LAUREL PARK PICKS AND PONDERINGS: october 21, 2023

  • userFrank Vespe
  • dateOctober 21, 2023

In which we pick the races from Laurel Park each day…

Post time: 12:25 p.m.

Carryovers: Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $0
Jackpot Super High 5 — $0
Late Pick 5 — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1

8-9-10-6

18. Kobe Tough (15/1)Jockey Toledo gets off fave, lands here on runner with plenty of efforts good enough to win this making needed class drop
29. Pico d’Oro (5/2)Good tries keep landing in same spot: second
310. Storm Trappe (15/1)Last better than it looks, and runner-up came back to win

RACE 2

2-7-3-5

12. Cloudy Night (8/1)Inclined to draw a line through last on slop; reunites with rider who nearly won on her two back, and repeat of that could be enough
27. G’s Fireball (2/1)Improved speed in last, clear of rest while no match for winner
33. Harmonizing (3/1)Blinkers on, cutback in distance, drop in class all may aid the cause

RACE 3

8-5-9-3

18. Meow Meow Hiss (5/2)Drops a notch after rugged trip early and late in latest while rank; for all that beaten less than three lengths
25. Origami Girl (7/2)Step slow and bumped leaving the gate left this one in last before grinding late run; Delgado 27% first off the claim
39. Magic in the Park (3/1)Snug hold early in latest, willing finish to miss by less than a length; with just two starts, plenty of upside still

RACE 4

8-6-3-7

18. Joya Del Sur (7/5)Guess the 76 Beyer two back was illusory, drops now to possible winning spot and drawn well outside; trainer Russell 50% on the big drop in price and 40% second after the claim; winner of last won an N1X allowance in follow-up
26. Cocktail Dreaming (5/2)Don’t ignore a 5-time winner in N3L company; was in similar spot to winner in last but had to go wide while that one took rail route
33. Mysisternancy (20/1)Half-sis to ’22 Maryland Million Classic winner Ournationonparade alternating good races and bad; time for a good one?

RACE 5

6-4-11-7

16. Roundtop (2/1)Half-brother to ill-fated G1 winner Mongolian Groom ran a big one on debut, winner Fulmineo returning to be second in G2 next; trainer Motion 25% with maiden special runners in their second starts after finishing in the money on debut
24. Legendary Phantom (5/1)Runner bred top and bottom for a route of ground gets it in fourth start; sprinting efforts just fine, and winner of last was third a neck in $250k Keeneland stake next out
311. Neat (10/1)Bombs away? Inclined to toss last after getting thumped leaving gate; if you liked him into that – he’s a half to a stakes winner who’s graded-placed – may as well give him another shot here on the ship

RACE 6

3-2-10-5

13. I Run (10/1)Upset special? Deeply troubled trips in last two cloud the form of a runner with a little talent; owns a one-turn mile win on debut at CD, and trainer-jockey combo of Gonzalez-Barbosa deadly
22. Alottacents (8/5)Not sure last was quite as good as it looks, as top seven all finished within 2 1/2 lengths of 19-1 winner; don’t sweat two back effort, as that looks to have been a paid workout
310. Mineola Mike (10/1)Consistent sort should be engaged early

RACE 7

6-2-5-9

16. Bassanio (3/1)Spirited duel through solid fractions in last left nothing in the tank for the stretch, though he did edge pace rival; winner came back to be third in $75k stake at GP
22. Opposites Attract (4/1)Last was a mess as he lightly bumped a rival early, then was rank; draw a line through it and he fits with these
35. Wicked Secret (10/1)Astute ride helped this one get up two back, closing nicely to erase yawning late gap; race produced two next out winners

RACE 8

4-9-6-3

14. Charge to Victory (7/2)Razor-sharp form despite ill-advised foray into N2X company; all dressed up with no place to go behind a wall of horses in last until too late; has never tried the one-turn mile but recent 7f tries say he’ll handle it
29. Paradise Pride (6/5)Saw five-race win streak snapped in latest but still held second; kinda feel like he wants two turns, though, as he’s winless in last five one-turn affairs since Aug. ’22; still, on best he’s a handful
36. Oxide (15/1)Gaudet barn gave this one time off, brought him back in starter company and now protects him again despite modest return effort; must like what they’re seeing in the morning from veteran who’s beaten better not so long ago

RACE 9

10-7-2-4

110. Patria (7/2)Never worse than third in three turf tries, all versus NY-bred allowance foes; 6-month vacation gives you pause, but short sprint distance helps allay concerns
27. Gift of Gab (10/1)Second off a bit of a break and has better efforts to run back to; owns N1X win over Maryland-breds
32. Morgs World (4/1)Terrific turf form and recent 80-plus Beyer figs may entice betting public; likes to finish second, which he’s done four times in five winless tries at 5 and 5 1/2 furlongs

RACE 10

7-3-9-6

17. R B Took the Odds (6/1)Debut runner by Honor Code is out of a dam who made $225k; trainer Dilodovico is 14% with positive ROI with debut maiden claimers, and this group seems manageable enough
23. Minimo (7/2)Blinkers on for a runner who ran on willingly despite a somewhat troubled trip; runners from last have performed well since
39. One Way Farrior (2/1)Closed but couldn’t get there going 4 1/2, had speed and faded going 6; 5 1/2 just right? Emerges from same race as Minimo, finishing a nose behind that one

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