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) — $0
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6) — $575
Early Pick 5 (races 1-5) — $0
Late Pick 5 (races 7-11) — $0

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

7-2-3-5

In her career debut, #7 Melodies (7-2) raced off the pace early and rallied for second. Last out, on Belmont Park opening day, she showed speed, but was undone by the long stretch run and faded. She still improved her brisnet figure four points that day, to a 71, has worked well since, and will be tough in this field. #2 Josie G (6-1) acted up in the gate and fell far behind early. She didn’t have a shot of winning once early leader Scabiosa dashed away from them, but closed respectably well and finished fifth. She looks primed for improvement second time out. #3 Turns to Gold (8-1) makes her career debut for Graham Motion. Although typically not great with firsters, Motion has won with five of his last 20 first-time starters. Watch the board on this one.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $7,500 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE

5-2-6-1

#5 Ladsfirstlove (5-2) cruised on the lead to break her maiden last out at Timonium despite not changing leads. In a soft field like this one, if she can make a similarly easy lead, they won’t be able to catch her. #2 Let ‘er Sizzle (8-1) rallied wide to break her maiden at Delaware Park three starts back, then got outkicked in the stretch after getting carried out in her first start against winners next out. Her most recent start was a total disaster, as she faded and lost by 13 lengths, but those two and three-back efforts make her a contender here. Trainer Mario Lopez and jockey Ronaldo Rodriguez have done fantastic work at this meet in a limited sample size. #6 Zen Dreams (9-5), similarly to Let ‘er Sizzle, faded badly last out, but ran well in her other recent races, including a sharp maiden-breaking effort four races ago.

RACE 3: MAIDEN CLAIMING $35,000, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

3-9-4-7

#3 Linette (12-1) made her career debut last out as the only first-time starter in the field, and ran a huge race. She was wide throughout, checked and stumbled a few times up the backstretch, but still closed strongly and lost by a head. She was entered for a $16,000 tag last Saturday, but was scratched when the race was washed off the grass, and is now jumping up in class. It’ll be a tougher task than the job she would’ve had last week, but she’s nonetheless an interesting contender. #9 Mischievous Twins (4-1) got caught in traffic last out at Delaware, but closed well once clear and finished second to Khokela Miss, who made a strong rush on the far turn and was the subject of an inquiry. Jaime Rodriguez stays aboard this Jamie Ness trainee; that jockey/trainer combo has been as potent as ever at this meet. #4 Romelia (6-1) has hit the board after getting pressed on the pace in her last few starts. The most serious speed competition is Reppazz, who’s drawn towards the outside, so this one should at least be able to protect the rail.

RACE 4: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $25,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE

6-2-4-3

#6 Irish Bamba (4-5) was fourth in her first start off a seven-month layoff last out, finishing well behind More Than Grace, who is in the midst of a seven-race winning streak. She held her own against better last winter, and a return to that form against this soft field would make her tough to beat. #2 Rehoboth Avenue (10-1) has finished second in each of her last four dirt starts, racing just off the pace and hanging around every time. She’s had to track some slow paces in those races. If this pace is even a little bit contentious, it could help her cause, especially since she has the best average late pace figures in the field. #4 Yau Majesty (4-1) steadily improved over the spring, consistently running in the mid-70s. She hasn’t been as sharp in her last two races, but she got some time off after her last race in late August and has worked well over the past few weeks at Delaware.

RACE 5: RATINGS OPTIONAL CLAIMING (<75), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE (GRASS)

3-7-2-10

#3 Emergence (3-2) was claimed two starts back at Saratoga by Jamie Ness from a 1 3/8-mile first-level allowance optional claiming contest where he showed speed and faded. While in claiming jail, he was entered in a second-level allowance contest on dirt and did nothing. Now free to come here, he’s switched back to grass and in a spot that looks like it fits him like a glove. #7 Mongolian Apple (8-1) led all the way against a similar field on this track three starts back, and stopped badly after setting very fast fractions in a Claiming Crown qualifier last out at Colonial Downs. He’s by far the dominant speed in this race, and will most likely not be forced into setting that fast a pace. #2 Crabs N Beer (9-2) has been outkicked against stakes company in his last few starts, but this classy veteran should show a stronger punch against these, especially if the pace proves hotter than expected.

