• John Piassek
• May 3, 2024

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

Post time: 12:25 p.m.

Carryovers: 
Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $12,810
Jackpot Super High 5 — $0
Late Pick 5 — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: CLAIMING $12,500 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

1-3-7-4

The final week of the Laurel Park spring season begins with a 10-race card. Not that we’ll be gone for long, of course. #1 Xcellent Man (7-5) broke his maiden going away on this track two starts back. Jay, who finished third in that race, came back to break his maiden next out, and was a close fourth in a salty first-level field last out. This one gets some class relief after facing better non-winners of two foes last out at Aqueduct. #3 Dance for Green (5-2) tries his elders for the first time after a string of solid efforts against his fellow 3-year-olds. He faded after a wide trip last out, but just missed in his prior two starts with brisnet figures in the 80s. Hot-riding J.G. Torrealba gets the call for the first time. #7 Bold Honor (9-2) has found his best self after some dull efforts going longer. He made a move to the front while wide last out and held in gamely, losing a photo for place.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $20,000 (N/W3L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

4-3-10-9

#4 Yooou Know (7-2) is one of two in here who has raced on grass this year, getting checked out of contention early on going two turns at Gulfstream Park. She’s won on this track before, and hasn’t run a bad race on this track. She should rate off the leaders and will be a threat with clear sailing. #3 Pinotslilgirl (5-2) went gate-to-wire to win two starts back at Turfway Park, then tried the Serena’s Song Stakes first off the claim by Kieron Magee. She showed speed and ended up being outclassed, but should be a more serious speed threat against these types. #10 Girls House (15-1) ran no worse than a 75 in five grass starts last year. She made her first start off a three-month layoff last out on dirt, and didn’t do much after racing rankly. She should improve here if she can settle.

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

7-4-2-3

#7 Mia’s Angel (9-5) ran a much-improved race from her debut last out. She battled on the lead going a mile, and held in until the stretch run. The horse she dueled with, Maddie Ten, held on to win, and returned to win next out. This one should be a lot better off at a shorter distance. #4 Chells Girl (8-1) had a bit of an awkward start and didn’t do much visually on debut at Charles Town, but still ran a solid 54. If she improves on that race at all, she’s a contender. #2 Flag Song Flyin (7-2) improved sharply on the cutback from a mile to seven furlongs last out, and will only get better with less distance and a pace-stalking trip.

RACE 4: CLAIMING $5,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

1-6-4-2

#1 Happy Union (9-5) was no match for the odds-on Mahoning Valley shipper Dunvegan Doll in her last start, but made a solid move late to outkick the others and grab second, with a field-best last-out mark of 77. She has in-and-out form, so she may be on the downside of her form cycle, but her best beats this bunch without drama. #6 Mysisternancy (2-1) was third behind Happy Union that day after setting the pace while wide. If you only look at her races going a mile or longer, her form looks much better, and she’s getting as much distance as she wants here. #4 Lucky Lorraine (8-1) has solid late pace figures and should enjoy getting back to a mile for the first time in a while. She’s 7-for-14 in the exacta at this distance.

RACE 5: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 6 FURLONGS

8-2-5-6

#8 Bythenumbers (7-5) has similar form as her stablemate in the other division of this race. She showed a little more speed at second asking last out and improved to a 68, up from a solid 65 on debut. Only one other horse in here has run that fast at any point in their lives. Unless Bythenumbers declines significantly, and I can’t see why she would, she’ll have them over a barrel. #2 Confluence Lassie (7-2) is the only one to cross that 65 barrier, having run a 67 on debut last summer at Timonium. She dropped off sharply in her next start, but she’s slowly improved with every race then, and has more than held her own at this level in her last two races. #5 Life at Both Ends (10-1) dueled for the lead at Charles Town last out, and outfinished her dueling partner by almost seven lengths while hiding second.

RACE 6: CLAIMING $5,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

9-4-3-7

After facing better in his last several starts, #9 Hanalei’s Houdini (9-5) drops in against conditioned rivals, where he looks like much the best. He’s run at least a 79 in each of his last two starts; no one else in here has run that fast at either of their last two races, and only two of them have run that fast at any point in their last three. #4 Porch Swing (3-1) has beaten conditioned claimers twice this year, and has struggled against Maryland-bred allowance foes in his last few races. This field should be more to his liking. #3 Workin On a Dream (4-1) goes first off the claim by Kieron Magee. He finished two lengths behind favored Steele Money, who raced a few paths to his inside in the lane. This one hit an abyss earlier this year, when he suffered a pair of 20+ length defeats, but he’s found a home at this level since.

RACE 7: MAIDEN CLAIMING $45,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/8 MILES (GRASS)

5-11-6-9

#5 Dark Pool (2-1) ran some big races against better maidens in New York towards the end of last year, with back-to-back 79s. In her lone start of this year, which came going 1 1/2 miles on the Gulfstream Tapeta, she led almost the whole way and got caught late. She’s worked well since joining the Keri Brion barn in mid-April, and looks primed for a peak effort. #11 Active (8-1) ran a big race off slow fractions two starts back at Tampa Bay Downs, then ran a career-best 77 on the Tampa Bay Derby undercard in her most recent. She has the best late pace figures in the race, and will be dangerous if she gets any kind of pace to close into. #6 Queen of the Dance (6-1) and closed well and just missed in her few starts at Turfway, including a narrow defeat after a five-wide sweep last out.

RACE 8: MAIDEN CLAIMING $45,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 6 FURLONGS

3-4-6-8

This is a pretty inexperienced group; no one in here has run more than twice. #3 Kilo Road (7-2) battled on the lead at first asking, and outfinished her dueling partner by 7 1/2 lengths. She ended up third behind two rivals who sat great trips off the duel. #4 Spirit and Truth (2-1) makes her career debut for Phil Capuano, who tends to hit with his first-time starters. This one rejoined the worktab in late February and has series of good drills since, including a bullet four-furlong workout on April 28 where she went the fastest of 72 workers. #6 Gettothstoryimdone (3-1), who is not the most prominent Repole homebred 3-year-old to run this weekend, exits the same race as Kilo Road. She was well-bet in that race, but fell far off the early pace and made only mild late ground. She’ll hope to improve at second asking.