3-2) showed speed and stopped badly on debut at Aqueduct for Rick Dutrow, and now adds blinkers in his first start for Jamie Ness. He’s bound to be overbet based on his connections of trainer Jamie Ness and jockey Yedsit Hazlewood, but it’s such a soft field, any improvement off of his debut likely means victory. #1 U Crocs (4-1) goes first out for Anthony Pecoraro, and put in a bullet workout at Delaware Park last Tuesday, going four furlongs in 49 ⅖. Pecoraro was 2-for-12 with first-time starters last year, and this one looks the best of the three debuters. #4 El Papacito (3-1) is easily the most experienced horse in the field. He’s raced nine times; his five rivals have made only two starts between them. He set the pace and held third at a big price last out, and looks like the biggest threat to Laysen on the lead.

RACE 3: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE

7-4-2-5

#7 Golden Eib Microphone (8-5) was scratched on February 4 from a spot where she likely would’ve been heavily favored and resurfaces here. She sat a great trip off a loose leader last out and drew away to beat a better field than this. She looks poised to get another great setup from the outside post. #4 Ade (5-1) has hit the board in her last five starts, and while she was repelled last out and ended up third, she has more ability than most of these and should hang around for a slice. A mile might be too far for #2 I Can Do It (10-1), but she has great late speed and seldom runs a bad race against these types.

RACE 4: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

2-7-1-3

#2 Tony Eclipse (5-2), the winner of the 2024 Maryland Juvenile, had a rather rude return to the races last out. In his first start off a 10-month layoff, he had the misfortune to face Lonesome Road, who annihilated the field. This one ran a respectable fourth with a brisnet figure of 83, an improved mark from the races he was running towards the end of his 3-year-old season. He has tons of upside and will be tough to beat if he takes a step forward second off the layoff. #7 Devil’s Cay (5-1) has gone gate-to-wire in his last two starts in Pennsylvania. The far outside draw with the short run to the first turn does him no favors, but if he can make the rail and the lead without trouble, he’ll be hard to reel in. Of course, that’s a big “if.” #1 Night Time Nap (9-2) was an easy winner against similar last out, and was third at this level two starts ago to Indy Charges On, who won a second-level race on Thursday as one of the favorites. He was claimed out of his last race by Kieron Magee from Brittany Russell. Magee won a race first off a claim from Russell on Thursday with Worcester.

RACE 5: CLAIMING $12,500 (N/W3L), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

3-5-2-8

#3 Trulli Warrior (2-1) stopped badly after a wide trip last out at Parx, but ran in the mid-80s two and three starts back, numbers that would stomp these. He looks fast enough to make the rail and the lead, and with the right trip, he won’t be caught. #5 World On Fire (6-1) converted a perfect trip to win against non-winners of two rivals last out. Four of the five horses he beat that day came back in a non-winners of two contest on February 4, and they comprised the superfecta. #2 City Panda (10-1) closed for third against a better field at this condition last out and should benefit from the slight stretch-out from 5 ½ furlongs.

RACE 6: CLAIMING $12,500 (N/W2L), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

5-3-7-8

#5 Buckin’ Right (5-2) is the only one to run in the 70s in each of her last two starts. No one else has run at least a 65 in each of their last two races, let alone a 70. She ran a big race on the lead at this level last out, setting the pace and fending off pace-chasers, only to end up third behind two rivals who came from far out of it. #3 Aeronyx (12-1) made her first start for the Sarah White barn a winning one last out, charging down the stretch to win from well off the pace. The second and third-place finishers in that race came back to finish 1-2 in a maiden claiming race on Feb. 6 as the heavy favorite and third choice, respectively. #7 Censtamilla (4-1) goes first off the Mike Gorham claim. She set the pace and stopped badly last out, and Gorham gave her about six weeks off following that race. The best version of herself will be very dangerous on the early lead, potentially giving a serious challenge to Buckin’ Right.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, MD-RESTRICTED, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

6-7-3-1

At long last, #6 Ms Notion (7-2) is set for her return to the races. This impressively-bred filly made waves at first asking with an impressive four-length victory. Runner-up Mega Mil has since gone on to win three times in seven more starts, with earnings of over $200,000. Ms Notion went off as one of the favorites in the 2024 Maryland Juvenile Filly Stakes next out, but stumbled at the start and lost the jockey. She hasn’t raced in the 486 days since, with numerous starts and stops in her worktab. She’s worked very well in recent weeks, including an impressive four-furlong bullet drill on February 4. Coming back off of a break this long is never easy, but she has a ton of potential and must be respected. #7 Sassafrassness (2-1) has hit the board in five of her last six starts. Her only dull race since August came in November, where she acted up before a 1 1/16-mile race that was probably out of her element in the first place. She tends to show speed and fade, so today’s distance should help her cause. #3 Anita Beer (10-1) gets a class test after winning two of her last three starts against softer. She’s in improving form, having run career-best figures in both of those wins, and a little more improvement puts her squarely in the mix.

RACE 8: CLAIMING $7,500 (CONDITIONED), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

2-3-4-6

#2 Bay Street (3-2) rallied from further off the pace than usual to get third last out, behind the classy Firstlady Rosalynn and next-out winner R Averie Lynn. She looks well-suited for this spot, her first start off the Damon Dilodovico claim. #3 Sapphire Beauty (9-2) was in dull form for a while, but bounced back with a second-place effort behind the aforementioned R Averie Lynn in her next start. Her best races from last year would at least give Bay Street a scare. #4 Kissed at Dawn (6-1) won her last two starts going 4 ½ furlongs at Charles Town, coming from off the pace both times. She was well-beaten in her first three starts here, so we’ll see if her form is able to transfer over this time.

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