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

Post time: 12:25 p.m.

Carryovers: 
Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $2,445
Jackpot Super High 5 — $8,380
Late Pick 5 — $0

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RACE 1: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

1-3-2-7

#1 Brzina (7-5) makes her first start off a seven-week layoff and takes a slight drop in class. She won at this level after setting fast fractions in early July, and looks like the main speed from the inside. #3 Kingdom Queen (8-1) gets a class test following two consecutive wins against softer at Mountaineer, but she’s in sharp form and is more than eligible to answer the call. #2 Watch Your Tone (4-1) loves this track, with six wins and four runner-up efforts in 14 starts on the surface. She won at this level twice over the winter with similar stalk-and-pounce trips. While she hasn’t raced since late March, she won off a similarly long layoff a year ago.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $12,500 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

1-4-3-5

#1 Neolithica (2-1) led every step won twin second off a six-month layoff, in a race where the outcome was never in doubt. She gets the nod in a soft field (not much better than the field she beat last time, despite the jump up in claiming price). #4 Maddie Ten (9-2) has tailed off a bit in her last few starts against better, but ran well against her fellow 3-year-olds earlier this year, and could also benefit from some class relief. #3 Velvet Vixen (10-1) held on to clear her non-winners of two condition in her last dirt race two starts back, a wake-up effort after a string of flat tries. She drops to this level for the first time on dirt, and looks interesting at a good price.

RACE 3: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $30,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

8-1-5-3

#8 Greener Pastures (7-2) hasn’t run a brisnet figure worse than 89 in three starts since getting claimed by Jamie Ness. He sat a great trip in a similar field at Parx last out and just missed, but should go off at a much better price than the 2-5 mutuel you got last time. #1 Mose Perfect (5-2) raced wide in his last two starts at this level, and still turned in gigantic efforts both times. He got a much better draw here, and should save ground most of the way and turn in a peak performance. #5 Penny Loafer (10-1) defeated Mose Perfect at this level last out While his peak is a few points below that of the best, he’s lightly-raced and in improving form.

RACE 4: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

2-4-6-5

#2 Kitten’s Appeal (4-1) didn’t like Timonium two races back, and didn’t like a wet track last out. Take those two races out, and most of her races this year bury these. #4 Strutsherstuff (5-2) won her first two starts at Colonial Downs and Presque Isle Downs by a combined 8 1/4 lengths, then improved to a career-best 86 on grass at Aqueduct next out. She should get a great trip off what looks like a contested pace (as should Kitten’s Appeal). #6 Winkiwinki (8-1) won in gate-to-wire style at this level two starts back, but she’s not a need-the-lead type; she could rate off the pace if need be. Trainer Diane Morici has been white-hot as of late, with seven wins from her last 16 starters. How could one resist a good price on one of her runners?

RACE 5: CLAIMING $20,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 7 FURLONGS

8-5-4-1A

#8 Sharmin (20-1) showed drastic improvement second off a seven-month layoff last out, coming from just off the pace to run past odds-on choice (and next-out winner) Ariel Moon to win with a career-best 83. That race was on grass, and she now switches back to dirt, but she’s shown respectable form on this surface. As the only one in the race who hasn’t lost against winners, she merits respect at a very good price. #5 Stormy Midnight (2-1) has lost at 2-1 or shorter in her last two starts at this condition. This already-speedy filly adds blinkers here, suggesting that the game plan is to go straight to the front and not look back. #4 Lil Temptation (6-1) was scratched sick 2 1/2 weeks ago, didn’t draw in off the also eligible list on Thanksgiving, and finally looks primed to race here. She was a sharp winner at Belterra Park two starts back, then got caught impossibly wide first time against winners at Keeneland. This will be her first start off the Anthony Farrior claim.

RACE 6: CLAIMING $20,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 7 FURLONGS

8-10-5-2

#8 Cybertime (6-1) was a very sharp winner on this track three races back, then showed speed and faded at Charles Town and Mahoning Valley in his next two. He’s not taking much of a drop in class from the first-level foes he saw at those tracks, but he’s shown an affinity for this track and has early speed. The only bad performance from #10 Bigdaddysboy (12-1) as of late came when he got caught wide in the Maryland Million Starter Handicap two starts back. He’s more than capable of rallying for a share at a good number. #5 Midnight Renegade (12-1) tossed the jockey in his first start off a 6 1/2-month layoff last out. He ran no worse than an 84 in his prior three dirt starts, and a return to that form puts him in serious contention.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W3X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 7 FURLONGS

7-3-6-1

#7 On the Mark (9-2) fought hard and just missed against second-level foes last out, and now takes a step up in class. Still, his recent mid/upper-90s figures fit right in with these, and he’s one of the few pure sprinters in this race. #3 Factor It In (8-1) makes his first start since May 25. He’s previously run well off long breaks, and this classy veteran should turn in a strong performance at a good price. #6 Murray (4-1) was third behind the likes of Witty and Petingas Twin last out. His lack of early speed leaves him in trouble in sprints (as evidenced by the fact he hasn’t won in 13 months) but should at least close for a share.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE (OPEN), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

1-4-6-2

#1 Prince of Jericho (7-5) wouldn’t have been out of place in stakes company at Parx or Aqueduct last week, but decided to await this spot instead. He finished a sharp second to Spikezone, who won that stakes at Parx, last out, in his tenth exacta finish in 13 starts on this track. He’ll rate off the pace on the rail and kick away to victory once he finds racing room. #4 No Cents (2-1) was scheduled to run in the scuttled Dave’s Friend Stakes, but now returns here. He won for the first time in a while last out in a sharp gate-to-wire performance, and could be a threat if he grabs the rail and the lead and sets moderate enough fractions. Parx shipper #6 Talented Man (8-1) was hounded on the lead throughout and lost in a blanket finish last out. He tends to fight hard and just miss, so look for him to press No Cents from his outside and hang around to complete the trifecta or superfecta at a decent number.

RACE 9: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES

6-3-7-2

#6 Pistol Liz Ablazen (6-5) blew away a conditioned claiming field in her last dirt starts, running an 86, her best figure in 6 1/2 months. She was claimed out of that effort by Jamie Ness, who put in her at this level on grass next out. She didn’t do much there, but catches an easy field for her dirt return, and should run them over. #3 Major Houlihan (9-2) got up to win at Penn National last out after stalking a modest pace, for her first dirt win in a while. She might find herself on the rail and the lead in a race without a ton of speed. #7 Vodkatini (7-2) ran two figures in the 80s to cap her Delaware season, representing a much-needed turnaround following her first three starts of the season, which she lost by a combined 104 lengths.

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