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

First post time: 12:00 p.m.

Carryovers: 
Chesapeake Jackpot Pick 6 (races 5-10) — $1,377
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6) — $2,816
Early Pick 5 (races 1-5) — $0
Late Pick 5 (races 6-10) — $0

This article contains affiliate links. If you click and buy, we may earn a commission at no extra charge to you.

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: CLAIMING $30,000 (N/W3L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE (GRASS)

1-3-5-6

#1 Momma’s Lino (5-2) hasn’t run here in a while, but she’s always done well on this track. She’s hit the exacta three times in six starts here. One of her off-the-board finishes came after a brutal trip where she hit the rail and was forced to check multiple times; another came in the Maryland Million Turf Distaff Starter Handicap against better rivals than these. At her best, she’ll sit close to the pace and pack a strong punch with any kind of early tempo. #3 Devastating (7-2) didn’t do much going one turn on dirt a few times over the winter, but ran well going two turns on grass throughout last year, including a going-away win at Indianapolis last July. #5 Shine On Moon (2-1) gets class relief for her 2026 debut after facing first-level allowance runners for most of last year. She’s also poised to get a good trip close to the early pace.

RACE 2: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 4 1/2 FURLONGS

1-3-6-4

Between John Salzman’s pair of entrants, I lean towards #1 Speed Focused (7-2). He worked three furlongs in an identical time to Salzman’s other entrant, Call Me Micky J, on April 26, but worked slightly faster than that one going four furlongs the previous Sunday. He’s also from a family with slightly more of a win-early tendency. #3 Island Bandit (7-2) is a half-brother to the superstar Anna’s Bandit, who won her debut as a 2-year-old almost ten years ago to the day. He also gets the services of Xavier Perez, the first-call rider for the Jerry Robb barn, over #6 Pelican Pier (5-2). That one’s also from a win-early family; all three of his siblings who raced as 2-year-olds won.

RACE 3: CLAIMING $12,500 (N/W3L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

4-3-7-8

#4 Freedom Maker (7-2) won going away two starts back at Penn National, and was elevated to victory last out following a disqualification. He’s woken up dramatically in his last two races, running brisnet figures of 82 both times. He’s the only one in here to run in the 80s in each of his last two starts. #3 Blo By’em (3-1) finally cleared his non-winners of two condition with a dominant victory last out, running a 78, his best figure in nine months. He’s never gone this far before, but he won at his first try going a mile in that recent win, so another longer distance might help his cause. #7 Your Mission (10-1) was in improving form over the winter at Turfway Park and has a chance to bounce back after a flat try behind a much-the-best rival on grass last out.

RACE 4: CLAIMING $30,000 (N/W3L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 7 FURLONGS

2-6-1-3

#2 Vanilla (1-1) has run in the 80s in both of her starts for Brittany Russell, and has run no worse than a 76 in her three one-turn starts. That’s a mark most of her rivals struggle to ever hit. This looks like a layup for her, albeit at a very short price. #6 She’s Not a Lad (9-2) cruised on the lead going a mile last out, and lasted through a duel to win in similarly easy fashion two starts ago. I don’t know if she can hold off Vanilla, but she looks fast enough to hold off the rest. #1 Krissi N (9-2) fought hard and just missed three starts ago against similar. She’s had some time off since some flat efforts in her next two starts, and while she’s run into a tough rival in Vanilla, she fits in with the rest.

RACE 5: CLAIMING $7,500 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

2-6-10-1

#2 Be Better (7-2) is the only one to run in the 80s in each of his last three starts. He closed well to get third last out for his third consecutive in-the-money finish, and can easily close for at least a share against these types. #6 White Series (8-1) closed well for second behind loose leader White Series last out. The speed horses in here don’t seem nearly as sturdy, so the odds of getting caught behind another loose leader are much smaller. #10 Walk Away Joe (7-2) ran in the 80s consistently last year, and while he was completely empty first off an 8 1/2-month layoff last out, he’s dropping from starter optional claiming types and has tons of backclass.

