In Focus: Wagering Laurel’s January stakes

by Frank Vespe

Saturday’s Laurel Park card features four stakes, two for newly minted three-year-olds and two for older horses.

Perhaps the day’s highlight is the return of fan favorite Page McKenney, earner of more than $1 million since being claimed for $16,000 back in 2013.  He’s back, after a nine-month break, to defend his Native Dancer title against an intriguing field that includes speedy, but lightly raced, Red Dragon Tattoo; 2014 Preakness runner Kid Cruz; and talented West Virginia-bred Charitable Annuity.

Among the sophomore set, the star looks to be O Dionysus.  The Gary Capuano-trained head case won the Christopher Elser Memorial Stakes three back and ran a huge one to be second to talented Irish War Cry in the Marylander last out.  His top challenger might be High Roller, trained by Gary Cap’s brother Dale.

How to wager?

Fortunately, we have the answers in our In Focus: January Stakes which features top four selections, plus horse-by-horse analysis of every horse in all five stakes.

(In the document below, you can use the “pop-out” button to call up a printable version of the document.)