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

Post time: 12:25 p.m.

Carryovers: 
Chesapeake Jackpot Pick 6 — $389
Jackpot Super High 5 — $314
Late Pick 5 — $4,264

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RACE 1: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 6 FURLONGS

9-5-1-2

#9 New Boots (7-5) is a classic change of pace type. In her first dirt start, she showed speed and held on for second. Last out, she recovered from a bad break and finished fourth. She ran brisnet figures in the 60s in both of those races, something none of the others have done at any point in their careers. #5 Good Morning Mercy (15-1) was in improving form over the summer, and ran a career-best 53 last out at Timonium despite a traffic-filled trip. Even though she hasn’t raced since then, she’ll merit a threat if she runs close to that effort. #1 Not the First Time (3-1) drops in for a tag for the first time. Although she’s set the pace and stopped badly in her last two starts, no one in here can come close to her early pace figures. She’ll have every chance to get a clear lead and last for a while.

RACE 2: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/8 MILES

5-7-4-2

#5 Everett’s Song (7-2) was scratched out of a seven-furlong spot yesterday to run here. He made his first start off a year-plus layoff for a $7,500 tag last out. He won easily, didn’t get claimed, and now gets to run in here without being risked. He has loads of backclass, and further improvement second off the bench would lead to victory. The distance won’t be a problem; he’s done his best work going a route of ground. #7 Master of None (12-1) will hope it doesn’t rain too much in the morning. He showed little over a muddy track last out, but ran in in the mid/upper-80s in back-to-back starts prior to that effort. That kind of race would beat everyone except Everett’s Song. #4 Divine Armor (3-1) closed with a rush to win at Parx two starts ago, and just missed fourth when he fell further behind than usual last out. He should be heard from late for the dangerous Jamie Ness/Jaime Rodriguez duo.

RACE 3: MAIDEN CLAIMING $30,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

6-8-1-2

#6 Blo By’em (5-1) showed improvement at second asking, battling on the pace and holding third (his dueling partner finished second). He takes a slight jump in class from the $20,000 level, and looks like he’s trending in the right direction. #8 Night Preacher (2-1) makes his first start since early November. He dueled for a long way and held on until the last eighth, finishing fourth. His only bad figure came two starts back when he began slowly. #1 Fire of Anatolia (5-2), a barnmate of Blo By’em, was J.G. Torrealba’s choice among those two Kieron Magee runners. He’s run great late pace figures and would take full advantage if the aforementioned two burn each other out.

RACE 4: GEISHA STAKES, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, MD-RESTRICTED, 1 MILE

6-7-3-5

The first stakes on the card, and of the Maryland season, is named for the dam of the great Native Dancer. #6 Bourbon Bon Bay (5-2) hasn’t run a bad race since coming off a year-plus layoff in early October, and finished a strong third after a wide trip behind rail-skimming Spencerian last out. She’s shown some early foot in a race without a ton of speed, so she looks to have the pace advantage. #7 Too Many Kisses (5-1) showed little against a tough field in the Carousel Stakes last out, but now faces easier rivals and cuts back around one turn. Her closing kick will play well at this distance. #3 Oncourtcommentator (8-5) rallied from way downtown to get up in a strong second-level field last out. She hasn’t run a bad race in three dirt starts, and will be especially dangerous if she stays close to the tempo.

RACE 5: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

LATE PICK 5 STARTS HERE.

7-6-5-1

#7 Monday Morning Qb (2-1), like Everett’s Song, scratched yesterday to run here. He’s won three of his last four starts against better, running at least an 87 every time. He’s not taking as big a drop as he would’ve yesterday, but there’s no starter optional claiming $30,000 races in the book for a while. As such, the drop isn’t as bad as it looks at first glance. #6 Nancy Made My Day (6-1) rolled down the center of the track to beat a very strong conditioned claiming field last out. He ran a 96 that day, a career-top by nine points. There’s no guarantee he can duplicate it, but he’ll be a threat if he even comes close to doing so. #5 Irish Warlock (7-2) made a strong move into the pace and kicked on to win at this level last out. His form on this track has been very sharp as of late, save for a flat try against a salty Maryland Million Starter Handicap field.

RACE 6: JENNINGS STAKES, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, MD-RESTRICTED, 1 MILE

6-9-1-3

This race is named for the great Maryland breeder of the 10th century, William Jennings, who founded Glengar Farm. #6 Quint’s Brew (5-1) looked like a star in the making in his first two starts, running a 99 and a 101. Those marks would have made him competitive with the top 3-year-olds in the country at that point. However, he’s only raced once since then, a flat third in last June’s Star de Naskra Stakes. He’s worked well for new trainer Ned Allard since early December, and if he runs his best race off the bench, he’ll crush them. #9 Speedyness (3-2) has run big races on the lead in each of his last three starts, but has been able to seal the deal only once. He’s clearly the main speed in this race, and it’ll be a tough task to reel him in unless you’re a talent like Quint’s Brew, potentially. #1 Feeling Woozy (8-1) sat the trip and kicked on to beat third-level rivals last out. He has plenty of talent, but is a bit inconsistent.

RACE 7: WHAT A SUMMER STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

2-4-1-6

The great Maryland-bred sprinter of the late 1970s is honored in this contest. #2 Ms. Bucchero (4-1) easily won the Willa On the Move Stakes after racing on the pace and kicking on last out. In her prior dirt start, she held second despite setting a very ambitious tempo in the Alma North Stakes. She’s proved she likes this track and run without Lasix, and she’ll almost certainly last a long way on the lead here. #4 Kant Hurry Love (7-5) won the Garland of Roses Stakes at Aqueduct last out in front-running fashion. While she’s not as fast as Ms. Bucchero, she’s shown the ability to win from off the pace, so her best strategy might be to stalk and pounce. #1 Spencerian (6-1), as noted above, came up the inside to win the Politely Stakes two starts back, and now steps up into unrestricted stakes company. She gets a good opportunity to save ground with her draw.

RACE 8: FIRE PLUG STAKES, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 1/2 FURLONGS

1-4-5-7

The final stakes of the afternoon is named for the top Mid-Atlantic sprinter of the late 1980s. He won at least one stakes race per year every year from 1986 to 1990. #1 Prince of Jericho (2-1) has run at least a 90 in each of his last eight starts. None of his rivals can run that fast even close as as consistently. He has blistering middle speed, and is likely to get a beautiful trip just off the pace on the inside. #4 Freeze the Fire (12-1) was a bit closer to the pace than he might’ve liked to be in the Bender Stakes last out and flattened out, but closed strongly two starts ago to get third, and at his peak, packs a strong late punch. #5 Tudox Opportunity (9-2) sent his dueling partner into a 13-length defeat in the Chocolatetown Stakes at Penn National last out, but held sway for a determined victory. He’s not a need-the-lead type, but he’s proven he can last if he gets pressed.

RACE 9: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 6 FURLONGS

4-6-1-7

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