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

Post time: 11:30 a.m.

Carryovers: 
Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $686
Jackpot Super High 5 — $0
Late Pick 5 — $0

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RACE 1: MARYLAND MILLION TURF DISTAFF STARTER HANDICAP, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, MD-BRED, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

5-12-9-4

Happy Jim McKay Maryland Million day to those who observe. #5 Next Girl (10-1) finished a hard-charging third last out behind Juniper Juice, who looms as one of the favorites in the Maryland Million Ladies later on the card. She’s gotten better with each grass start, and should have something to say late. #12 Please Marry Me (15-1) almost finished a wire job last out at Colonial Downs, but held second with a career-top brisnet figure of 87. She should be hard-sent for speed and last a while. #9 Daily Planet (10-1) ran a very solid second third off a 6 1/2-month break last out at Colonial, and has been a but more forwardly-placed than usual in her last few starts, an encouraging sign.

RACE 2: MARYLAND MILLION NURSERY, 2-YEAR-OLDS, MD-SIRED, 6 FURLONGS

8-4-3-2

#8 Re Markably (9-2) beat a few of these in impressive style in Delaware Park’s Dover Stakes two starts back, then finished anstrong second to It’s Hammertime, who returned to win Wednesday’s Rocky Run Stakes. That last race might drive up his price, but it shouldn’t: he still looms very large. #4 Do It for Michael (4-1) led every step and held on to win a first-level contest impressively last out. He’s sure to be sent for speed, and will be tough if he keeps moving forward. #3 Say Me True (5-2) lasted through pace pressure to win on debut last out with an impressive 90, matching what Do It for Michael did in his last try. He’s getting his class test here, but has enough raw ability to still contend.

RACE 3: MARYLAND MILLION LADIES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, MD-SIRED, 1 1/8 MILES (GRASS)

4-8-1-3

While #4 Juniper Juice (3-1) did benefit from an advantageous pace setup in her most recent, she was already in improving form on grass, and her tactical speed makes her dangerous no matter what’s in front of her. #8 Active (8-5) is the only one of six non-Maryland-sired entrants to draw into the race. She was in sharp form over the summer both here and at Colonial, with a pair of off-the-pace victories, and looks for a rebound off a runner-up try at the Meadowlands following an overland trip. #1 Downtown Katie (5-2) enters this race in betrer form than she did last year, when she was a flat seventh after saving ground. She’s improved in each of her last four starts, including a strong-closing second last out at Delaware.

RACE 4: MARYLAND MILLION DISTAFF STARTER HANDICAP, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, MD-BRED, 7 FURLONGS

2-1-5-14

The only bad race #2 Devil Pays in Gold (7-2) has run in her last four races came when she raced wide throughout at Timonium, an impossible setup. Take that race out, and she’s run an 86 in each of her last three starts. That kind of race beats these. #1 Lovely Charm (6-1) came from well off the pace to get second behind next-out winner Pleasant Embrace at Monmouth Park. She should benefit from a stretchout from six furlongs. #5 Isabella’s Glory (9-2) has won her last two starts with today’s rider, Darwin Rodriguez, aboard, including an impressive stalk-and-pounce win with a 92 in her most recent.

RACE 5: MARYLAND MILLION TURF STARTER HANDICAP, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, MD-BRED, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

7-11-2-9

#7 The Last Scip (3-1) was flat last out at Delaware, but ran at least an 80 in his prior five grass starts. He’s had two good workouts since that last race, and should be primed for a bounce-back effort. #11 Hunter Joe (8-5) has faced better for most of the year, and has put in a pair of bullet workouts in anticipation of this race. Most of his recent races win this, but you’ll have to take a low price. #2 Samui Sunset (8-1) ran a solid 77 first off a break last out despite traffic troublen and should hang around for a share at a good number.

RACE 6: MARYLAND MILLION LASSIE, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, MD-SIRED, 6 FURLONGS

12-4-3-7

Mike Trombetta thought enough of #12 Divine Works (6-1) to send her to Saratoga for her debut. She went off favored that dayn and ended up second after a wide trip behind Another Cleeshay, who saved ground and finished fourth in the Frizette Stakes last Saturday. #4 Onyx Ten (9-2) ran back-to-back figures in the 80s over the summer at Delaware, and has worked well twice since a dull race in the Small Wonder Stakes last out. She should get a nice stalk-and-pounce setup. #3 Hiya Love (12-1) finished a solid second at first asking behind impressive next-out winner Daze, and has room to move forward here at an overlaid price.

RACE 7: MARYLAND MILLION TURF, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, MD-SIRED, 1 1/8 MILES (GRASS)

5-8-10-3

#5 Sky’s Not Falling (4-1), the winner of the 2022 Turf Sprint, looks well-positioned to grab a second Maryland Million victory here. He won the Bert Allen Handicap last out in gate-to-wire fashion, improving to a 94 following two upper-80s efforts at Woodbine earlier in the summer. Antonio Gallardo, who rode him to victory last time, is here only for this engagement. #8 Sports Editor (3-1) held second after setting the pace in the Presious Passion Stakes last out. Sky’s Not Falling usually doesn’t go to the lead, his last race notwithstanding, so this one might be able to get a fairly easy setup. #10 Mission North (10-1) will require two scratches to draw in, but if he gets them, he’s live. He finally settled down early and broke his pari-mutuel maiden impressively on this track in June (he previously won a point-to-point race in Virginia). He looks to have only scratched the surface of his potential.

RACE 8: MARYLAND MILLION SPRINT, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, MD-SIRED, 6 FURLONGS

2-3-7-4

#2 Celtic Contender (7-2) hasn’t run a bad race in a dirt sprint. He pressed the pace and drew off late to win a Maryland-restricted allowance last out, and should get a similarly great setup here. #3 Seven’s Eleven (5-2), last year’s champion, won here third off a five-month layoff with an impressive 97. He didn’t do much against bigger fish in the Vosburgh Stakes last out, but now faces easier and keeps blinkers off. #7 Band Camp (6-1) has won seven times this year, with big figures in most of those races. However, he’s getting a stiff class test here. Will his form translate against tougher rivals.

RACE 9: MARYLAND MILLION TURF SPRINT, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, MD-SIRED, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

3-11-8-2

#3 Whenigettoheaven (5-2) has been in consistently sharp form since joining the Nolan Ramsey barn, with three consecutive marks in the 90s. He fought hard to win the Ben’s Cat Stakes two starts back, then ran a solid second to Determined Kingdom, who ran well in the Belmont Turf Sprint last Saturday at Aqueduct. #11 Bosserati (12-1) has blazing early speed, and has held well after setting the pace in each of her four starts this year. She’ll try to take them as fast as she can, as far as she can. Last year’s winner, #8 Witty (7-5), didn’t like the track at Kentucky Downs last out and turned in a completely flat effort. Take that race out, and he’s been in very solid form all year along against graded stakes-quality foes (though he hasn’t won since the King Leatherbury Stakes on this track in April). He’ll be tough, though his closing style makes him susceptible to getting caught in traffic.

#4 Mosler Time (5-1) ran a career-best 95 in a sharp stalk-and-pounce win going two turns last out. He’s fairly lightly-raced, and may yet be sitting on his career-best performance. #3 Market Maven (6-1) crossed the wire first in last year’s Classic, but was disqualified and placed second for bumping. He hasn’t won this year, but turned in a pair of solid-closing thirds at Parx over the summer, and should once again make his presence felt late. #8 Feeling Woozy (9-2) hasn’t won in a while, but he’s been facing better most of the year, and has solid late speed that should play well at this distance.

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