Laurel Park: Racing canceled Jan. 21, 2019

ANALYSIS

Bottom-level maidens kick off Laurel Park’s holiday card, and we’re grabbing #1 Expect Drama (2-1) in here. The Wayne Potts trainee won the speed duel in his most recent start but lost the war as McLean House came along to pick up the pieces. In his second start following a two-month break, against a group light on early zip, this one can graduate here… A similar situation presents itself in race 2, but you sure won’t get rich betting it. #5 Rag Top (4-5) won the speed duel last out but just failed to hold off the late-running Belle ‘n Tonic. Trevor McCarthy remains aboard here on a horse that can make amends in this spot… We’ll go hunting value in race three, a $16,000 maiden claiming sprint. #1 Lucky Bull (8-1) has gone one mile in six of his seven career starts without showing much. He also didn’t show much in his lone sprint try, but not so fast; that was his career debut, he finished fourth, and the top pair both have turned into graded stakes winners. Back at a sprint distance, this one can give an improved accounting of himself and will have Victor Carrasco up…

ANALYSIS

A couple of the main contenders in race four, a third-level allowance — among them the favorite, #3 Moe Trouble (9-5) — may be slugging it out on the front end in the early going of this one. If so, one possible beneficiary is #1 Bronx Sandman (4-1). The Gary Capuano trainee sure didn’t run well last out, though he may not have liked the going; we’re inclined to give him another crack in here, where he figures to be sitting in the second flight behind the speed under Johan Rosado… In her last start, #5 Welly (4-1) rallied smartly to the lead and still held a two-length advantage leaving the furlong grounds. She couldn’t contain the winner but was still clear of the show horse, War Tweet, who graduated in her follow-up; that performance — in which she also was well clear of the favorite in here, #6 Hey Mabel (8-5) — gives her the nod over the chalk, who ran second to War Tweet in her subsequent start… #5 Coqueta (3-1) ran second against $10,000 maidens last out and cuts back here to the 5 1/2 furlong distance, at which she has been in the top three in two of three starts. Not the strongest endorsement, but it’s enough; she’s our pick in race six…

ANALYSIS

There look to be some speedy types in the race seven allowance, which means a horse with a more tactical bent should have the advantage. That horse is #4 Cilantro (7-2); the Scott Lake trainee didn’t run a bad one last out to be third against similar and cuts back to a sprint distance here, which should aid the cause, and gets blinkers on… #1 Elverson (5-2) won at first asking against maiden special rivals and looks to double up here in race eight. The second- and third-place finishers from that start — So Gracious and Sweet Carli — returned to run two-four in a maiden event Sunday at Laurel. It’s no easy spot, including as it does the Todd Pletcher trainee #2 Two Dozen Roses (3-1); #7 Knock Out Kid (3-1), who won at this level (when in for the tag) last out; and #8 Music of Life (9-2) who had some trip troubles last out but can compete here… In the finale, every horse has easy-to-find flaws and arguments against, but we ended up with #4 My Eminence (2-1); the Hugh McMahon trainee ran a good second last out against similar and cuts back to a six-furlong distance at which he’s been in the money in five of eight tries…