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

Post time: 12:25 p.m.

Carryovers: 
Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $3,619
Jackpot Super High 5 — $0
Late Pick 5 — $0

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

6-2-1-5

#6 Tres Maria’s Dream (7-5) raced wide while further off the pace than usual last out, and was eased when it was clear she was out of contention. She runs much better races here, and should make the rail and the lead despite the outside draw. #2 Marley’s Ghost (2-1) pulled clear and faded at this level and distance two starts back, but was reeled in and finished third. She’s done well at this distance before, with two open-length wins earlier this year, and will have every shot to run the pacesetters down. #1 Sweet Talia (7-2) hasn’t won in a while, but loves getting checks against these types. She’s a must-use for underneath spots, but I wouldn’t use her in any multi-race wagers.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $20,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/8 MILES

6-2-3-4

There’s no doubt #6 Kick Startness (7-5) will be on the early pace; it’s just a matter of how long he can last. He went gate-to-wire four times in a row earlier this year, faded when pressed two starts back, then led most of the way and lost by less than a length last out. It’s possible he’s tailing off a bit, but he’ll get the trip he wants in this spot, and as such is worthy of the top nod. The other Jamie Ness trainee, #2 Le Vin (7-2), rallied from just off the pace to win second off a six-month break last out at Parx. He’s usually up on the early pace as well, but it’s likely he’ll be rated to avoid getting in his stablemate’s way, and will take advantage if he falters. #3 Motskari (8-1) faded after looming large in his most recent start at Parx, and managed to hang around for third. He has some of the better late pace figures in the field, though it’s rarely enough to get the job done. He looks like a good kind to key in underneath spots.

RACE 3: MAIDEN CLAIMING $45,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

3-1-5-6

#3 Not a Bother (9-5) ran on well and held third in a tough maiden field last out, improving three points on the brisnet scale to a 72. She’s trying the boys here, but it’s not a very strong field regardless, so she’ll be a threat as long as she doesn’t take a step backwards. #1 Rapidity (9-2) ran at least a 75 twice in his first three dirt tries, but had problems in the gate in his next two starts. He faced strong fields in both of those races as well. As long as he behaves himself at the start, he’ll be interesting. #5 Karma’s Inthehouse (10-1) adds blinkers and has abundant early speed. He’s sure to be gunned to the front, just like his was in his last two starts going long on grass. From there, it’s a matter of how long he can hang on.

RACE 4: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

3-2-1A-7

#3 Hornbeam (2-1) overcame wide trips to just miss at this level in each of his last two starts. He’s cutting back from 1 1/16 miles here, and won his last starts at a one-turn mile (albeit an off-the-grass event) going away. #2 Morning Thoughts (8-1) has abundant early speed, and used it to go gate-to-wire two races ago. He set speedy fractions last out and just held on for second, but will be a threat if he can turn things down. #1A Afraidofthebunny (8-5) also has speed on the outside, and gets class relief after facing some nice horses in first-level races here, including Winterfell and Cataleya Strike.

RACE 5: CLAIMING $7,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 7 FURLONGS

8-7-3-2

#8 Guaponess (5-1) ran a big race on the lead last out. He made a three-wide move to engage longshot leader He’s Orientate, who was racing on the rail over a track that may have tilted towards inside speed. While He’s Orientate shook him off, Guaponess managed to held second with a 78, his best dirt figure since May. He looms a serious threat in a field not much tougher than the one he saw that day, even though that was a conditioned field and this is an open one. #7 Ikigai (9-2) chased the pace while wide against better last out, but still ran a season’s-best mark of 77. That won’t cut it with the rivals he’s been facing for most of the year, but this looks like a field he can handle, at long last. #3 John Hall (3-1) also takes a drop in class, and had been in consistently solid form before a flat effort last out. He’ll be a threat if he can rebound.

RACE 6: CLAIMING $7,500 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

9-1-3-7

#9 Tiz Speedy (4-1) closed from off a very fast pace to miss by a nose against similar last out. With lots of speed in this race, he should get another favorable setup. #1 Eye on the Candy (7-2) set that very fast pace in that contest, and held on gamely to lose by a neck. While there is a lot of speed in here, he at least has the advantage of rail position, and he’s shown he can hang around for a share even with a strong tempo. #3 Loose Goose (10-1) showed little in a sprint first off a six-month layoff last out, but he does his best racing around two turns anyway, suggesting that last race was a prep for a spot like today’s. That last line isn’t indictive of his overall ability, but it’ll drive up his price.

RACE 7: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 6 FURLONGS

5-1-6-7

#5 Chickin Lickin (7-2) held her own in a tough maiden field last out, finishing fourth in a blanket finish with an improved figure of 69. The only one of her rivals who might have serious ability is #1 Cruz Ramirez (1-1). A half-sister to sprint champion Secret Circle, she’s worked well for a while for Brittany Russell, with four bullet drills on her lines since late August. A long worktab like that is sometimes a negative, but she doesn’t have to be a budding star to win this race. As long as she runs in the mid-70s or so, she should win. Watch the board. #6 Poor Mans Lady (8-1) made decent ground to get up for third on debut at Penn National, and now gets Jaime Rodriguez aboard for her local debut.

RACE 8: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $30,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES

1-2-3-7

#1 Peppermint Class (3-1) came from just off the pace to win going away at a mile last out, continuing the white-hot streak of the Diane Morici barn. She won her last two-turn start, against first-level rivals at Delaware Park, by a neck with a then-career-best 86, so the extra distance today shouldn’t be a problem. #2 I Can Run (6-1) went off favored against better last out, but tossed the jockey at the start. She ran in the 80s in her prior three starts at a mile or longer, including a dominant seven-length win at Monmouth Park three races ago. With a clear path, she’ll roll to the front from off the pace. #3 Our Liberty Belle (5-2) outfinished I Can Run two races ago, but was no match for the impressive Anonymously at six furlongs last out. She may benefit from more distance.

RACE 9: MAIDEN CLAIMING $30,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 6 FURLONGS

5-7-6-1

#5 New Boots (7-2) went off favored on debut at Colonial Downs, but faded after getting involved in a pace tussle. She hasn’t been seen in the entry box since that August 15 race, but has worked well since rejoining Brittany Russell’s worktab in mid-October. #7 Passage East (3-1) made a strong move into the pace and held second on debut at Finger Lakes in late August. She was entered and scratched here in late October, but has but in two good workouts since. #6 Krissi N (4-1) showed drastic improvement against $20,000 foes at second asking last out, battling on the lead and finishing a clear-cut second.

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