Maryland racing analyst Gabby Gaudet has thoughts on a Pick 5 on this afternoon’s card at Laurel Park!
PICK THREE
Laurel Park has a Jackpot 50-cent Pick Five beginning in race 5. Post time for the 4th is 2:28. The Jackpot Pick 5, which pays out only if there is one and only one winning ticket, has a carryover of nearly $59,000 heading into today’s racing action.
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 5 – 3, 4, 10
- Race 6 – 1, 5
- Race 7 – 2, 6, 7, 10
- Race 8 – 2, 3, 7
- Race 9 – 3, 6
- Wager cost: $72
Gabby says….
“Laurel’s turf course is closed for the season, so the fifth, a first-level allowance sprint, will move to the main track. I feel like #3 Keep Momma Happy usually runs good races and has run against some good horses. Plus, his running style should fit here, as he can sit off what figures to be a lively pace. #4 Espiritu Libre is the same way; even though he’s been on the turf lately, he’s run some really good dirt races, and even though he has plenty of early speed, he should be able to rate. We will likely have an off track today, and #10 Pro Prospect loves an off track; he’s two-for-two on the slop…
“The sixth is another first-level allowance sprint, and I’m tempted to single #1 Magic Eight Ball. He’s been very close to winning this his last two tries; the only negative on him is that he draws the rail — amazingly, for the fourth straight race. That may compromise him, but if he can work out a trip, he can win here. If he can’t get a decent trip, #5 Volastic is one to watch. He has a win on the slop and, in another race with plenty of speed, figures to be able to rate off the pace…
“On paper, the seventh — the $100,000 Broad Brush Stakes — really sets up well for #7 Gourmet Dinner. There’s plenty of speed in this race, and if all those speed horses manage to knock each other out of contention, he’s the one most likely to benefit. Two others who I think will be running late are #2 Concealed Identity, who absolutely loves the off track — look back to his win in the Campbell in February — and reunites with rider Trevor McCarthy, and #6 Ponzi Scheme, who took the worst of the trip last week in the Swatara at Penn National but still finished third. I can’t leave #10 Eighttofasttocatch off my ticket; he’s certainly the class of this group, and he draws outside the other speed…
“I’m really interested to see #3 Jessethemarine in the eighth race, the Marylander Stakes. He ran a fantastic race last time against a salty group, the stretchout to seven furlongs shouldn’t be an issue, and he’s run well in the slop. I wonder if this is sort of a make-or-break race for #2 Classic Giacnroll. I don’t always like to see a horse getting Lasix for the first time after four races, and I’m not sure what he beat in his last, but he’s been running well lately and looks to fit here. These days I’m never leaving Jerry Robb off the ticket, which means I’m including #7 Joint Custody. He’s been red-hot at Laurel, and I think he’ll benefit from being outside. I don’t think he had the best trip down inside last time…
“I really like #3 Toni With an I in the ninth, a $7500 conditioned claimer. She’s won two straight; I thought she caught an easy group in the first of those two wins, but I think she validated that with the second. She looked really good that day. The only question for her in my mind is whether, in a race without much speed, she gets the setup she needs… Kieron Magee is another trainer you can’t leave off the ticket, and so we’ll include #6 Rock Slide Classic. This one is making her first start off the claim, and he has great success first off the claim. This horse looked like a solid claim for $5,000 last out — even though she didn’t run that well, she was the favorite — and if he can improve her, as he often does, she can fit here.”
Good luck!
(Featured image, of Ben’s Cat, by Laurie Asseo.)
[boxify cols_use =”5″ cols =”5″ position =”left” order =”none” box_spacing =”5″ padding =”5″ border_width =”2″ border_color =”blue” border_style =”solid” height =”60″]
