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

Post time: 12:25 p.m.

Carryovers: 
Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $5,017
Jackpot Super High 5 — $0
Late Pick 5 — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: CLAIMING $20,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILIES AND MARES, 1 1/8 MILES (GRASS)

4-6-10-5 (DIRT: 7-10-11-1)

#4 Once an Eagle (7-5) has shown improvement with each start since joining the Mike Trombetta barn this spring. She closed well from off a slow pace at Colonial Downs last out, an encouraging sign in a race that’s largely devoid of speed. She broke her maiden three starts back when she sat fairly closer to the pace; that might be the move here. #6 Ganbatte (8-1) led every step to break her maiden at 11th asking at Penn National two starts back, and now tries winners on grass for the first time. Jevian Toledo came to Penn to ride her to victory, and he keeps the mount here. #10 Vino From Ernies (12-1) fought hard to win second off the playoff at Delaware Park last out, and now tries grass for the first time. She’s a half-sister to a winner on this surface.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $20,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

6-2-8-5

#6 Workislife (9-5) has won two of his last three starts by open lengths, including a dominant third-level win at Charles Town where he came from 13 lengths out of it to win as much the best. He’s at his best going a mile or longer, but has done well in sprints in the past. #2 Summerstateofmind (7-2) has won his last three dirt starts, converting a great trip to beat similar rivals last out. There was no one in his last-out win at the caliber of Workislife, but he should be able to outkick the rest of them. #8 Kiss Them Deadly (15-1) was an impressive gate-to-wire winner at Penn National three starts back, and should be sent for speed from the outside. Penn-based Vladimir Diaz comes in for the mount.

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

2-4-10-1 (DIRT: 12-10-9-4)

#2 Agent Kelly (8-1) chased a very sharp gate-to-wire winner at Colonial last out, but won a photo for place, outkicking the other closers in the process. Kevin Boniface has won with his first two starters of the fall meet. #4 Battlefield Park (7-5) went off favored at Monmouth Park last out, but couldn’t get settled and faded. He now drops in class and cuts back around one turn. #10 Specialagentjohnson (8-1) was a sharp-closing third when cut back around one turn last out at Delaware Park, in his second start off a eight-month break. He showed little going longer in New York earlier in his career, but this kind of race looks more in his wheelhouse.

RACE 4: CLAIMING $12,500 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE

4-5-2-1

#4 Sheherhers (3-1) has run only one bad race in her last five starts, which came when she got involved in a speed duel two races back. Usually, she rates off the pace and gets involved in the late kick, including a near-miss effort at Timonium last out. She finished a game second in her lone try at a mile in June. #5 Solving Progress (8-5) cruised to a gate-to-wire win in her last dirt start at Delaware, and looks fast enough to make the rail and the lead without much drama. From there, she might prove tough to catch. #2 Mo Traffic (4-1) ran well in her first start against winners, and her first start beyond six furlongs, holding third after chasing a gate-to-wire winner.

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

6-4-2-3

#6 My Endeavor (4-1) ran a strong second first off a 5 1/2-month break at Timonium last out, and should improve further second off the bench. #4 Bajan Boy (6-1) couldn’t chase down an odds-on winner at the big T last out and just missed second in a photo finish. He should get a nice trip under Jeiron Barbosa. #3 A B C Ya (7-2) loves getting checks at this level, having come in second five times in a row earlier in the year He ran a sub-par race last out when he was bothtered at the break, but has room to improve in this spot.

RACE 6: CLAIMING $20,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

8-7-2-3 (DIRT: 9-7-11-2)

#8 Art of Courage (3-1) has won two of his last three starts in gate-to-wire fashion. So far this year, he hasn’t run a bad race when he’s made the early lead, and he looks fast enough to get there today. #7 Fair Haired Boy (7-2) has showed steady improvement since returning from a two-year break in in April. He was a game second on the lawn at Parx two races back, and now makes his first start around one-turn on grass since November 2021. If he recaptures the form he had back then, he’ll win this. #2 Nielson (6-1) pressed the pace and faded against first-level foes, and now drops in class. He has good tactical speed, and might be better off not engaging with Art of Courage early on.

RACE 7: CLAIMING $7,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 7 FURLONGS

5-4-8-1

#5 Infamous Nono (8-1) has won three of his last four races, and now goes first off the claim by Bruce Kravets. He shipped up here form Florida earlier this summer, but has acclimated easily to his new settings, with wins at Delaware and Penn National in his last two starts. He should work out a nice trip from just off the pace. #4 Morning Thoughts (2-1) won three in a row here earlier this year, but was flat when chasing the pace at Timonium last out. A return to the big track might wake him up. #8 Strugar (12-1) closed well for second despite a wide trip at Timonium last out, and has a chance to make some noise at a juicy number.

RACE 8: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

5-11-1-12 (DIRT: 7-4-12-2)

#5 Dulce Kiara (5-2) showed no signs of rust first off a brief layoff last out, defeating slightly softer in a hard-fought front-running victory. Any of her recent races wins this. #11 Poggibonsi (12-1) makes her second start off an eight-month layoff for Kieron Magee. She has blazing early speed, and finished a strong second in her lone grass start, which came on this track last July. The post does her no favors, but she should be hard-sent for speed, and is worth a look at a good price. #1 Shorty Mac (6-1) has shown improvement throughout the year at her Penn National base. She could get a cozy trip just off the leaders on the rail if Ricardo Chiappe elects not to send.

RACE 9: ALLOWANCE (OPEN), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

1-3-6-2

#1 Spikezone (5-1) is cross-entered at Delaware today and is more likely than not to run there, but he’s listed here just in case. He’s a seven-time winner on the year, and has devastating early speed. He should run them off their feet no matter where he goes. #3 Super Chow (2-1) is the classiest member of the field, having won three stakes races, two of them graded, this year. He hasn’t been seen since an off-the-board finish in the Alapocas Run Stakes at Delaware in early July, but he’s worked steadily since, and this looks like a good confidence-boosting spot. Note that he’s cross-entered in the Parx Sprint Stakes on Saturday. #6 Prince of Jericho (9-5) is NOT cross-entered anywhere. He was fourth in the DeFrancis Dash last out behind three next-out winners, and has held his won against better throughout the year. His job will be made much easier if the aforementioned pair scratch.

RACE 10: MAIDEN CLAIMING $20,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

9-8-6-11 (DIRT: 2-11-14-5)

#9 Master Munnings (2-1) stretches back out around two turns for his second local start. He’s closed well in both of his grass starts, and should pack a serious late punch against these softer types. #8 Elelus (6-1) may have been a little short first off a six-month layoff last out. he rated off the pace and made a promising move, only to get swallowed up late. It was just his second career start, and he has plenty of upside, but he also hasn’t raced since that late May effort. #6 Tabloid City (8-1) made decent ground off a very slow pace on debut as the lone firster in the race.

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