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

Post time: 12:25 p.m.

Carryovers: 
Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $7,856
Jackpot Super High 5 — $2,688
Late Pick 5 — $0

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RACE 1: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 1 MILE

5-3-6-1

#5 Balance of Power (9-5) chased the pace and held third at first asking, a respectable showing considering he was the only first-time starter in the field. He represents half of a strong Brittany Russell-trained contingent; the other half, #3 Buds Island (3-1), went off favored at first asking. However, he was severely bothered leaving the seven-furlong chute and raced erratically afterward. He adds blinkers here and has worked very well since then. You can expect a much-improved performance, and the very bad line might throw some bettors off the scent. #6 Align (4-1) comes out of the same race as Buds Island. he showed speed and faded to fourth, but it represents improvement from very dull tries in his previous few races. He’s taking a career-low drop in class to boot.

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

5-2-3-7

On the surface, the recent record of #5 Collection Day (5-2) is less than inspiring. He’s finished second at this condition three times in a row. However, those defeats have come against some solid rivals, including Two by Two, a five-time winner on the year, City of Laurel Stakes winner Winterfell, and up-and-coming Hittheroadjak. There’s no one in here of their caliber, so the job should be much easier today for this one. #2 War Master (3-1) won three in a row in impressive style before losing in a blanket finish last out (with Collection Day in that scramble) after falling behind a slow early pace. He’s in sharp form right now, but the distance is a big of a question mark; he was off the board in his only try at 1 1/16 miles (albeit as a 2-year-old last year). #3 Sagrada Ray (6-1) profiles as the main speed of this contest, and will have every chance to steal away on the front end.

RACE 3: MAIDEN CLAIMING $45,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

2-6-9-3

#2 Daring Venture (9-5) went off as the odds-on choice against similar last out, but stumbled badly at the break and didn’t show much serious punch once he drew into contention. It’s a class drop on paper, but eight of his ten rivals aren’t in for a tag (he isn’t, either), and the two who are are in decent form. He was a game second at first asking with a clean start, and will be a threat if he improves a bit off of that form. #6 Aikmans Audible (9-2) made his debut at Parx (rather blasphemous considering his name). He chased down a loose early leader and finished 1 1/2 lengths clear of him, but was outkicked by the experienced Dr. Lou and finished second. He’ll need to show a little more late punch to win this contest, but he definitely had a chance to move forward at second asking. #9 Sabra’s Song (6-1), a filly trying the boys, set the pace in her debut and managed to hold third. She turned in a bullet workout here last Friday, and will try to take them as far as she can as fast as she can.

RACE 4: HOWARD AND SONDRA BENDER MEMORIAL STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, MD-RESTRICTED, 7 FURLONGS

3-7-5-2

The first stakes race of the day is named for the longtime Maryland owners and breeders. #3 Celtic Contender (5-2) captured the Maryland Million Sprint two starts ago, then ran a gigantic race last out in the City of Laurel. he dueled with Speedyness through very fast fractions, and though the pair couldn’t hold off the late surge of Winterfell, he held off Speedyness and finished second. No one in here has Speedyness’s speed, so he should have a much easier time on the front end today. #7 Witty (2-1) rallied to win a third-level contest on this track two starts back, but was no match for the very sharp Spikezone in the Let’s Give Thanks Stakes at Parx last out. He’ll have a hard time chasing down Celtic Contender if that one gets the trip he wants, but this track is much more favorable to his closing style, and he should be able to mow down the rest. #5 Seven’s Eleven (10-1) got some time off after a pace-chasing fourth against open allowance foes last out. He’s done well on this track (including a win in last year’s Bender), and should get first jump on trying to chase down Celtic Contender.

