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) — $3,863
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6) — $532
Early Pick 5 (races 1-5) — $0
Late Pick 5 (races 5-9) — $0

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RACE 1: CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 6 FURLONGS

2-6-5-3

#2 No Mo Muffins (1-1) was well-bet against slightly better last out, but got involved in a tussle for the early pace and faded. Here, she cuts back from a mile, drops in class, has a good post, and plenty of early speed. All those factors should combine for an improved effort. #6 Shenandoah Sunrise (5-1) has been in slowly improving form, including a near-miss second against the multi-time winner Pichu last out. She’s shown that she can run well from on or off the pace. #5 Yes Picnic (5-2) exits the same race as No Mo Muffins. She raced wide throughout and stopped, but she’s also bound to improve on the cutback in distance for the Jamie Ness/Yedsit Hazlewood dream team.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $12,500 (N/W3L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

4-2-1-6

#4 Buckin’ Right (7-2) has been in sharp form as of late, hitting the board in four of her last five races. She sat the trip to beat non-winners of two foes last out, defeating Maidstone, who returned to beat a non-winners of two field of her own in her subsequent appearance. #2 Perugia (9-5), another Ness/Hazlewood special, led all the way two starts ago at Parx, overcoming a poor start to do so. Last out, she broke slowly again, but couldn’t get to the front and ended up well-beaten. She’s adding blinkers here, which may help with her gate issues, but she must break cleanly to be worthy of her likely low price. Otherwise, she’ll have to deal with #1 Instagrand Girl (15-1). She showed blazing speed first off a 6 ½-month layoff last out despite breaking inwards, and held on for third behind heavily favored Sunflower State. With that race under her belt, her early speed could be especially potent. 

RACE 3: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

6-5-2-7

#6 Railroad Inn (5-2) has been pounding on the door at this level, hitting the board in his last four starts. He regressed significantly when he stretched out to a mile last out, but his best races have come at six furlongs. #5 Twelve Nelson (4-1) was given some time off following a disastrous effort on the General George/Barbara Fritchie undercard, and now makes his return here. He ran a strong second from off the pace at this level first off an 18-month break in his prior outing. A return to that type of form wins this.#2 Quahog Republic (7-2) was no match for Railroad Inn last out, finishing third to that rival’s second. However, he ran a career-best brisnet figure of 70 that day, and he wasn’t running much slower than that last year.

RACE 4: STARTER ALLOWANCE $7,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

3-7-2-6

#3 Could Be a Cougar (9-5) has been a dominant force in her home state of Pennsylvania, having gone gate-to-wire in four of her last six starts. She should show the same type of speed in just her second race away from the Keystone State. #7 Watch Your Tone (3-1) rallied from off a hot pace to win at 1 1/16 miles last out. She’s better going longer, but she has won three times at today’s distance. After suffering from seconditis for a long while, #2 R Averie Lynn (9-2) has broken through with back-to-back open-length wins, albeit against softer.

RACE 5: CLAIMING $12,500 (N/W3L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

2-9-8-10

#2 Freedom Maker (9-2) comes here from Penn National in razor-sharp form. He ran an 82 in each of his last two starts; no one else has run in the 80s in either of their last two races. #9 Minister (4-1) was an easy winner going seven furlongs here in early December. He showed little around two turns two starts ago and less than nothing last out at Penn National, but cutting back on this track might help him rediscover his best self. #8 Enough Already (8-1) has shown slow and steady improvement in his last few races. He ran a 78, his best race in a long while, last out when second at this condition.

RACE 6: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

3-1-9-7

#3 Suremeanttoobe (7-2) couldn’t deal with the likes of Quint’s Brew and Blue Kingdom in the Not For Love Stakes last out and finished well up the track. He easily wired a Maryland-restricted first-level field two starts ago, and looks fast enough to make the lead and hold on against these types. #1 Prado Road (5-2) also comes in in sharp form, having lasted through a duel to win against an open first-level field last out. Two starts ago, he finished second to Crab Daddy, who finished second to Quint’s Brew in the Frank Whiteley Stakes last Saturday. #9 Radical Right (9-2) ran a huge race on the lead last out, holding second despite engaging in a very contentious early duel. His far outside draw may give him another tough trip on the pace, but he’s run well from off the pace before, so Raul Mena has the option to take back if he so desires.

RACE 7: CLAIMING $30,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

4-1-2-6

#4 Don’t Wait Up (6-5) took advantage of the pace set by the aforementioned Radical Right last out, rallying from well out of it to win. While he couldn’t have asked for a better setup, he’s run well under more honest conditions in recent times, having run at least an 88 in three of his prior four races. Any of those figures would beat these. #1 All the Hardways (7-2) has some of the best late pace figures in the field and gets class relief after facing some salty rivals in his last few starts. I keep waiting for #2 Super Accelerate (15-1) to put it all together, because he’s shown flashes of his old brilliance in his last few races. He pulled his way to the front last out and opened up a clear lead prematurely. While he faded in the stretch, he still ran an 84, his best figure in a long while. If he can just get settled, he could run his peak race and surprise most of the betting public.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W3X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

5-2-1-6

#5 Indy Charges On (4-1) has been razor-sharp since getting claimed by Anthony Farrior last fall. He was hounded on the lead last out, and while he held second by 1 ¾ lengths to dueling partner Quick to Accuse, he finished second to perfect trip-getting Pay Billy. He won two and three races back from off and on the pace, respectively. #2 Lure Him In (8-5) ran a big race despite a wide trip last out at Colonial Downs, finishing second to the promising Maclean’s Rook. He was claimed from that race by Jamie Ness, and looks poised to improve both with the claim and a likely better trip. #1 Crossland (12-1) saw the race fall into his lap last out, when he rallied from 15 lengths off an absolutely torrid pace to win. While he’s unlikely to get that dreamy of a trip again, he rallied well from off of modest fractions two starts back, and there’s a chance the pace gets contentious. If J D Factor, drawn to the direct outside of Indy Charges On, engages that rival, it could set up perfectly for Crossland.

RACE 9: CLAIMING $16,000 (N/W3L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

2-6-4-5

#2 Summer Vibes (5-1) was in sharp form towards the end of grass season last year, winning over six furlongs in early October, followed by a game second-place effort to cap his season on the sod. He faded after a wide trip on dirt last out, but should improve on the surface switch. #6 Owhatanite (6-1) isn’t coming off nearly as long a layoff as his running lines would indicate. He finished third in a one-mile training flat race at the Elkridge-Harford Point-to-Point last Saturday. Runner-up Awesome Man is a solid jumper who beat a first-level field on the Laurel grass in June 2023. This one showed great closing speed on this track last fall, and will almost certainly go off at an overlaid price. #4 Dairago (1-1) ran well in his two starts off a 10-month break at Turfway Park. He’s run sneaky good races on grass before and gets Yedsit Hazlewood for his local debut.

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