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

Post time: 12:25 p.m.

Carryovers: 
Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $950
Jackpot Super High 5 — $1,214
Late Pick 5 — $0

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RACE 1: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 7 FURLONGS

2-7-3-5

Brittany Russell will send out, in all likelihood, the two favorites in this race. #2 Tactical Joke (3-1) ran a big race first off a 13-month layoff last out at Delaware Park, setting the pace, battling with eventual winner Style to Follow, and holding second. She should set the pace on the rail here and will be a tough customer second off the bench. #7 Tirupati (5-2) was third behind Tactical Joke two races ago, then held third when stretching out to a mile for the first time last out at Aqueduct. She should enjoy the cutback in distance and is likely to rate close to the pace. #3 Overwish (8-5), a $675,000 Repole-owned firster for Russell, has worked well since joining Russell’s Fair Hill string in late April, with nine workouts there, including a bullet drill on July 11 from the gate. She’ll likely have to run a brisnet figure in the low/mid-80s to win this race, and while it’s possible she fires that big at first asking, is it worth a possible odds-on price?

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

5-4-3-8

#5 Princessofthenorth (8-5) surged and just missed at this level two races ago, then made a bold move last out around two turns at Mountaineer and faded. She looks hard to hold off against these. #4 Boh’s N O’s (8-1) made a promising move going two turns in her grass debut last out but flattened out late. She might be better suited for a shorter distance, and also gets Lasix for the first time. #3 Little Josie Wales (5-2) looks like she’s rounding back into her best form and should be able to control things on the early pace with two cheap rivals to her inside.

RACE 3: MAIDEN CLAIMING $45,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

9-8-3-7

#9 Grayson’s Girl (2-1) had some traffic at the top of the stretch on debut, then boxed on between horses and held third. She never looked comfortable being surrounded by rivals and draws a post from which she can be kept in the clear. #8 Thunder in Paris (4-1) came from well out of it and just missed on debut, then got caught up in a duel and faded last out. She’s probably better off being kept off the pace against these. #3 Moon Valley (7-2) has shown improving works for Cal Lynch and is from a win-early family. Of her four winning siblings, two of them won at first asking and two more won second time out.

RACE 4: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $30,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 7 FURLONGS

4-6-2-1

#4 Band Camp (7-5) has won five of his last six starts, climbing the class ladder without much difficulty. He won against these types last out despite not changing leads, running his career-best mark of 96 for the second race in a row. That kind of figure wins this handily. #6 Mosler Time (7-2) has his form obscured by bad breaks and traffic trouble on different surfaces, but when he’s allowed to run his race, he has dangerous early speed and a ceiling that may not have been reached yet. #2 Backnthewoods (4-1) is back to the races for the first time since late March, and while he’s inconsistent, he has good tactical speed and a powerful middle punch. It’s just a matter of if he can sustain it.

RACE 5: CLAIMING $20,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

5-6-2-9

#5 At First Sight (9-2) just missed against non-winners of two types two starts back, then stepped up to win going away at that level last out with a career-best 78. She’s fairly lightly raced and should get her ideal trip. #6 Sheherhers (7-2) was also claimed out of her last race, in her case, by Anthony Farrior. She wore down the leaders to win last out with a career-best 81, but her only sub-70s figures in recent times came under less-than-idyllic race scenarios that shouldn’t come into play today. #2 Beautiful Karla (3-1) set the pace and showed heart to finish second last out and is likely to get the rail and the lead here.

RACE 6: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

2-8-3-7

#2 Petingas Twin (8-5) has been dominant force against softer in his last two starts, having won by a combined 15 3/4 lengths with figures of 92 and 100. He won both of those race sin stalk-and-pounce style and should get a great setup in a race with lots of speed. If Band Camp wins race 4, it’ll boost the stock of #8 Supreme Law (5-2), who was second to that rival last out after getting hounded on the lead. This one was claimed out of this spot by Jamie Ness. #3 Catahoula Moon (4-1) edged out Petingas Twin three starts back, and was a strong fourth, missing by just a length, in his first try against his elders last out.

RACE 7: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

7-8-2-9

#7 Takethefifth (3-1) has closed with a rush to hit the board in each of his last two starts, running in the mid/upper-70s both times. He has easily the best late pace figures and should once again make a serious stretch impact. #8 Coast Along (9-5) cut back around one turn on dirt last out, after consistently faltering in grass routes, and ran a big second after battling for the early lead. The Shug McGaughey/Forest Boyce combination is always dangerous with their grass runners down here. #2 Elon (7-2) chased loose leader Lothario and outkicked the others for second for his second straight figure in the mid/upper-70s. Even if Coast Along gets away, this one has enough tactical speed to get the jump on the others.

RACE 8: MISS DISCO STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, MD-RESTRICTED, 7 FURLONGS

2-5-6-4

Today’s first stakes race pays homage to the dam of the great Bold Ruler. One gets the sense that the connections of #2 Miss Harriett (3-1) have had this spot circled on their calendar for a while. She showed promise earlier this year with an impressive win in the Wide Country Stakes but haven’t found a spot that quite fits her since. Getting to run against fellow Maryland-breds on a track she’s already won two stakes races on looks like a recipe for success. #5 Daughter of Time (7-5) was pressed on the pace in the Maryfield Stakes at Monmouth Park last out and held on for third in a blanket finish. She faces a slightly easier field here and has plenty of room for improvement. #6 Go Sherry Go (4-1) is the only one in here to run in the 80s in each of her last three dirt starts, and if nothing else, should at least surg for a share.

RACE 9: BIG DREYFUS STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/8 MILES (GRASS)

6-5-1-4

Graham Motion has them surrounded in here; he trains my top two picks. #6 Sun Bee (4-1), the “other” Motion, gets the nod for me. She rallied to win a strong second-level race on the Black-Eyed Susan undercard two starts back. She then made a strong move on the PTHA Presidents Cup at Parx last out, but got buried in traffic on the turn and had little punch left when clear. If she stats out of trouble here, she’ll be potent late. #5 Sparkle Blue (4-5) has the class edge over these, having won the Hillsborough Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs three starts back on the lead, followed by a game runner-up effort in the Modesty Stakes two races ago. Motion decided to put her in here, rather than one of the numerous other stakes in her division in the Mid-Atlantic, an interesting move. She’ll be tough to beat, but if sure to get overbet compared to her stablemate, #1 Glittering Lights (3-1) hasn’t run a bad race since making her stateside debut for Brendan Walsh in mid-April. She closed well for second despite an overland trip last out and will be in position to save more ground here.

RACE 10: CLAIMING $12,500 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

7-1-5-3

#7 Summerstateofmind (3-1) broke his maiden going away in his last dirt try, and now gets some class relief after facing better non-winners of two types on grass. #1 Get Like Mike (4-1) finished a strong-chasing second to odds-on winner Minxzluckystarfyre in his most recent start and should be potent if he can stay close to the early pace. #5 Box N Ben (5-2) has the most early speed in the field by a good margin and may have found a field he can wire.

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