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) — $0
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6) — $6,949
Early Pick 5 (races 1-5) — $0
Late Pick 5 (races 6-10) — $0

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RACE 1: MAIDEN CLAIMING $35,000, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

4-6-8-7 (DIRT: 1-3-9-8)

#4 Appealing Girl (3-1) chased gate-to-wire winner Brikeli and proved no match for her in a maiden special weight field here last Friday. She’s dropping in for a tag for the first time, and her recent brisnet figures fit right in with these. She’s run no worse than a 65 in her three-race career. #6 Mad Misty (8-1) recovered well from a bad start last out at Colonial Downs, finishing just two lengths behind Crab Mentality, who returned to beat softer as the heavy favorite last Friday. She’s had problems breaking in both of her starts, but she’s at least shown she can make somewhat of a recovery from it. #8 Divine Mousse (30-1) is a first-time starter for Madison Meyers, who won with a first-time starter on dirt last Wednesday at Delaware Park, and was second with a maiden on grass here on Sunday. In a race where no one with experience is extraordinarily impressive, she looks like the best alternative.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $12,500 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

4-5-8-7

Our pal Yedsit Hazlewood, who’s been riding in Kentucky recently, is in town today for a few mounts, including #4 Fan Club (1-1). This one sat off the pace and won going away here last out, and was claimed out of that race by Mike Geralis, who hits at 30% first off the claim. He’s stepping up in class here, but his recent form still fits in with the other contenders. The lightbulb has gone on for #5 Tell ‘Em I’m Comin (8-1), who has won two out of his last three starts after winning just once in his first 39 outings. He closed from off of slow fractions to win by open lengths last Saturday. He’s also getting a class test here, but he’s in career-best form and should be able to handle it. #8 War Commander (5-1) has some early speed, and despite his tough draw, he might be able to make the front if used aggressively enough. His only bad race within his last few starts came on an off track, but that shouldn’t be an issue here.

RACE 3: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

12-6-4-10 (DIRT: 9-5-6-8)

#12 Sun Above (6-1) has hit the board twice in as many start this year, both of which came at this level at Colonial. He’s getting Lasix for the first time and has gotten some time off since a flat effort in late July. #6 Dynacito (6-1) wired the field to break his maiden first off a 7 1/2-month layoff two starts ago, and gets to stretch back out around two turns after showing little against sprinters last out. #4 Grand Hall (8-1) overcame very slow fractions to win in his first start in 6 1/2 months last out. Two horses from that race, third-place finisher Souper Cha Ching and sixth-place finisher Executive, finished third and fourth in a maiden special weight here last Friday in a race where the early leaders never gave way.

RACE 4: CLAIMING $12,500 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

1-9-3-8

#1 One True Dude (8-5) almost wired the field in his first start off a five-month layoff, but was bothered by a loose horse to his inside and was caught in the last few strides by Fayes Heart, who returned to finish third in a first-level allowance next out (and is back in this race). This one once again looks like the controlling speed. The recent lines of #9 Sometime (5-1) don’t look very impressive, but he’s been facing much better in his last few starts as he travels up and down the Mid-Atlantic. He has great late pace figures and some decent early speed; we’ll see if he can work out a trip in the clear on the outside. #3 Mister Roscoe (6-1) was no threat at Timonium last out, but he was in sharp form prior to that at Delaware and has a solid workout since his last race.

RACE 5: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 1 MILE (GRASS)

1-5-3-9 (DIRT: 8-7-4-5)

#1 The Wrath of David (8-1) improved dramatically at second asking last out, jumping seventeen points to a 74 in his first start around two turns at Monmouth Park. A repeat of that race would make him dangerous. #5 Meshach (7-2) is the only one in here who has hit the board around two turns. He made a big move to the front on the final turn last out and pulled clear, but it proved a premature one, as he flattened out and finished third. It was nonetheless a promising performance, and he should move forward off of it here. #3 Alborz (6-1) is a half-brother to Hill Road, who was multiple graded stakes-placed on grass. Trainer Jorge Delgado hits at 24% with first-time starters on grass, in a sample size of 17 recent starters.

