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

Post time: 12:25 p.m.

Carryovers: 
Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $2,614
Jackpot Super High 5 — $1,876
Late Pick 5 — $0

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RACE 1: CLAIMING $7,500 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

1A-4-2-3

#1A Running River (7-5) led all the way around at Delaware Park two starts ago, then opened up a long lead and just missed at this level last out. There’s not much to press him early, so he should get his ideal trip. #4 Eye On the Candy (9-2) ran a big race on the front end a few starts back at Pimlico, but has been rather uninspiring outside of that. he gets some class relief after facing better in his last few; might that wake him up? #2 American d’Oro (9-5) made a premature move at Timonium last out and faded to second, but he still showed the most early speed he’s had in a while, an encouraging sign.

RACE 2: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

6-7-11-4

#6 Crabcakes N Beer (7-2), a half-brother to Crabs N Beer, who is graded-stakes placed on grass, made his first start on this surface last out. He lacked room at the top of the stretch, then made mild ground when clear and finished second. He adds blinkers here and will try to take a step forward. #7 Lordly (3-1) was well-bet on debut at Colonial Downs for Arnaud Delacour, and finished a clear-cut third while posing no serious threat to the top two, one of whom had experience. Delacour tends to be sharper with his second-time starters than his first-timers. #11 Hidden Motive (6-1) pressed the pace and held second in his first grass start at Delaware. He’s a half-brother to three grass winners, including stakes winner Stern Chaser and stakes-placed In a Spin.

RACE 3: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 1 MILE

3-5-1-2

#3 Tony Eclipse (7-2) is one of two in here who has already run at today’s distance. He did so on grass on debut, and probably could’ve used the race, as he made what looked like a promising move only to flatten out. He’s unproven on dirt, but as long as he can handle this distance, that’s half the battle. #5 Lou’s Birthday (9-5) was a solid second after setting the pace last out going a mile, in his first start beyond 5 1/2 furlongs. He’s burned up a lot of money in his 4-race career, having gone off at 8-5 or shorter three times, but this might be a field he can handle. Todd Pletcher’s shipped #1 Antietam (7-5) down here off a fifth-place effort on debut. He was well-beaten that day by Ferocious, who returned to finish second in the Hopeful Stakes. He has lots of upside, but he’s never gone beyond six furlongs, and is sure to take an overabundance of money based on his connections.

RACE 4: MAIDEN CLAIMING $45,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

7-1-6-11

#7 Worries Unfounded (9-2) did nothing on debut on a wet track at Gulfstream Park, but improved sharply second time out at Colonial, rallying and just missing for second. Any worries she can’t handle this surface may in fact be unfounded; her dam has produced two winners on the surface. #1 Granuaile (3-1) has blistering early speed and should set the pace from the inside. She was hounded all the way at Colonial last out, but held well and finished second to a favored rival. #6 Mor Mor Mor (7-2) showed a bit more life at second asking than she did at first, and now drops in for a tag for the first time. Her dam was stakes-placed on grass, and three of her siblings are winners on this surface, including Whispurring Kitten, who was twice stakes-placed.

RACE 5: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W1X), 2-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

7-5-2-4

#7 Do It for Michael (20-1) broke his maiden going away after getting entangled in a pace duel on debut, then finished a sharp second in the Hickory Tree Stakes at Colonial, defeating next-out stakes winner Re Markably. An impressive win here would establish him as one of the favorites for next month’s Maryland Million Nursery. If Lou’s Birthday wins race 3, it would flatter the form of #5 Just a Fair Shake (5-2), who sat the trip and beat that rival going away at first asking. We’ll see how he does on the cutback from a mile. #2 Ellinger (6-1) set the pace and held on in a professional debut score at Monmouth Park. George Weaver has worked him on grass twice since then, but has decided to drop him in here, rather than try him on the lawn. That’s an interesting move.

