LAUREL PARK PICKS AND PONDERINGS: june 2, 2024
In which we pick the races from Laurel Park each day…
Post time: 12:25 p.m.
Carryovers:
Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 —$2,959
Jackpot Super High 5 — $0
Late Pick 5 —$0
Check out our other handicapping here!
RACE 1: CLAIMING $30,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)
4-7-1-6
#4 Visby (5-1) couldn’t draw in to a $20,000 non-winners of two spot yesterday, and comes back for a slightly higher tag today. She made her grass debut against some tough company in the 2022 Stormy Blues Stakes. She made a solid move into a fast pace, but inexperience won out and she faded late. She improved to a brisnet figure of 69 second off a 21-month layoff last out, making a similar premature move into the leaders. #7 Lady Ensign (9-2), who was also entered and scratched in the same race as Visby, goes out for the first time since November 19 for the Mike Trombetta barn, following a 2023 season in which she ran in the 70s on grass three times. She closed to finish a game second behind next-out winner Quick Power Nap two races back, then led most of the way in her season bow and held second. She has a very high ceiling compared to these, and we’ll see how she does first off the bench. #1 Abstract Moment (8-1) also runs first off the bench, having not raced since November 3. She broke her maiden at 15th asking last out with a nice stalk-and-pounce trip, and while she might need a race first off the bench, she should at least get a good setup from towards the rail.
RACE 2: CLAIMING $40,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 7 FURLONGS
4-5-6-7
#4 Rainy Skies (5-2) won going away first off the claim by Kieron Magee two starts back, then ran a credible second in his two-turn debut at this level last out. Waldrip, the winner of that race, returned to beat first-level foes at Parx next out. This one is lightly-raced with lots of room to improve off already impressive form. #5 Masakado (2-1) has held his own against better in his last few. He hit the board against a pair of next-out winners in his first two starts at this condition, ran into the promising Quint’s Brew and next-out winner Workislife two races ago, then raced on the pace and held second in his most recent. This looks like a field he’ll be more comfortable with. #6 Paco the Taco Man (6-1) jumped up to run a gigantic 89 in the mud last out, but he was in ascending form prior to that, so it’s hard to say if the mud moved him up that much. He’ll likely contest the pace from the outside.
- Style Points, Deep Satin dead heat for Virginia Oaks winStyle Points and Deep Satin hooked up in an absolute thriller in Saturday’s Virginia Oaks that resulted in a dead heat.
RACE 3: MAIDEN CLAIMING $30,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)
5-9-8-3
#5 Intel Agent (9-2) made her 2024 debut against straight maidens last out, and briefly pressed the pace before faltering. She closed well against softer in both of her grass starts last year, and almost certainly will benefit from the race under her belt. She’s a sibling to two grass winners, along with Scrap Copper, who finished second in the 2018 Laurel Futurity on this surface. #9 Spirit and Truth (5-1) was no match for dominant winner Kilo Road on debut last out, but chased the pace and held second with a respectable 75. Kilo Road returned to finish first in a dead-heat against first-level foes next out. This one will be tough if she takes to the grass. #8 Call the Question (7-2) may not be running at Saratoga this weekend, like fellow Johnson-breds Future Is Now and Mindframe, but she did show some promise on the Colonial Downs lawn last year, with a pair of figures in the 70s, and should improve as she returns to the lawn second off the bench.
RACE 4: CLAIMING $12,500 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES
3-6-2-8
#3 Hurrying Home (6-5) has run at least a 76 four times in his last five starts. Only one of his rivals has done that even twice within their last five. In his only start at this level, he made an early move into the pace. While he wore down early leader Last Second Louie, he couldn’t fend off closer Law of the Jungle and finished second at 3-5. Still, it was a strong effort. #6 Whatahardmanfidead (5-2) has run at least a 76 in back-to-back starts, and just missed third after making mild ground in his most recent. He has one of the best late kicks int he field, and should be able to at least grab a slice. #2 Kick Startness (9-2) looked sharp in his maiden-breaking effort three starts back, his only race so far at a mile or longer. Jaime Rodriguez will likely try to establish position on the rail and the lead with him; from there, it’s a matter of how long he can last.
