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

First post time: 11:15 a.m.

Carryovers: 
Chesapeake Jackpot Pick 6 (races 7-12) — $3,682
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6) — $1,808
Early Pick 5 (races 1-5) — $0
Late Pick 5 (races 8-12) — $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!

PLAY TODAY’S FREE HANDICAPPING CONTEST FEATURING MARYLAND MILLION!

RACE 1: MARYLAND MILLION TURF STARTER HANDICAP, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, MD-RESTRICTED, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

9-8-1-11

#9 Dominguez (8-1) led most of the way and held on until late last out at the Meadowlands. He’s the main speed of a race without much of it, and should last for a while on the front end. #8 Owhatanite (7-2) hasn’t won in a while, but has some of the best late pace figures in the race, which he used to finish a strong-closing third last out. He’s worth using underneath, as he can overpowe the others even if Dominguez sneaks away. #1 Italiano Kid (8-1) came up empty behind Owhatanite in his last start, and was similarly dull against better two starts ago. However, he’s won twice on this track in the past 12 months, and was a game fourth after a wide trip in his last start here.

RACE 2: MARYLAND MILLION SPRINT, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, MD-SIRED, 6 FURLONGS

4-8-7-3

#4 Suremeanttobe (9-2) rallied and just missed in a photo finish last out at Belmont Park. He lost to last-to-first winner Gate to Wire, who won last year’s Swale Stakes and is twice graded stakes-placed, running a career-best brisnet figure of 100 in the process. He was claimed from that race by Mike Maker, who likely did so with an eye towards this spot. He ran big races on the lead on this track last year, and looks poised for another career-best performance. #8 Haileysfirstnotion (8-5) set the pace and finished a game third in last year’s renewal of this race, and hasn’t run a bad race this year in four start. Two starts back, he was second to Quint’s Brew, who most recently won the Wilmington Stakes at Delaware Park. Last out, this one showed a new dimension in the New Castle Handicap, coming from off the pace to get up in the last jump over the ever-dangerous Spikezone. He’ll be tough on the lead once again, though he won’t offer much value. #7 Celtic Contender (3-2) won this race in 2024, missed it last year, and prepped for this year’s eiditon with a stalk-and-pounce win at Colonial Downs last out over Suremeanttobe. He’s a six-time winner on this track, including a win over Petingas Twin back in March. That one returned to beat Barbadian Runner next out, who will be a heavy chalk in the Maryland Million Classic later today.

RACE 3: MARYLAND MILLION STARTER HANDICAP, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, MD-RESTRICTED, 7 FURLONGS

11-8-6-10

#11 Kerness K (4-5) has won ten races in a row, and was unbeatable on this track at the winter/spring meet. As long as he runs even close to his best, he’ll make it 11 in a row here. #8 Do It for Michael (5-1) dueled for the lead last out and pulled clear of his dueling partner to win by 4 1/4 lengths, an impressive effort for his first start in eight months. He should make the lead without much trouble, and even if Kerness K overwhelms him, he’ll be able to hold off the rest. #6 Master Schemer (6-1) hasn’t run a bad race in two starts since getting claimed by Dan McKenzie, and has good tactical speed that’ll enable him to get the first jump on Do It for Michael.

RACE 4: MARYLAND MILLION LADIES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, MD-SIRED, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

2-10-5-7

#2 Nick’s Notion (2-1) ran a game, pace-compromised fourth in the All Along Stakes last out, closing as best she could behind gate-to-wire upset winner Mischief in Motion. When she got a more reasonable pace to close into in the Nellie Mae Cox Handicap two starts back, she closed with a rush to win going away. If she can get that type of setup, she’ll be tough to hold off. #10 Mopo (9-5) has really come into her own this year, winning three times and finishing second twice more. She’s at her best going shorter than this, but did finish a respectable third last out in the George Rosenberger Memorial Stakes at Delaware, nearly running down 3-10 favorite Souper Williwaw. #5 Weekend Wife (20-1) closed admirably off of glacial fractions for second in her last start, an impressive performance for her grass debut. Much like Nick’s Notion, she’ll be a late threat with any kind of early tempo.

RACE 5: MARYLAND MILLION LASSIE, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, MD-SIRED, 6 FURLONGS

1-6-5-2

#1 Mountain Mamba (12-1) may be a maiden, but she’s already well-tested for class. She was stakes-placed twice over the summer at Colonial, both times coming from well off the pace at big prices. She was no threat at all on grass last out, but she’s worked well since, and if she can return with her best effort, she’s more than capable of pulling the upset. #6 Olivia’s Legacy (2-1) is the only multiple winner in the field, having easily taken a non-winners of two allowance contest at Delaware last out. In her previous two starts, she was second in stakes company behind Whitten Way, who won the White Clay Creek Stakes next out, and lost by a neck in the Small Wonder Stakes with a career-best 81. #5 Just a Smooch (4-1) dueled for the lead with longshot Take Charge Sonic on debut, and left that rival in the dust, winning clear while outfinishing her dueling partner by 9 1/4 lengths. Second-place finisher Katz on Fire broke her maiden next out for a $45,000 tag as the 1-2 favorite.

