RACE 1

3-6-1-7

Trainer Brittany Russell has won at a 36% clip dropping horses from maiden special weight to maiden claiming the last year, and that’s the move she’s making with #3 Langlee Avenue (6-5). This one’s two recent tries in special weight company aren’t bad, and a similar effort should get the money here on the two-level drop in class…#6 Hialeah Native (5-2) made a grinding run in the lane when finally clear in last but winner Dyna Mast came flying on the outside. This one had a slightly troubled trip, having to tap the brakes a couple times and a bit slow to switch leads in the lane, but it was a commendable outing… Not sure I want to hold that last one too strongly against #1 Master Oogway (8-1); that was an oddly run race where the leading pair ran off, and that was bad news for this one, who likes to be close up…

RACE 2

1-5-3-7

Nice step forward last out for #1 Glorious Mahomes (8-5), making just his second start after a 16-month vacation. Another step forward would knock this condition down… #5 Rascally Rebel (3-1) scratched out of Saturday race to land here and arrives off a solid effort against better at 38-1. He’d be more enticing, though, if his record weren’t so unslightly: 1-for-24, pretty much all of those on the lower rungs of the class ladder… The speedy #3 Cavalry Command (9-5) has run a couple of decent races recently and certainly fits here. Two back he finished ahead of four of these…

RACE 3

4-6-2-8

#4 Dats Mr. Mo (5-2) ran into a buzzsaw two back in his most recent on the main track. Runaway Jack was 2-5 that day, rallied to win easily, and then doubled up in an N1X allowance with an 88 Beyer fig. After a one-race interlude on the lawn, this one could be poised to graduate… Gotta feel like veteran trainer Ham Smith likes something he’s seeing from #6 Energy Efficient (15-1). He’s continued to run him in non-claiming spots despite now six unsuccessful tries. Blinkers go on today, and Barbosa stays, so perhaps a step forward is in the offing… #2 Omni King (3-1) may appreciate a bit of an easier group than he’s been seeing… The well-bred #8 Code Name (8-5) has been working like gangbusters at Fair Hill, but trainer McGaughey is just 1-for-12 with first-timers at Laurel, as he typically sends the better ones to New York…

RACE 4

3-1-9-2

Big effort two back to best Maryland-bred allowance foes by #3 Prince Pere (5-2). The follow-up wasn’t as good but wasn’t terrible, either, as it went to the promising S. Muffin, who won his second straight that day… #1 Chiringo (2-1) has made three of his seven starts in stakes company, including his last two, so should benefit from some class relief today. The work tab looks strong, but you have to think if the connections loved this guy, they’d send him to the Spa rather than lovely Laur-el… #9 Brother Conway (12-1) is stepping it up from the claiming ranks for his first try on the lawn. His granddam was a graded stakes winner on the grass…

RACE 5

8-7-3-5

There’s plenty of speed in this claiming event, which may be good news for the late-running #8 Big Ambition (8-1). The Jamie Ness trainee had won two straight dirt races before a couple of middling turf tries, so he may appreciate a return to the main track. The Ness barn has been on fire, winning at a nearly 50% clip at Laurel of late, and hot rider Rodriguez retains the mount… #7 Away to Return (3-1) drops to his lowest level off a disappointing turf try, but if he can get back to his dirt form of last year, he’ll be a handful in here. His win against Md-bred allowance rivals last June is the most impressive performance of any of these. The question is whether he’ll get cooked in a speed duel… Another who’ll be running on late and may have found a good spot is #3 Tap N Glo (9-2), recently third against similar in a race that’s produced a next-out winner…

RACE 6

1-9-6-5

Man, that was a tough beat in last for #1 Huntington (3-1), who fended off numerous bids until Dyna Mast ran him down late. Note how Hialeah Native runs in the first on this card, since he was third that day and a good performance by him might be good news for this one… #9 Solomon’s Choice (6-1) has rallied to the lead with a furlong to go in two straight but has not been able to seal the deal. Angel Cruz, on him two back, returns for this tilt. He exits an oddly run race where the lead pair sped off from everyone else and then stopped. The Geralis barn is having a productive season… #6 Cripple Creek (5-2) gets Lasix on for his first start since November. Trainer Michael Matz wins at a 20% clip bringing horses back off similar layoffs at a route distance…

RACE 7

6-3-2-1

#6 All Threes (3-1) has run into some tough ones of late, including Borracho and Yodel E. A. Who, but may be in a good spot here. He likes this mile trip, and breaking from the outside will give rider Russell a chance to use this one’s tactical speed to best advantage… Consistent he is not, but #3 Double Crown (5-2) runs big on occasion and has finished in the triple in five of six tries at the trip, including in the Harrison Johnson Memorial in March when he finished ahead of morning line favorite #2 Ournationonparade (7-5). That runner is winless in five tries at the trip and has done his best work around two turns…

RACE 8

2-4-6-3

#2 Water Witch (9-5) has run nothing but good races since the Farrior claim, which may be enough to handle these… #4 Holding Court (9-2) got bumped around in last when Hot Looking Royal came in and forced a chain reaction. That runner, DQed because of that, returned to win. This one is eligible for an improved effort… #6 Red Wine Time (4-1) ran credibly against similar two back, and we can toss the turf try. She’ll need some pace up front…