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) — $25,583
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6) — $1,613
Early Pick 5 (races 1-5) — $0
Late Pick 5 (races 4-8) — $0

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RACE 1: CLAIMING $12,500 (N/W2L), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES

4-5-2-1

#4 Luminous Secret (4-5) took over from the tired pacesetter and wound up second first off a nine-week layoff last week. The winner, Ineedyoubabe, came back to win a non-winners of three race last Saturday. This one should improve second off the brief layoff for the Jamie Ness/Yedsit Hazlewood dream team. #5 Poor Mans Lady (8-1) finished second against similar last out, rallying from far off the pace in a race where the pacesetters never gave way. She has the necessary late kick, but might end up pace-compromised. #2 Fire at Midnight (20-1) closed sharply to hit the board at this condition three times in a row last year. While she hasn’t raced since July 4, her four timed workouts this year have been solid.

RACE 2: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

4-1-5-3

#4 Brighty (9-5) crossed the wire first at Penn National last Friday, but was disqualified for bearing out in the stretch. He’s gradually shown more early speed in his recent races, which will prove helpful in a race without much speed. #1 Brindano (5-2) was second to Trulli Warrior and Firmantown in his last two starts, both of whom are much tougher than anyone he’ll see here. The distance is a bit of a question mark, as he’s not quite as good going seven furlongs, but he should pack a late punch as long as he’s somewhat close to the pace. #5 Gaelicheartofgold (8-1) gobbled up ground to break his maiden going away two starts back, then ran a better-than-it-looks third on a wet, speed-favoring strip in his first start against winners.

RACE 3: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 4-6-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

5-1-3-2

By bottom-level maiden claiming standards, this is a very decent field. Only one horse in this field has raced this year, and that’s #5 Greatwhitefleet (9-5). She was second last out to the impressive gate-to-wire winner Tasty Time, and should run even better first off the Anthony Farrior claim. #1 Loaf of Sof (8-5) has worked very well as of late for Brittany Russell, including a four-furlong drill last Saturday at Fair Hill which was as fast as Selima Stakes winner Ultimate Love’s time. She’ll be hard to beat if she fires at all at first asking, but promises to offer very little value. #3 Valerie Street (9-2) hit the board in her last three starts of last season, and adds blinkers for her 2025 debut. Her ceiling’s high, but she tailed off a bit near the end of the campaign, so the time off might have done her some good.

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

5-4-3-2

#5 Chickin Lickin (1-1) was scratched a few times before returning in a Maryland-restricted allowance last out. She was completely flat in that race, but ran well against tough rivals last spring and summer, and should benefit from the class drop in her second start of the season. #4 Diamond Sue (9-2), like Chickin Lickin, hasn’t won in a while, but she’s trended in the right direction in her last few starts and looks poised to get a good trip near the pace. #3 She’s Not a Lad (2-1) lasted through pace pressure to break her maiden in easy fashion last out. She hasn’t been beyond six furlongs before, but she’ll at least have every chance to wire them.

RACE 5: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 6 FURLONGS

3-6-2-1

#3 Serenity’s Song (6-5) was well-bet on debut last out, and recovered from a bad start to finish a fast-rushing second by a nose. She faces a soft field at second asking and will likely win with a cleaner beginning.#6 Butler Road (6-1) was fourth to Serenity’s Song last out, and now goes second out for a Tim Keefe barn whose runners tend to do much better with experience. Keefe’s a sneaky 22% when giving his horses Lasix for the first time. #2 Boost (2-1) ran well first off a nine-month break last out at Colonial Downs. She opened up a clear early lead and held second behind the runaway Gulfstream Park invader Eileen’s a Warrior. She’s bound to make the front once again, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if she led all the way this time. 

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

6-2-3-7

#6 B West (5-2) has scratched twice since his last race on January 23. Should he finally make it to the gate this time, he’ll be very tough to beat. He closed well from far off the pace against better in his last start, and looks poised to mow them down here. #2 Pit Stop Man (9-5) has faded after wide trips in his last two starts, but crushed the field after setting the pace closer to the inside three starts ago. Based on his post and the quality of his rivals, he might get the same kind of trip here. #3 Tuff Constitution (2-1) rallied up the inside to win at Parx last out, proving he can run just as well from off the pace as on it. He’ll make his local debut for the Ness/Hazlewood dream team.

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

5-3-6-4

#5 Palacios (5-2) beat many of these in his 3-year-old debut last out. He took advantage of an early duel and swooped the field to win with a career-best 94. He’ll take full advantage of even a mild early pace. #3 Buds Notion (9-5) was heavily bet first off a five-month layoff last out, and ran a strong second to stakes-placed Cairo Surprise. He was working well going into that race, and has worked just as strongly since, including a bullet five-furlong drill where he worked in company with fellow Gary Capuano trainee Neverworkedaday. Those two went a second faster than anyone else who worked that distance that day. #6 Our Day Will Come (7-2) is already a five-time winner, and saw his win streak snapped last out when he was fourth to Palacios. He should get a similar trip as that rival, and will be well-positioned to at least get a share.

RACE 8: CLAIMING $7,500 (CONDITIONED), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 7 FURLONGS

1-2-4-5

#1 Infastuation (3-2) ran a huge race on the lead last out. She led until late, when she was caught by late-surging Bay Street and ended up third. She’s by far the fastest one in this field, so she’ll have every shot to wire them. #2 Bugged Out (7-2) rallied well for third going a mile and 70 yards at Penn National in her last start. She’s never gone seven furlongs before, but this distance looks like a happy medium for her. #4 Baby Sox (9-2) ran some decent races last summer and fall, but has regressed in her last few races. We’ll see how she does switching barns to Jonathan Maldonado’s.

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