RACE 5: POLITELY STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, MD-RESTRICTED, 6 FURLONGS

LATE PICK 5 STARTS HERE. SEE VIDEO ANALYSIS ABOVE OR CLICK HERE

7-4-1-5

The companion event to the Bender is named for the star Maryland-bred mare of the late 1960s. She was bred and owned by Allaire duPont, who also campaigned the great Kelso. It also begins today’s late pick 5, as covered here. #7 Bourbon Bon Bay (9-5) improved sharply second off a 13 1/2-month layoff last out, closing from last to get second behind Ms Bucchero, who got a few lengths’ jump start on her. She started her career 5-for-5 at Parx, while racing on or near the pace every time. If she can round back into her best self in her third start off the layoff, she’ll be very tough to beat. #4 Sheilahs Warcloud (5-2) probably wants more distance than this, but she has great late speed and has to at least be considered for the underneath spots. She closed well for third in the Safely Kept Stakes last out while riding the rail. #1 Bella Bettina (8-1) also has great late speed, and finished a game second tot he speedy Miss Harriett at this distance three races ago.

RACE 6: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE

5-2-10-1

#5 Malibu Moonshine (20-1) is an inconsistent sort, but her best is good enough to beat these. She was a sharp winner at Saratoga going six furlongs three races back, then made up good ground in the last quarter going seven furlongs last out. At her likely price, she’s worth a bet. #2 Oncourtcommentator (6-1) chased gate-to-wire winner Red Hot Hanna last out, and while she didn’t have much of a chance of catching up to that rival, she outfinished the others and got second, ahead of next-out winner Lovely Charm. She’s lightly-raced with plenty of room to improve, and has showed a strong punch whenever she gets some kind of pace to close into. #10 Discreet Ops (3-1) just missed to the hard-surging Roanan Goddess in the Safely Kept Stakes last out, in her first try at seven furlongs. She gets a test at a mile for the first time, and while I don’t know if she’s worth a bet at low odds trying something new, she has to be respected for multi-race wagers.

RACE 7: CAROUSEL STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/8 MILES

7-1-6-9

This is a very wide-open bunch; you can make a case for just about any of the nine runners. I’ll take a shot with #7 Too Many Kisses (15-1). She was an impressive winner going a one-turn mile last out, and closed well and just missed going two turns in her first start off a six-month layoff three races ago. She’s shown a lot of promise and great late speed in her relatively brief career, and if she can work out any kind of trip, she can spring the surprise. #1 Miss New York (3-1) has won back-to-back starts on this track, sitting similar stalk-and-pounce trips to win both times. She’ll get a great setup just off the pace on the rail; it’s just a matter of if she can take advantage in her first start in three months. #6 Movie Moxy (2-1) came from further off the pace than usual and just missed in the Go For Wand Stakes last out at Aqueduct. She ran a season’s-best brisnet figure of 96 in victory two starts back despite a wide trip, and should sit just off the early pace and get her preferred trip.

RACE 8: ROBERT T. MANFUSO STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

4-1-5-7

The longtime Maryland owner and breeder is honored in this contest. If Celtic Contender wins the Bender, it will be especially flattering to #4 Speedyness (5-2), who dueled with that rival in the City of Laurel and lost to him by a nose. He previously beat a third-level field on the front end two starts ago, and led most of the way and hit the board in the Private Terms Stakes and the Federico Tesio Stakes earlier this year. Jaime Ness is clearly confident enough in his ability around two turns that he’d rather race him here than in the seven-furlong Bender, and he should have a much easier time of things on the lead here. #1 Film Star (3-1) has some speed from along the rail, and looks to rebound after back-to-back flat efforts in the Parx Dirt Mile and the Forty Niner Stakes. At his best, he can hang around Speedyness and try to make things interesting. #5 Copper Tax (7-5) won the Richard Small Stakes last out, but didn’t kick away as strongly as one might expect following a strong move on the turn. Still, he’s 4-for-4 on the track, he ran down Speedyness twice, and has to be respected, even at low odds.

RACE 9: MAIDEN CLAIMING $20,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 6 FURLONGS

6-2-4-7

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