Can Maryland racing analyst Gabby Gaudet continue her run of successful wagering? We’ll find out today with her Pick 4 and first-turfing longshot!
PICK FOUR
Laurel Park has a 50-cent Pick Four beginning in race 7. Post time for the 7th is 3:25.
MJC analyst Gabby Gaudet will share her longshot and exotic plays with The Racing Biz each Saturday. Photo courtesy of the Maryland Jockey Club.
Gabby’s Selections
- Race 7 – 3, 6, 8, 10
- Race 8 – 5, 6
- Race 9 – 1, 3, 4, 6
- Race 10 – 6, 8, 11, 12
- Wager cost: $64
Gabby says….
“Race 7 is starter allowance on the turf. This condition always gets a good field, but this group is especially tough — and when you consider that in these big field of turf races, the best horses don’t always win, this is a tough one to handicap. That said, I think #3 Global Asset is the one to beat class-wise. He’s run some good races on the turf, and he’s going to find this group much easier than his last — the Grade 1 Jamaica, where he finished behind Up With the Birds, Admiral Kitten, and Jack Milton, among others… Another with a similar profile — and my top choice here — is #6 Readyshakego, who tried the Grade 2 Virginia Derby and Grade 3 Kent earlier this year. His last, against allowance horses, was decent, and I think there will be enough pace in here to help the closers like him… #8 Lasso likes this distance, his last was very good, and he might just be able to steal this on the front end; plus, Rudy Rodriguez probably isn’t shipping here from Aqueduct if he doesn’t like the spot… The lone turf try for #10 Lunar Rock was pretty good, in last year’s Laurel Futurity, and this horse figures to get a good trip not far off the pace.
“Race 8 is a never-won-two for $5,000 claimers, and while these races are often tough to figure, I’m looking at just two in here. And, really, I think that #6 Nodebtdanny is by far the best horse here. Another Rodriguez shipper, she’s dropping from the $16,000 level, and I think she wins… If not, I’m looking at #5 Exactanelli as my other choice. Stretching out to seven furlongs, I think she’ll have a good trip on or near the lead in a race without much pace.
“Race 9 is an interesting maiden special weight event. The plain 1 is scratched, but #1A Dare Me remains in, and remains a threat here. He made up a tremendous amount of ground in his debut to be second against Mean Season, who ran off the screen. That race was about a month ago, and he’s worked a bullet at Fair Hill for trainer Graham Motion in the meantime — and for good measure, he’s a half to the very good Shackleford… I thought #3 Golden Rifle had a useful debut, finishing third in a race where he was kind of even-paced. He’s worked two bullets since and should be able to show up here… It’s only a matter of time until #4 Der Boss wins, after three good starts… #6 Standing Point ran pretty well in his debut. In his last, they put the blinkers on, and that didn’t seem to work, so trainer Dale Capuano is taking them off today, and I think this horse will run better.
“The 10th is another hard-to-figure turf race for second-level allowance horses. I’m interested to see #6 Makayla’s Angel on the turf. Her breeding suggests she might like it, and her one try on synthetic was one of her better races; she finished behind Monster Sleeping that day, and that one was just lights-out in the Maryland Million… Flint Stites has shipped down to Laurel more than once and won at a big price, and I don’t put that past happening again with #8 Elegant Swan. She’s had a couple good tries on the turf earlier, and I don’t hold that last one, on a muddy dirt track, against her… #11 Cross Mountain never seems to get much credit from the bettors, but she always shows up, and I thought her last turf try, two back, was very good, when she won over Theatricality… #12 Red Hot Tweet has been a different horse since they put her on the turf, and I could easily see her rallying from the outside to get the money.”
LONGSHOT PLAYS
- Her longshot play of the day comes from the tenth race, and it’s #6 Makayla’s Angel, who’s 10-1. She’s nicely bred — by Sky Mesa out of the winning Silver Deputy mare Perfectly Stunning, and a half to stakes winner Matchless Orinda — and her one try on synthetic was very good. Maryland Million Ladies winner Monster Sleeping won that race, and the other horses have also all run well since; plus, the six furlong distance that day might have been a bit short, while today’s one-mile distance might hit her between the eyes.
Good luck!
(Featured image, of Ben’s Cat, by Laurie Asseo.)