RACE 5: CLAIMING $20,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)
9-8-10-6
#9 Win No Joke (4-1) goes second off the layoff, and his second start for the Troy Singh barn. In his 2024 bow, he chased the pace and finished second to Park Place, who beat conditioned claimers on grass next out. He ran in the mid-70s with consistency on grass last year, and keeps hot-riding J.G. Torrealba in the saddle. #8 Crazy Odds (10-1) also goes second off the bench for Fenneka Bentley, and more than held his own at this level last year, including a pair of runner-up efforts while showing different dimensions. #10 Evenly Divided (7-2) goes second off the claim by Anthony Farrior, making him automatically dangerous, and ran on well when he got clear in his most recent outing.
RACE 6: CLAIMING $7,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES
3-6-2-1
Take out the recent wet track races of #3 Fortune’s Fool (5-2), and he has very impressive recent form, with figures in the 80s in each of his last four fast-track efforts, including marks of at least 88 in each of his last two. Of course, a wet track is not something he’ll have to concern himself with today. #6 Captain Cardo (2-1) closed gamely and just missed against similar two starts back, but didn’t do much when cut back to six furlongs in his most recent race. This might be a little bit further than he might like (his best races have been at seven furlongs or a mile), but it doesn’t look like an overwhelming task for him. #2 Workin On a Dream (6-1) blew the doors off a conditioned claiming field last out, running a 91 while defeating a pair of next-out winners in the process. That’s an outlier compared to the rest of his recent form, but he has back-class and is likely to show speed.
- Wendell Fong’s long route to the finish lineIt was a long, twisting road for eight-year-old gelding Wendell Fong, but it’s ending up in the right place: with the retirement he’s earned.
RACE 7: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, 1 MILE (GRASS)
2-5-1-9
#2 Cap’n Dusty (5-2) was dismissed at 63-1 on debut at Gulfstream last out, as one of two debuters in the field, but closed well and just missed by a neck, with a solid 74. Jorge Ruiz, who has been riding well on grass as of late, gets the call for tis one’s local debut. #5 Mission North (3-1) may well have won last out if he was allowed to settle and control a very slow early pace. Rather, he was restrained early by Forest Boyce and found himself pace-compromised. If he’s allowed to do his thing early, he could prove very tough to catch. #1 Sig (8-1) almost pulled a wire job on this track last summer, and he’ll set the pace and dare them to catch him if Mission North is rated again.
RACE 8: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)
10-3-8-4
#10 Caroline Krystyna (8-5) made her first start of 2024 against first-level foes last out, and ran a statement rate. She firmly established early control and drew off to win impressively under a drive with a career-best 86. Many of her biggest rivals here haven’t raced this year, giving her the edge over them. #3 Above the Limit (3-1) led almost the whole way and got caught late in her most recent start back in early November at this level. She beat these types three races back at Delaware Park on the front end, and is sure to be hard-used in the early stages. From there, it’s a matter of ow much she has to give off the bench. She’s been working steadily and strongly for Cal Lynch since mid-March. #8 Cavalier Cupid (8-1) ran a respectable 76 first off a 21-month layoff last out, and has plenty of back-class, with a win at this level in July 2022 and a victory in the 2021 Keswick Stakes, with a figure of 86 as a 2-year-old, to her credit.
RACE 9: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS
3-8-5-7
#3 Hub (9-5) showed speed and faded last out, but managed to hold second in his first real race (he tossed the jockey on debut). He ads linkers here for Anthony Farrior, and turned in a very sharp four-furlong drill since that last race. #8 Confiscated (9-2) just missed on debut at Parx with a solid 81, and gets SIlvestre Gonzalez, who rode him on debut, to come in for the mount. He should work out a great trip near the pace. #5 Wrightsville (2-1) recovered from an awkward break to win a place photo on debut, behind the very sharp next-out winner Haileysfirstnotion. This will be his first start for the Farrior barn.
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