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) — $731
Jackpot Super Hi 5 (race 6) — $4,204
Early Pick 5 (races 1-5) — $0
Late Pick 5 (races 6-10) — $0

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RACE 1: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $30,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

1-4-9-8

#1 Lannister (4-1) closed well for fourth against slightly better in his grass debut three starts back. His two dirt races since then have been a mixed bag, most recently closing for third after some early traffic trouble. He’s by far the best closer in a field without much of a standout. #4 Enzo (7-5) (whose full brother, Witty, won last Friday) makes his second start in the past year in this spot. He was no factor on dirt first off a long break in early March, but he ran brisnet figures of at least 79 in three grass races last year. In his last start on this surface, he ran a gigantic race on the pace. He pressed the early leader and briefly led in the lane before getting caught by Knockanara, who won a starter allowance race next out and went on to finish third in the Aqueduct Turf Sprint. The other two horses on the pace finished well up the track. #9 Dad Joke (6-1) showed no signs of rust first off a 10-month break last out, as he rated off the pace and kicked on impressively to break his maiden with a 76. He’ll be very dangerous with a similarly good trip.

RACE 2: MAIDEN CLAIMING $35,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 4 1/2 FURLONGS

7-4-1-6

#7 Magic Elixir (20-1) didn’t stand much of a chance after he broke slowly on debut, but closed with great late interest after he was well-beaten. A cleaner start would make him a serious threat. #4 Futile Gesture (5-2) and #1 Rainonthescarecrow (3-1) both debut for Mike Trombetta and may have been working in company (very sharply, to boot) over the past few weeks. I would watch the board on both: whoever’s getting the most action may be the play. Futile Gesture gets the slight edge from me, as Jorge Ruiz was named to ride.

RACE 3: MAIDEN CLAIMING $16,000, 3-6 YEAR-OLDS, 1 MILE (GRASS)

9-8-10-1

#9 Boss Lily (4-1) close with a rush and just missed in his second career grass start last out. The winner, West Mountain, beat a starter allowance field last Saturday, while runner-up Flamenco Star was fourth against better rivals than these last out. #8 Under the Rug (8-1) finished a game third against a similar field last out. He got first jump in the fading early leader, Freedom Glider, then fought hard in the stretch and ended up third behind two much deeper closers. Freedom Glider broke his maiden next out and was second to West Mountain in the aforementioned race last weekend. #10 It’s Electric (7-5) was entered and scratched from his planned season debut on May 9, and is now set to race for the first time in 318 days. A full brother to Colonel Liam, a three-time grade 1 winner on the lawn, he ran in the low 70s against straight maidens on grass twice last year. He’s the most talented horse in the field, but the long break is a bit of a cause for pause, especially at a low price.

RACE 4: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $30,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

2-3-1-4

#2 Lookin At Mac (5-2) absolutely crushed the field at Parx last out in by far a career-best effort. It was his first start for Jamie Ness after a string of disappointing starts at Oaklawn Park, and there’s no reason to think he can’t keep up his form. Ness trainees who run well at Parx oftentimes also run well here. #3 Greyline Station (8-5) has run career-best figures in each of his last five starts, peaking at an 87 when second to last-to-first winner Marcan Love. #1 Majestic Love (7-2) was a mild third in his third start off a 5 1/2-month layoff last out, and now adds blinkers first off the John Salzman claim.

RACE 5: CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

2-7-1-3

#2 Noah Chance (5-2) has run in the 80s in both of his starts this year, including a stalk-and-pounce win against a similar field on the Black-Eyed Susan day undercard. He’s bound to get another great trip tracking the leaders. One of those leaders will be #7 Kiss Them Deadly (20-1), who went gate-to-wire in his last start on grass, at Penn National last September. Vladimir Diaz is certain to send him from the outside, and without a ton of great closers in here, he’s likely to hang around for at least a share. #1 Barzini (6-5) is in a similar spot as It’s Electric earlier in the card. He’s the most talented horse in the race, but he hasn’t raced since last July, he was scratched a few weeks ago, and is plunging in class (in his case, from second-level allowance company). A big win or total clunker seem like equally likely possibilities.

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

6-3-5-8

#6 Hylla (3-5) dueled for the early lead an held second as the 1-5 favorite last out. She ran in the 60s for the fifth time in as many dirt starts; most of her opponents have never run that fast at any point in their careers. #3 Zirconia (30-1) showed brief speed and faded in her first start off a seven-month layoff last out, the first time she’s shown that much pep in her step in her three-start career. She’s taking a career-low drop in class in this spot. #5 Charcoal Queen (9-2) also drops to this level for the first time in her first start since August 5 and gets Lasix for the first time.

RACE 7: MAIDEN CLAIMING $16,000, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, 1 MILE (GRASS)

10-4-2-6

#10 Plenty on Tap (8-1) has steadily improved in three grass starts, peaking at a 69 last out when fifth against similar. He made a promising move before flattening out; we’ll see if he can sustain it this time. He finished behind Boss Lily, who’s running earlier today, in that recent effort. At first asking on the Colonial Downs dirt, #4 Hard Stance (5-2) broke awkwardly and didn’t get involved. Next time out on this grass course, he showed speed and faded late. That sort of change of pace is an encouraging sign. #2 Oxford Union (9-2) outkicked Plenty on Tap and finished fourth, beaten only a length, last out. However, he’s 0-for-20 lifetime, and he’s disappointed in other spots where he’s looked good on paper. That makes me hard to hitch my wagon to him.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE

4-3-1-2

#4 Intrepid Mo (1-1) ran well first off a 5 1/2-month layoff last out at Delaware Park. She set the pace against a similar field and managed to hold third. The last time she raced on this track, she lasted through an early duel and handily beat a first-level allowance group. She’s wheeling back in nine days’ time for the Gary Capuano/Yedsit Hazlewood combination, but that shouldn’t slow her down much. #3 Di’s Surprise (4-1) won at this condition going seven furlongs in January 2025, and looks like the main early speed of this field. #1 Sheliahs Warcloud (3-1) hasn’t shown much in her last three starts, but has a very high ceiling and can’t be disregarded against a fairly soft field for this level.

RACE 9: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE (GRASS)

1-8-4-2

After spending her career with Kelly Rubley, #1 Doesn’thurttoflirt (5-2) makes her first start for the Mike Stidham barn. She has excellent late pace figures and won against Maryland-restricted foes with a dramatic rally last May. #8 Sleepwalker (2-1) hasn’t raced this year, but won from just off the pace in her final two starts of last season. She’s worked consistently since mid-April and gets Sheldon Russell, who rode her to victory in those races, back in the saddle. #4 Devastating (7-2) was well-bet at this level on the Preakness undercard, but got caught wide on the first turn from the far outside post and didn’t get involved. Still, she ran an 80 in spite of everything, matching her career-best figure.

RACE 10: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

3-6-5-1

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