RACE 6: ALL ALONG STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/8 MILES (GRASS)

1-8-2-5 (DIRT: 7-6-4-1)

Today’s first stakes race is named for the 1983 Horse of the Year, who won the Washington D.C. International en route to year-end honors. #1 Storm Miami (5-2) has hit the board in her last four starts against graded stakes company, running very similar races every time. She always sets the pace and gets caught late. However, those races were all at 1 3/8 miles or longer, and she’ll now get to cut back to 1 1/8 miles. She should be able to hold her speed going this shorter distance. #8 Grayosh (2-1) has a strong closing kick, which she used to win the Matchmaker Stakes two starts back and lose the Ballston Spa Stakes by a length last out. She’s the most likely one to mow down Storm Miami, if she’s capable of being mowed. #2 Nick’s Notion (6-1) looks a caliber below the top two, but she’s been in sharp form lately, most recently gobbling up ground to win the Nellie Mae Cox Handicap last out. She can easily rally and get a share of the exotics at a good price.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

1-5-6-4

#1 Compatriot (3-1) wheels back after tossing the jockey at the start at Parx last out. He was in quickly ascending form prior to then, peaking at an 89 two starts back at Colonial. He’s never finished a race beyond 6 1/2 furlongs, but the potential’s there. #5 Forrest City (5-2) engaged in a race-long duel with eventual winner Bill of Rights in his last start, ultimately hanging around for third, beaten a length. He’s quickly climbed the class ladder without much of a hitch, and will be tough on the lead here. #6 Ready as Ever (6-5) saw his three-race win streak get snapped last out, but he fell further behind a very hot pace than he might have wanted to that day. If he can stay close to the pace, he’ll be a threat.

RACE 8: SELIMA STAKES, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

1-4-5-6 (DIRT: 6-4-3-7)

This race is named for one of the foundation mares of the Thoroughbred breed, who was imported to Maryland in the early 1750s. #1 Sun Valley (20-1) opened up and never looked back to break her maiden on the lead at Monmouth last out. She’s one of three in here who has already won around two turns. One of the others is #4 Dance to Glory (8-1), who set the pace and led all the way to win on debut at Colonial last out. She set modest fractions and held on, unlike Sun Valley, who set a hot pace and tired late. I lean towards Sun Valley, as she’s already proven she can last through a fast tempo, and will likely be a much better price, but both merit respect. #5 Maybe Gold (3-1) stormed from off the pace to win on debut last out despite not changing leads, and is the only one of these to have run in the 80s so far.

RACE 9: LAUREL FUTURITY, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

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

#6 Perfect Dream (4-1) rallied from off of slow fractions to win going a mile two starts back at Monmouth, then found himself in an impossible spot in a three-horse With Anticipation Stakes field. He should get a much more honest setup here. #1 Howard’s Hope (9-2) closed with a rush to win at first asking at Saratoga last out, rallying from 6 3/4 lengths off the pace in a race where the favorites raced near the pace and never really wilted. Third-place finisher Captain George returned to win against New York-bred maidens on Belmont Park opening weekend. #7 Coast Highway (6-1) is unproven over a route of ground, but at least gets the trainer/jockey dream team of Graham Motion and Jorge Ruiz.

RACE 10: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/16 MILES

1-3-5-2

#1 Rosebank Red (20-1) raced wide throughout, but still managed to hang around for third at Delaware last out. The winner, Westbound Cat, finished a respectable fourth in the First State Dash next out, while runner-up Nazeer broke his maiden in a $50,000 maiden claiming contest by 6 3/4 lengths as the 13-10 favorite. #3 Molitor (3-2) was well-bet on debut, but broke slowly, was rushed up, and managed to lose third by 1 1/4 lengths. He’s facing a very soft field by maiden special weight standards here, and a clean break will make him dangerous. #5 Diviner (10-1) also recovered well from a poor start in his lifetime debut, and now adds blinkers.

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