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

First post time: 12:00 p.m.

Carryovers: 
Chesapeake Jackpot Pick 6 (races 6-11) — $5,987
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6) — $1,534
Early Pick 5 (races 1-5) — $6,367
Late Pick 5 (races 7-11) — $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: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $30,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

4-12-5-10 (DIRT: 12-7-8-3)

#4 Freedom Glider (9-2) led almost the whole way in his first start against winners last out, finishing second only to the ascendant West Mountain. He looks poised to make the front and lead them all the way. #12 Beale Street Boy (9-2) has run brisnet figures in the mid-80s in his two starts since getting claimed by Jamie Ness. He pressed the pace and faded in his lone grass start last fall at Churchill Downs, but if his current form transfers to dirt at all, he’ll be dangerous. #5 Wicked Boss (4-1) rallied to break his maiden in his 2025 finale, then came from far out of it and just missed at this level in his season debut last out. He got a hot pace to close into that day and faces a slightly better field this time than last, but he has the closing speed to take full advantage if it sets up for him.

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

2-3-6-1

#2 Tammy’s Cruiser (9-5) won here as the heavy favorite two starts back, then chased an impressive gate-to-wire favorite last out at Parx and finished second. Yedsit Hazlewood, who rode her in that victory, jumps back aboard. #3 Christy My Love (8-1) has improved in each of her last three starts, peaking at a 73 last out when she wore down early leader Turkish Breeze. Her tactical speed should serve her well against these. #6 Barbados Bulldog (8-5) won a pair of races by open lengths over the late fall and winter, and was given some time off after tailing off a bit in her last two races. She’s taking a slight drop in class from $40,000 age-restricted claimers for her return, and may have the highest ceiling in the field.

RACE 3: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3-6 YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

7-6-2-4 (DIRT: 5-6-8-3)

#7 Vinalia (2-1) hasn’t raced since January 13 and missed about two months’ worth of workouts in the spring, but recently came back to the worktab with two solid drills at Fair Hill for Graham Motion. She’s shown speed and faded in most of her starts, but faces an inexperienced field and should be able to run them off their feet with her best effort. #6 Take Home Gold (4-1) was well-beaten in her two races last year, but improved to a career-best 73 in her seasonal bow at Monmouth Park. She’ll be tough if she can take even a moderate step forward. #2 Extra Special (15-1) had only moderate kick at first asking last Friday, finishing fifth behind three experienced runners and a fellow debuter. She has an extremely grassy pedigree, as a half-sister to Talk Show Man and Jack’s Legend, both of whom got better as time went on.

RACE 4: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3-6 YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

4-5-2-3

#4 Just Do Believe (7-2) ran a big race at first asking at Charles Town last out. She didn’t stand much of a chance to catch favored Miss Fortunate, who broke on top and never looked back. However, this one closed well and ate into the margin as best she could, losing by 1 1/2 lengths while almost six lengths clear of third. #5 Mirror in the Sky (2-1) is a first-time starter for Gary Capuano and Yedsit Hazlewood – enough said. Watch the board and the willpays for further clues. #2 Kiss Me Mo (7-2) made her first start off a six-month break last out. The speedy filly was bumped at the start, thrown out of her element, and didn’t get involved from there. No one else with experience has shown much speed, so she’ll be able to do what she wants to do as long as she breaks well. How long she lasts might be another story.

RACE 5: RATINGS HANDICAP OPTIONAL CLAIMING, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE (GRASS)

2-8-4-7 (DIRT: 4-1-6-3)

A little Maryland history will be made here – this is the first Equibase ratings handicap race in the state’s history. Delaware Park has written a few of these races as well, and they’ve popped up in other regions of the country. It’ll be interesting to see how many are written when racing resumes here in September, and in the moment, it’s hard to gauge how these horses compare against each other class-wise. Nonetheless, we soldier on. #2 Won an Award (7-2) hung around for third despite an overland trip last out after racing close to sharp fractions. He didn’t win last year, but butted heads with better than these while running figures competitive with these rivals. #8 Jack’s Legend (7-5) didn’t show much in his seasonal bow last out, but he has tons of class, and if last year is any indication, he’ll improve second off the bench. #4 Nate the Great (6-1) surged up the rail to win last out at Mountaineer. He’s getting a big class test here, but he has great late pace figures and can rally for a share at a good price.

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

9-4-12-3 (DIRT: 6-4-12-1)

#9 Under the Rug (15-1) was dismal in his three dirt starts to begin his career, but woke up in a big way in his grass debut last out. He saved ground all the way and missed by less than a length. Oxford Union, who beat him by a nose, came back to win two races later. This one’s not likely to get as good a trip this time, but he’s lightly-raced and promising. #4 Chatbot (9-2) takes a class plunge after finishing far behind much better in his last two races. He made ground when already well-beaten last out; we’ll see if that kick can be more visible in this contest. #12 Plenty on Tap (6-1) has been consistently solid at this level this meet, but hasn’t yet broken through. He’ll likely sit midpack and try to save as much ground as he can. We’ll see if he can put it together and at least get a share.

