RACE 1: CLAIMING $20,000 (N/W3L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

3-6-10-8 (DIRT: 8-10-1A-5)

We’ll kick off the Laurel Park summer meet on the best place to do it, the grass. #3 Catch the Kitten (6-1) hasn’t raced on grass, but kept herself busy throughout the winter and spring, including some solid tries at this level on dirt in her last few. She’ll get a good setup near the pace and will have every chance to mow them down. #6 La Tache (3-1) has run brisnet figures in the 70s three times in her last four grass starts; the only time she failed to do so was when she got overly aggressive on the lead three starts ago. She tends to run her best when she gets the same stalk-and-pounce trip that Catch the Kitten likes, a trip she converted to victory earlier this year at Tampa Bay Downs. #10 Molly of Stratford (4-1) makes her local debut for Kieron Magee, who is 6-for-11 in the past two years with horses making their first start in his barn. This one ran a respectable third after pressing the pace in her grass debut at Sam Houston Race Park earlier this year. Her two-turn races on dirt last year were not very good, but the surface switch might get her going.

RACE 2: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

4-3-6-1

#4 Right Quick (5-2) showed some promise first off an 18-month layoff at Delaware Park last out, making up good late ground to lose third by a length. It was by far a career-best race, following two efforts in the fall of 2022 where he did less than nothing. He should do even better second off the bench. #3 Silent Roar (5-1), a half-brother to graded stakes winner Swayin to and Fro, finds a soft landing place in which to make his debut. He’s had a respectable worktab for Hammy Smith, including a bullet five-furlong workout on May 8. Smith doesn’t often win with debuters, but this one looks to have at least a puncher’s chance. I’ll watch the board with him. #6 Super Needy (6-5) drops to this level for the first time and looks like the main speed of the field. He should cross and clear easily despite the outside post; from there, it’s a matter of how long he can last.

RACE 3: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

8-6-4-12 (DIRT: 10-4-6-3)

#8 Charmed (2-1) makes his first start since November 19 in this spot. He ran a season’s-best 88 that day, chasing the pace gamely and grabbing fourth behind, among others, next-out winner Boss is a Pal and On the Engine, who entered the race on a two-race win streak. This one’s been working well since early April for Patrick Neusch, who does very well with horses coming off a long break. #6 Zip Line to Heaven (5-2) also made his last start in that November 19 contest, where he was a mild sixth. He made his first start of 2023 off a similar layoff just about one year ago today, and he won with a 82, a four-point improvement of his 2022 finale. Last out, he ran an 86. #4 Bourbon Currency (6-1) has a ceiling a bit below that of the aforementioned two, but he has raced more recently, having made a few starts at Penn National earlier this year, and has great late pace figures.

RACE 4: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

2-5-7-3

#2 Rad Paisley (1-1) made his first start of 2024 a winning one last out, going gate-to-wire to beat similar at Pimlico. He should make the rail and the lead easily here, and from there prove tough to catch. #5 Addy’s Laddy T N T (3-1) chased Rad Paisley throughout and finished second in his most recent start, but lasted through pace pressure and held on to win two starts back. He might not want to let Rad Paisley get too far away here. #7 Heads or Tails (6-1) has slowly improved since getting claimed by Derick Parram, and gets bug rider Anthony Radcliffe, who recently rode his first career winner at Delaware Park, in the saddle. He might take advantage if Rad Paisley goes too fast early on.

RACE 5: MAIDEN CLAIMING $20,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

9-6-5-2 (DIRT: 9-4-1-2)

#9 Celtic Bond (4-1) has shown speed and held well in both her starts going six furlongs or shorter on dirt, with figures of 70 both times. Full sister Pounding Music is a winner on grass, including a victory in the 2022 Maryland Million Turf Distaff Starter Handicap. #6 Princess Lucia (10-1) makes her career debut here. She’s a half-sister to four grass winners, including stakes winner Debbie’s Tude. She turned in a grass workout on May 26, suggesting Hugh McMahon thinks she has particular aptitude for this surface. As long as she shows any grass ability at first asking, she’s a contender. #5 Lenamagnetta (10-1) has faded after wide trips in her last two starts on dirt, but ran some big marks on grass towards the end of last year, running between a 69 and a 72 in her three starts on the surface.

RACE 6: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, MD-BRED/SIRED, 6 FURLONGS

4-6-3-1

#4 Society Ball (3-1) was scratched out of the Hilltop Stakes on the Black-Eyed Susan undercard two starts back, and now resurfaces here. This spot is much more to her liking. She drew off to win a first-level contest for 3-year-olds in her last start, then finished a solid-chasing second behind stakes-place C C Royal in her prior race. She might want a bit more distance than this, but she’s in career-best form and should be tough. #6 Golden Charm (5-2) has made three starts at this level, and did what she does best: hit the board without winning. She loomed large in both of those races, but couldn’t seal the deal. Her only win in her 15-race career came in a three-horse field in March. She’ll likely once again rate just off the pace and round out the exacta. #3 Honor the Truth (8-1) finished a solid-closing third going 1 1/16 miles in her last start. She goes second off the claim by Mike Gorham, who hits at 24% with that angle, and gets a key rider switch to Jaime Rodriguez.

RACE 7: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE (GRASS)

8-12-1-5 (DIRT: 4-7-5-6)

#8 Virtual (6-1) made her career debut last out, and probably needed the race. She got a nice trip rating off the pace on the rail, and loomed large at the top of the stretch, but couldn’t quite kick on and lost to four experienced rivals. Still, she ran a respectable 75 in that race, and is in a prime spot to improve at second asking. #12 Pinstripepizzo (12-1) closed well in each of her final two grass starts of 2023, and returns to grass second off the bench following a total non-effort on dirt at Aqueduct last out. #1 Akayla (2-1) makes her first start for Brittany Russell and her first start off a five-month break. She couldn’t compete with better maidens in New York and Florida earlier in her career, but consistently ran in the 70s during that stretch, marks good enough to beat these.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, MD-BRED/SIRED, 6 FURLONGS

1-5-4-2

#1 One Way Traffic (9-2) improved sharply second off a 2 1/2-month layoff last out, opening up a long early lead and digging in to hold third. He’ll show abundant early speed and should prove tough to catch on the front end. #5 Band Camp (5-2) has won three of his last four starts against softer, getting great stalking trips each time, and now gets a bit of a class test. He’ll take advantage if One Way Traffic falters on the front end. #4 Mine Run (8-5) has raced just once since early August, but it was an impressive performance, as he drew off to beat a conditioned claiming field first off a seven-month layoff with a strong 89.