RACE 6: MARYLAND MILLION TURF SPRINT, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, MD-SIRED, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

9-4-8-3

Three of them look like standouts over the rest. #9 Witty (9-5), the 2023 winner of this race, beat many of these in the Ben’s Cat Stakes here on June 20, and has since run game races in open stakes company twice. He’ll be able to handle these with something close to his best effort. #4 Had to Have Him (4-1) and #8 Whenigettoheaven (2-1) were first and second in this race last year, respectively. The former has improved with each start this year, and was most recently seen finishing second after setting the pace in the Ben’s Cat. The latter got up in the final strides in a loaded Meadow Stable Handicap at Colonial last out. He outkicked Determined Kingdom, who finished second in the Disco Partner Stakes next out, and Spirited Sol, who returned to capture the Da Hoss Stakes in his most recent outing.

RACE 7: MARYLAND MILLION DISTAFF, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, MD-SIRED, 7 FURLONGS

7-2-3-10

#7 Divine Seeker (3-1) was second to Lady Annabelle, who won the Commonwealth Sire Stakes at Parx last Tuesday, two and three races back. She came into her own last out with a dominant frst-level allowance victory with a career-best 94. She hasn’t yet been tested for class, but she’s getting good at the right time. #2 Takethemoneyhoney (4-5) is a few photo finishes away from being a perfect 10-for-10 lifetime. She was last seen in March, when she dominated an overmatched group in the Conniver Stakes, and hasn’t yet lost against Maryland-restricted rivals. She’s previously run well off of long layoffs, and should be tough in here, albeit at a short price. #3 Celtic Harp (20-1) put it together second off a nine-month layoff last out. She sat off the pace and got up under a drive in a washed-off first-level allowance contest last out, defeating Big Earn, who won at this condition in her next outing. She’s another one improving all the time, and could shake up the multi-race sequences if she keeps taking steps forward.

RACE 8: MARYLAND MILLION TURF DISTAFF STARTER HANDICAP, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, MD-RESTRICTED, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

2-14-9-7

#2 Shine On Moon (6-1) surged in the stretch and got up after a wide rally to win a starter optional claiming contest at Delaware last out. Her closing speed has improved all year, and she’ll be a late threat as long as she can find clear sailing. #14 Set Ablaze (9-2) was well-bet against a strong first-level allowance field last out, but raced throughout after breaking from the outside post and proved no factor. She’s stuck even further to the outside here, which doesn’t help her cause. However, when she works out a trip, she’s hard to hold off. #9 Happy This Day (8-1) sat off the pace and won two starts back, then made the lead in a totally paceless contest last out. She ended up fifth that afternoon behind Weekend Wife, who’s racing in the Maryland Million Ladies earlier today. Considering there’s more speed in this spot, this one’s likely to rate on the outside just off the pace, and could get a very advantageous setup.

RACE 9: MARYLAND MILLION NURSERY, 2-YEAR-OLDS, MD-SIRED, 6 FURLONGS

9-6-3-10

RACE 10: MARYLAND MILLION TURF, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, MD-SIRED, 1 1/8 MILES (GRASS)

2-6-7-1

#2 Alakan (5-1) has been somewhat visually unimpressive in his last few starts, but he’s run in the 90s twice in his last three starts while competing against tough first-level allowance rivals at Saratoga and Kentucky Downs. His lone win came here last November, when he covercame a poor start and a slow pace to break his maiden going away. #6 Hanksdiviningrod (20-1) hasn’t won in a while, both loves to rally from far off the pace and shake up the exotics. He’s finished second or third in three of his last four grass starts, and the only time he did it, he closed about as best he could in a traffic-filled try in Delaware’s Lewes Handicap. #7 Thundering (4-5) has the class edge over these, having won two of his last three tries in stakes company, including a 1-10 victory over similar in the Find Stakes last out. While he’s worthy of respect, his figures aren’t that much better than those of the others to be worthy of such a low mutuel.

RACE 11: MARYLAND MILLION CLASSIC, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, MD-SIRED, 1 1/8 MILES

2-1-5-8

Last year, #2 Barbadian Runner (2-5) provided one of the best storylines of Maryland Million day when he upset heavily favored Post Time in the Classic. This year, he’ll play the role of overwhelming favorite, and deservedly so. He called on all his heart and class to win the Battery Park Stakes at Delaware last out, his second stakes victory of the year. His usual race will easily beat these, and the only serious threat to him is if #1 Market Maven (6-1) sneaks too far away from him. That one led all the way at Parx last out with a career-best 100, and should make the lead from the rail without much trouble. Last year, Jamie Ness sent out a similarly speedy runner in the Classic in Blue Kingdom, and he managed to hold third. Fellow Ness trainee #5 In the Dance (15-1) has closed admirably despite getting pace-compromised in his last few starts, and can easily pick up a share even if the top two run their best races.

RACE 12: MARYLAND MILLION DISTAFF STARTER HANDICAP, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 7 FURLONGS

4-6-13-8

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!