Laurel Park: Spot plays and horses to watch, November 23
Rapid Dan (#2) cruised to victory in an allowance at Laurel Park. Photo by The Racing Biz.
Gary Quill is taking a brief hiatus from his GQ Approach full-card picks and analysis. In his stead, we present daily spot plays and horses to watch. Good luck!
First post today 11:25 a.m. The late Pick 5 has no carryover. The Super Hi 5 has no carryover. The Jackpot Rainbow Pick 6 has a carryover of $3,605.67. Tenraces are on the card, five scheduled for the turf.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
- The second race, a second-level allowance going a flat mile on the main track, has a short field (just six) but it’s a pretty good one. The favorite here is #6 Southside Warrior (2-1), who ran a huge on last out to be second in the Maryland Million Classic, actually clearing to the lead leaving the furlong grounds before tiring late. But we’re more intrigued by #5 All Out of Aces (5-2). The Larry Jones trainee has won three straight, all pretty easily, last out taking an entry-level allowance by a couple with a Beyer speed figure of 91 in a race in which he fought the rider’s control through the first turn and in the early part of the back stretch. This one clearly has talent and is on the improve, and it’ll be interesting to see if he’ll mind his manners with new pilot Feargal Lynch.
- Here’s a stat: trainer Ham Smith has won with four of nine starters who were a) making their debut for him and b) had not raced in six months or more. Coincidence? Maybe, but if not, you’ll want to take a look at #5 Ghoul’s Night Out (4-1) in the fourth race, a $40,000 maiden claimer. The sophomore Ghostzapper filly was a more than credible fourth on debut, just a couple of lengths behind Sine Wave, who later was Grade 3-placed. Her follow-up, going a mile 70 yards, was poor and sent her to the bench (and out of Tony Dutrow’s barn) for the last 10 months. She returns here, after a sojourn in Elloree, SC, with Alex Cintron in the irons.