RACE 6: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 6 FURLONGS

1-10-3-6

#1 Nial and Pray (20-1) broke slowly and fell far behind on debut, but got going in the last eighth and managed to secure fourth. The winner of that race, Trinity, returned to a win a first-level allowance contest on Sunday. #10 Floreana (6-1) is a first-time starter for Brittany Russell, who’s 11-for-40 with debuters this year. This one’s dam, Lorena, won at first asking and went on to win five stakes races. #3 Vekomamona (7-2) comes out of the same race as Nial and Pray. She went off as one of the favorites, also broke poorly, and closed with milder interest to get fifth. She also has a shot to take another step forward here, but won’t offer as much value as Nial and Pray.

RACE 7: RATINGS OPTIONAL CLAIMING (<65), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

3-2-9-7

Usually a frontrunner, #3 Sally’s Gold (10-1) decided to sit off the pace in a similar field last time. She didn’t kick on and faded to ninth, but she looks fast enough to get her preferred trip on the lead in this field. #2 Golden Rocket (2-1) was blocked most of the way in that race, but got going once she found clear sailing and finished second to Boujee Bubblez, who got a perfect trip. If this one can get a better trip, she could prove hard to hold off. #9 Diva Ready (10-1) just missed against a similar field last out, and will get first crack at Sally’s Gold from her outside if that rival tires on the lead.

RACE 8: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $25,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

4-7-5-1

#4 Bold Fact (5-2) went off as the slight favorite in a washed-off first-level allowance contest last out, but showed little after falling back to last while racing wide. The drop in class to a much kinder field should do the trick and get him back into the winner’s circle. #7 Pippin the Warrior (7-2) pressed the pace and broke his maiden impressively last out, running a career-best 84. Runner-up Love Yourself returned to break his maiden by 3 1/4 lengths as the even-money favorite on Sunday, then won a first-level allowance race at 9-2 on Friday. #5 Caseofthemondays (3-1) has shown a bit of early speed in the past, and in a race without a ton of it, he might be sent to the front by Mychel Sanchez and try to wire them. That’s often a sound strategy with Jamie Ness-trained runners.

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

8-5-2-13

#8 Let’s Dance Again (10-1) got a good setup off of loose leader Gripen last out and took command in the stretch, but got swallowed up by the very impressive Unwavering Monarch and finished second. There’s no shame in losing to that rival, who looks like a potential stakes horse, and it’s encouraging that she outfinished a stronger field than this one. #5 Correto (3-1) made her first start off a nine-month layoff last out at Presque Isle Downs. She rated off the pace and made what looked like a promising move, but flattened out and finished fourth. She has plenty of backclass, having finished stakes-placed as a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old, and should improve second off the layoff. However, you won’t get much value. #2 Cozy Rosie (7-2) ran in the mid/upper-80s in each of her first two starts, but backslid last out in a flat fourth-place effort behind Unwavering Monarch and Let’s Dance Again. She’s lightly-raced enough and has a high enough ceiling to make me give her another chance.

RACE 10: RATINGS OPTIONAL CLAIMING (<75), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

4-6-7-3

In his last start, #4 Paco the Taco Man (3-1) checked early and lost his usual forward position, but still closed respectably well for third behind the very classy Band Camp. At his best, he’ll be able to take the lead and not look back. #6 Re Markably (2-1) is one of two in here to run at least an 85 in each of his last three starts. He has great tactical speed, and could get a great trip and run a big race in his first start for the Anthony Farrior stable. #7 Don’t Wait Up (6-1) got some time off after a trouble-filled trip last out, and is now set for his first appearance since late July. He ran a big second in his last start on this track in mid-June with a career-best 95. The horse who beat him, Suremeanttoobe, won a third-level allowance sprint at Colonial next out, and was most recently second in a tough contest at the same level at Belmont.

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