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

Post time: 12:25 p.m.

Carryovers: 
Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $7,080
Jackpot Super High 5 — $564
Late Pick 5 — $7,233

Check out our other handicapping here!

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

2-9-8-5

#2 Ariel Moon (5-2) crossed the wire first at Timonium two starts back in a sharp gate-to-wire performance, but was disqualified for interference. She led most of the way on dirt last out and held second. She’s run big figures in both of her grass starts this year against better, and drops to this level for the first time. #9 Sharmin (30-1) turned in some big performances against straight maidens last year, including a sharp fourth last October with a career-best brisnet figure of 70. She made her first start off a seven-month layoff on dirt last out, and though she didn’t show much, she should improve going back to grass and racing for a tag on this surface for the first time. #8 Glamorous (4-1) is one of the laughter-raced horses in here. She just missed in her grass debut back in June, then improved slightly to a 65 when sixth against better next out. She should make some noise against these.

RACE 2: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

2-4-7-5

#2 Fun Lovin Criminal (7-2) returns to dirt after some grass tries. He ran some big races both here and at Pimlico earlier this year, including three wins in four starts at this level or better, but has tailed off in his last few, and had a voided claim on him last out. A drop to a more friendly field might make him wake up. #4 Morning Thoughts (2-1) won twice against these types earlier in the year, but hasn’t made the front in his last few, and subsequently not run his best race. If he can outrun My Danny Boy, drawn to his direct inside, he should be tough to catch. #7 Trash Talkin Larry (8-1) was no factor going seven furlongs last out, but should improve stretching back out around two turns.

RACE 3: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE (GRASS)

10-11-1-4

#10 Prince Khozan (7-2) hasn’t won his last few starts at this condition or similar, but has picked up checks thanks to some deft late moves. His style leaves him susceptible to getting caught in traffic, but if he can get his trip, he’s live. It helps his cause that most of the runners with comparable figures to him are on the also-eligible list. One of those AE contenders is #11 Tom Hagen (6-1), who went gate-to-wire on this track three starts back, but faded when he set a bit too eager a pace at Colonial Downs last out. With a well-rated trip, he’ll be tough to catch. #1 T Rex (15-1) got hung extremely wide against first-level rivals last out, but had some good late punch when he was able to save more ground two and three starts back at Colonial. He’s got a great draw here, and will be a late threat at a good number.

RACE 4: CLAIMING $12,500 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

5-4-2-6

#5 Bermuda Run (5-2) got pressed on the pace and broke his maiden in sharp style two races ago, running by far a career-best 77. He’s one of two in the field who hasn’t lost at this condition, and has a much higher ceiling than the other one. #4 Cavendish (3-1) has run no worse than a 74 in three starts on this track, and made a strong bid last out, ending up second to a swoop-the-group winner. #2 Coronation Time (5-1) made mild ground from well behind last out, and will be a threat if he can stay close to the pace, which he’s shown to be capable of doing.

RACE 5: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

11-12-9-14

The late pick 5, with a carryover, begins here. It’s a fantastic sequence, and certainly not an easy one. #11 Ruda (8-1) made her first start off a five-month break on Black-Eyed Susan day against second-level rivals, and came from well out of it to get third behind Sun Bee, who finished third in stakes company in her next two starts. She converted a trip closer to the pace to win an off-the-grass affair last out, ad will be especially potent if she stays close to the leaders. #12 Paper Mansion (4-1) has won 11 times in her last 13 starts, all of them in gate-to-wire style. She’s done her work against starter optional claiming rivals at Tampa Bay Downs and Delaware Park, so while her early speed is potent, she’s never had to deal with this quality of rivals coming at her late. If nothing else, you’ll get a better price than usual if you believe. She’s gone off as the odds-on favorite in her last ten starts, and will assuredly not be that low today. #9 Lifelovenlaughter (9-2) has run at least an 87 in each of her last three grass starts, the only one in the field to do so. She’ll be in as close attendance as she can be to the speedy Paper Mansion, and will try to time her move just right.

RACE 6: CLAIMING $12,500 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

7-2-8-10

#7 Irish Bandit (9-2) ran a much-improved race second off a brief layoff last out, rating off the peace and pulling clear late, only to get run down by fellow No Guts No Glory runner Bigdaddysboy. His peak race should beat these easily. #2 Russian Hammer (12-1) cleared his non-winners of two condition, after numerous tries, three starts ago, at Delaware, and held his own against similar in two tries there to cap his season. #8 One Way Farrior (3-1) got some time off after tailing off badly in late May, then ran a respectable 78 against better last out. He gets a further drop in class here, and recently put in a very sharp workout at Penn National, going three furlongs in 34 3/5.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

4-3-7-1

#4 Chess Master (7-2) just missed first off a 10-month layoff last out at Saratoga, with a career-best 100. I don’t know if he can duplicate that race, but he consistently ran in the upper-80s last year, and that kind of race would still beat these. #3 Vamos Viejo (6-1) got caught wide from well off the pace at Delaware last out, and even though it wasn’t a visually impressive race, he still ran a career-best 87. He has somewhat in-and-out form, but should at least get a more ground-saving trip than last time. #7 Going Up (8-1) rallied for third behind Determined Kingdom and Whenigettoheaven, both of whom are much better than anyone in here, in his last grass try at Colonial. Ronnie Allen, who has ridden hjm to a trio of victories at Presque Isle Downs this year, comes in for the mount.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS (GRASS)

2-1-5-6

#2 King Covee (8-1) broke his maiden on this track, albeit against much softer, last fall, and has rounded into his best form within his last few starts at this level at Colonial. #1 Big Z Og (12-1) got involved in a pace tussle and faded in his last try at Parx, but now has the best early pace figures in this race. He should make the front without much trouble, and has the pedigree to like the grass, with three siblings who have won on this surface. #5 Mission Man (9-2) ran a strong fourth in his only recent try around one turn, the Ben’s Cat Stakes in July, and should enjoy the cutback in distance.

RACE 9: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 6 FURLONGS

8-1-3-4

If anyone is still alive going into the last leg of this tough sequence, their ticket will likely rest on #8 Remembering Lizzy (8-5). She chased the pace and hit the board against better in her last two starts, with figures in the upper-60s both times. Unless someone else takes a big step forward, those kind of numbers would bury these. #1 Lady Catalina (3-1) finished a strong-closing fourth last out at the Meadowlands, and now switches back from grass in pursuit of easier rivals. She might want more distance than this, but still hads a high ceiling and must be respected. #3 Honestly (8-1) has slowly imporved in her last few races, and should show speed and try to hang on for as long as she can.

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