RACE 6: CLAIMING $16,000 (N/W3L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE (GRASS)

1-9-4-6

#1 Fridayswithmurray (6-1) closed with a rush to win in a dead heat in his last start, which came last July at Delaware Park. He faces an easy field in his return to the races for the Jamie Ness/Yedsit Hazlewood combination. #9 Fightnomoreforever (20-1) didn’t do much over the jumps at the Blue Ridge Point-to-Point last out, but ran well against these types last year, including a victory against starter allowance runners at Fair Hill. That last line, while not indicative of his true ability, might drive up his price and make it particularly lucrative. #4 Summer Vibes (5-2) has run at least a 77 in his last four grass starts, and was second to the very impressive odds-on winner Dairago last out. There’s no one in here of that rival’s caliber.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W3X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

6-1-2-4

#6 Worcester (7-2) has done great work here around one turn, but hasn’t gone two turns since his previous life as a Bob Baffert trainee in California. He broke his maiden going a two-turn mile at Del Mar and was third in the 2023 Bob Lewis Stakes at this distance. While he’s never faced a field of this quality at this distance, as long as he maintains his current form, he’ll handle the extra ground fine. #1 National Law (5-2) is a very promising horse who has had his form obscured by a variety of circumstances. Last out, he chased Certified Loverboy, who’s almost impossible to catch while loose on the lead, and crossed the wire second to that rival, elevated to victory after being interfered with by Certified Loverboy at the break. He’s making his first start since that January 17 race, and looks like the best alternative if you want someone with more recent strong two-turn form. #2 J D Factor (3-1) set the pace and held second behind longshot winner Union Fleet in his last start. He has by far the best early pace figures in the field, so he’ll be in prime position to wire them.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, MD-RESTRICTED, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

1-6-4-3

#1 Biscuitwiththeboss (3-1) hasn’t run a bad race on this track, and ran in the 80s four times in a row prior to finishing well up the track last out at Fair Grounds. She got a few weeks off after that March 7 effort, has had two recent workouts at Fair Hill, and looks primed to rediscover her best form. #6 Yo Adrian (4-1) had a string of near-misses to cap her season last year, including a nose defeat with a career-best 81 in her final grass start of the year, which was also her first race off the Jamie Ness claim. Martin Chuan, who rode her that day, keeps the mount in her first start since November 29, and hopes to time her move just right. #4 Mopo (5-2) loves to set the pace and hang around for a share. It was her M.O. last year, as she won just once while finishing second *six* times. She hasn’t gone one turn much, with her best races coming around two turns, and she won’t be able to make the front unless she’s very hard-used. Still, she ran well against these types or better throughout last year, and has enough class to get another share, at least

RACE 9: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, MD-RESTRICTED, 6 FURLONGS

3-1-6-5

#3 On a Proud Note (1-1) has won five of her last seven starts, including a dominant win against some of these in a Maryland Million-restricted starter allowance last out. She’ll make the front without much trouble and leave them in the dust. #1 Panchita (6-1) broke her maiden in dramatic fashion last out, coming from off the pace to win on debut in a 31-1 upset. Third-place finisher Cupid’s Choice returned to break her maiden on Sunday as the favorite. She ran a 77 that day, quite below the best of On a Proud Note, but good enough to outkick the rest with the right kind of trip. #6 Bourbon N Lace (15-1) has hit the board at good prices in her last two starts, and should make her presence felt late at another decent number.

7-5-1-3

#7 Lifting (7-5) ran a game race on the lead first off a nine-month layoff last out, and ran in the 80s twice to begin his career just over a year ago. He has every right to improve further in his second race off the bench. #5 Edelweiss (5-2) broke his maiden impressively two starts back and looks like one of the main speeds. Keep an eye on Blo By’em in race 3, who beat this one last time out. If Blo By’em runs well, it’ll validate Edelweiss’s form. #1 Tactics (3-1) goes first off the claim by Daniel Eubanks, who is off to a great start with runners under his own name, and drops into a non-winners of two claiming race for the first time after closing well against better in his last few starts.

CHECK OUT THE LATEST OFF TO THE RACES RADIO!