Maryland racing analyst Gabby Gaudet has thoughts on a couple of exotic plays on this afternoon’s card at Laurel Park!
EARLY DOUBLE
Laurel Park has an early daily double, starting with the first race. Post time for race 1 is 12:35 p.m.
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 1 – 1, 2, 6
- Race 2 – 3
- Wager cost: $3 ($1 unit)
Gabby says….
“I really like the first race. I think you’ll get good prices on some reasonable horses, which means the double will have a chance to pay well. #2 Just Funnin’ Ya is a horse making her debut, and she’s nicely bred, even though she didn’t cost a lot at auction. Her dam, Humorlee, was a useful runner on the local circuit, and Humorlee’s dam, My Own Lovely Lee, was a multiple stake winner in the Midwest. I also like #1 Don’tstop Theparty in this spot, first off the claim for Tim Keefe. I’m tossing the favorite here, #4 No Wonder At All. Though he came in second at this level last out, I kind of think that was a case where someone had to be second…
“In the second, the Frank Whiteley, Jr. Stakes for three year-olds, I think you have to give Jessethemarine another crack. He ran OK last time; he couldn’t get to Joint Custody, and that one came back to win the Maryland Juvenile Championship with ease, so there was nothing wrong with that outcome. But he didn’t show a great finishing kick, more sort of grinding along, so this one is a test for him.”
LATE PICK FOUR
Gabby’s selections
- Race 6: 3, 4
- Race 7: 4, 6
- Race 8: 3, 8
- Race 9: 3, 5, 11
- Wager cost: $12 (0.50 cent unit)
Laurel also has a late Pick Four, beginning with the sixth race, and Gabby has a play on that, as well. Post time for the sixth is 2:56 p.m.
Gabby says….
“In the sixth, the Nellie Morse Stakes for older fillies and mares, #3 Welcome Guest should be fastest of all, and if she can control the pace, she wins here. But I’m not sure that she will; Celtic Katie ran off to a big early lead in her last, a win in allowance company, and I think she could put pace pressure on Welcome Guest. If she does, the beneficiary could be #4 Access to Charlie, who won the Geisha last out and figures to sit a few lengths off the early pace and try to make a run from there.
“There’s not much to say about the seventh, a third-level allowance. Cherokee Artist is sort of an inconsistent horse, but he’s been in good form lately, seems to like the six furlong distance, and has won two straight at this level. I also like Freudian Dilemma here, who’s run a couple good races lately.
“In the eighth, the Fire Plug stakes for older horses, a couple of scratches — of favored Strapping Groom and Bandbox — could change the complexion of the race. I still think there’s some speed here; Escrow Kid occasionally shows speed, and Fersmiley is a speedy sort, and even Warrioroftheroses has been forwardly placed. Those scratches put two-time stake winner #8 Service for Ten in the driver’s seat. But a horse I like at a price is #3 Well Spelled; he has had some really good races, including beating Trinniberg in the 2012 Gallant Bob right before Trinniberg won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. He’s only raced once in the last 15 months, but he’s been working well, and if he can get back to his earlier form, he could be in the mix.
“In the ninth, a $5,000 lifetime claimer, a couple of horses dropping from $25,000 company, yet still with decent odds, are my top choices. I like #11 Peeds in a Pod, who’s 9-2. This is a horse who won a maiden special weight and finished third in the Maryland Juvenile Championship last year. He’s a nice enough horse who’s maybe been in a little over his head in some of his races, but this is a pretty aggressive drop. #3 Readysetsketch is also dropping from better company. He won a maiden $16,000 claimer at Aqueduct but looks like he’s had some physical issues since. His lone local try was a seventh — though only beaten five lengths — in $25,000 company on the lawn.”
“Good luck!”
(Featured image, of Ben’s Cat, by Laurie Asseo.)
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