RACE 6: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

10-3-9-5

#10 Gift of Gab (7-2) has great tactical speed, and should work out an excellent trip. She couldn’t wear down pace-setting Wonder Girl last out, but she should get a more contested pace to run at today. #3 Wise and Elegant (8-1) was fourth behind a pair of next-out winner at Colonial last out. She matched her career-best brisnet figure in that race with an 80. #9 Sweeterthanwhiskey (10-1) made a big sweep to beat Maryland-restricted rivals three starts back. She was a bit flat following a rough break last out, and is poised to rebound here at a good number.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES

1-4-2-6

I’ll take a Pletcher expat and a current Pletcher runner 1-2. #1 Miz Sense (5-2) broke her maiden around two turns as a 2-year-old last July, winning going away out of Saratoga’s Wilson chute. She didn’t move forward much of that win, but still ran some respectable figures in the 80s. She joined Brittany Russell’s barn over the summer and has worked well for her since then. She’s got a shot if she can move forward in her 3-year-old debut. #4 Audacious (9-5) faded after a wide trip in her first start against winners at Saratoga last out, and now ships down here while stretching out beyond seven furlongs for the first time. She’s run no worse than an 87 in her two-race career. If she can stretch out, she’ll win, but you’ll have to take a low price on that proposition. #2 Planet Clare (10-1) returns to dirt after a few middling starts on grass, and may set the early pace. She broke her maiden around two turns at Parx in May.

RACE 8: ALL ALONG STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/8 MILES (GRASS)

1-8-2-5

Today’s first stakes race is named for the 1983 Horse of the Year, who won the Washington D.C. International en route to year-end honors. #1 No Show Sammy Jo (8-5) has slowly worked her way up the class ladder, with three consecutive wins. She went off as the heavy favorite against a second-level group at Colonial last out, and rated off the pace and kicked away to win as much the best. This may be the first of many stakes wins in her future. Fellow Graham Motion trainee #8 For Flying (6-1) is a perfect 2-for-2 in the states, working out stalking trips and grinding out the win both times. I don’t think her ceiling is quite as high as No Show Sammy Jo’s, but she should still at least hang around for a share. #2 Atomic Blonde (6-5) has been racing around three turns all year, but now cuts back for this race. She was flat against graded stakes-quality rivals in her last two races, but her punch might have more impact against these.

RACE 9: SENSIBLE LADY TURF DASH, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS (GRASS)

8-3-2-9

We’re cutting back in distance to honor the six-time stakes-winning mare. #8 Loon Cry (9-2) picked up her first stakes win last out, rallying from well out of it to take the Sweet Briar Too Stakes at Woodbine. Runner-up Blind Spot came back to beat second-level foes next out. She looks ready to run a big one here. #3 Love Appeals (2-1) might have had to work harder than she would’ve liked to in the Incredible Revenge Stakes at Monmouth, but she nonetheless got there for her second grass win of the year in as many starts. She’ll likely get a nice trip near the leaders on the rail; the only risk is that she’ll get caught in traffic. #2 Queen of the Mud (3-1) has chased the pace and gotten second in her last two tries against stakes company. She might not have enough late kick to beat these, but should at least hang around for a slice.

RACE 10: POLYNESIAN STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

5-3-6-2

This race is named for the 1947 American champion sprinter. There’s no realistic scenario in which #5 Post Time (2-5) does not win this race easily (and comes within thousands of becoming a millionaire), so we’ll try to figure out who will round out the exacta behind him. #3 Ain’t Da Beer Cold (15-1) couldn’t make the front in his last two starts and faded, but when he’s able to set the pace, he’s dangerous. He won the Maryland Million Classic and the Native Dancer Stakes on this track within the past 12 months, and should make the front here. #6 Direct Dial (6-1) lost the jockey at the start in his first race off a 15-month break, but has won his next two starts in impressive style. He’ll have to improve by a lot to come close to Post Time, but he’s at least trending in the right direction.

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