RACE 7: ALMA NORTH STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 1/2 FURLONGS

5-9-3-1

#5 Bam’s Bliss Kiss (4-1) has been absolutely dominant in her home state of New York. She’s won her last six races there, all of them in gate-to-wire style. She looks like the fastest one in this field, so she’s bound to hit the front early and not stop. #9 Maida (3-1) looked like a budding star last year with three consecutive impressive wins in the region, capped by a dominant score in the Weather Vane Sakes. She didn’t show much in the Raven Run Stakes next out and hasn’t been seen since that October afternoon, but has put in increasingly promising works since early May. On pure ability, she’s probably the best horse in the field. it’s just a matter of what she shows off the bench. #3 Love You More (15-1) came from off the pace to win the Rehoboth Stakes last out in a 12-1 upset. She has the best late pace figures in the race and could easily upset this group as well.

RACE 8: DEPUTED TESTAMONY STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/8 MILES

6-3-8-2

#6 Barbadian Runner (1-1) made his local debut a winning one last out with an easy win against third-level allowance rivals, taking a big step forward second off a five-month layoff with a 102. This is a tougher field than the one he saw last time, but he looks more than capable of handling them. #3 Warp Nine (8-1) has finished second in his last four starts, including the Native Dancer Stakes on this track. He’s run big figures in those efforts while having the misfortune of running into impressive winners, including graded stakes winner Phileas Fogg last out at Aqueduct. Although Barbadian Runner might play the role of impressive winner here, this one can easily round out the exacta again at a potentially decent price. #8 Duke of Duval (7-2) was well-beaten by graded stakes rivals in his last few starts, but showed consistently strong form, peaking at a 99 when fourth in the Pimlico Special last out. Yedsit Hazlewood gets the call for the first time.

9-3-5-2 (DIRT: 4-2-7-1)

#3 Truly Quality (3-2) captured the grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup last year with a big rush off a slow pace. He was given some time off after a flat effort in the Elkhorn Stakes last out and could bounce back here, albeit at a short price. #5 A Bourbon for Toby (5-2) rallied off of slow fractions and just missed against Fort Washington in the Dinner Party Stakes last out. After struggling to break his maiden last year, it looks like he’s finally broken through to hold his own against much better. #9 Belouni (12-1) has closed with great interest in his last few starts, narrowly missing last out at Aqueduct with a career-best 93. He’s an interesting bomb in a wide-open affair.

RACE 10: FRANK J. DEFRANCIS MEMORIAL DASH, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

10-7-4-9

Note that morning line favorite Haileysfirstnotion will not go. #10 Hymn (8-1) gets his biggest class test yet following a pair of impressive allowance wins at Churchill. Both times, he rated just off the pace and kicked on to win, doing so while improving his figure each time. He peaked at a 97 last out, which is more than capable of winning this race. It’s encouraging to see Rafael Bejarano, who rode him to victory two starts ago, come in for just this mount. #7 Petingas Twin (10-1) has finished in the exacta 11 times in 16 starts on this track, including a very determined win in the Dave’s Friend Stakes last November. He beat Barbadian Runner last out at Charles Town. If Barbadian Runner does what he’s supposed to do earlier on the card, it’ll lift this one up. #4 Pentathlon (5-2) turned in two big efforts in Florida over the winter, then finished third in the Westchester Stakes last out. In that race, he outfinished Quint’s Brew, who returned to win the Alapocas Run Stakes next out. This one might want to go longer than this, but he’s in very sharp form and should get a good trip close to the pace.

#4 Madefromliona (3-1) did his very best work around two turns last year, so it’s possible Carl Doran sees this merely as a prep for a longer spot next out. Still, none of his rivals can run in the 70s as often as he can, so as long as he doesn’t show too much rust in his first race since October, he’ll be hard to beat. #1 Red Sea (7-5) was in the midst of a rally last out when he was forced to check to avoid fallen horses. He’s taking a big drop in class from the $35,000 level out of that race, and should improve in his second start since late August, but he’s bound to be way overbet. #8 Transquaking (8-1) ran a solid race in his grass debut last out. He pressed the pace while wide and held third in a blanket finish. I don’t think his ceiling is as high as the top two, but he looks the best of the rest.

21+ where applicable. Please bet responsibly. Need help? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit the National Council on Problem Gambling.

CHECK OUT THE LATEST OFF TO THE RACES RADIO!