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

Post time: 12:25 p.m.

Carryovers: 
Chesapeake Jackpot Pick 6 — $1,214
Jackpot Super High 5 — $1,107
Late Pick 5 — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

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

1-3-4-8

We’ll start the day on an upset-minded note. #1 Let Fly (20-1) debuted for $30,000 last out, broke a bit slowly, raced wide every step, and never got settled. He’s now cutting back from 1 1/16 miles and dropping in class. In a race without a ton of ability, he gets my nod to possibly surprise. #3 Bold Diversion (9-5) also continues a steady drop down the class ladder, having held third after dueling on the pace against $30,000 rivals last out. He’ll be able to make the rail and the lead from his post, but I’m not sure if I’m willing to take low odds that he’ll last. #4 War Salute (6-1) faded after a pace-stalking trip and held third first off the Kieron Magee claim last out. He’s likely to do the same thing here.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $25,000 (N/W2L), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE

6-2-1-3

#6 Whatsyourbigidea (8-1) ran brisnet figures in the 80s consistently 12-13 months ago. She’s only raced once on dirt since mid-May, having finished fifth against better non-winners of two rivals last out. She was claimed out of that mid-November effort by Lacey Gaudet, and has worked well since. She’s primed to upset this field if she can run back to her best race. #2 Candy Craze (2-1) surged and just missed last out at Turfway Park, a nice rebound effort following a pair of disappointing races. While she’s inconsistent, her best race puts her in the mix with these. #1 Magically Vanished (9-5) broke her maiden on debut by 16 lengths in late June, and hasn’t raced since. If she still race for Brittany Russell, she’d likely be odds-on, but one wonders how she’ll do first off the claim by Charles Frock. She got close to an ideal setup for her maiden win, which means the 82 she earned that day may represent her ceiling. Still, it’s a higher ceiling than most of these have.

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

2-4-8-9

#2 Mersin Hope (12-1) improved almost 20 points at second asking, running a 58 when a pace-stalking third at Parx. Although he flattened out badly in the lane, he showed a lot more early speed in his second start, always a good sign. #4 Bye Bye Wicked Eye (9-2) drops in class after a traffic-filled trip last out. He ran in the mid/upper-60s in his first two starts, and should round back towards that form with clear sailing. #8 Rick’swarmheart (6-1) just missed after a wide trip at Charles Town last out, and lures Arnaldo Bocachica from West Virginia for the mount. It’s always encouraging when Bocachica makes the trip to ride an Anthony Farrior runner, whom he rides first-call for at Charles Town.

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

5-2-7-6

#5 A Little Moxie (12-1) is the only one in the field who hasn’t lost against winners. She wore down the pacesetters to break her maiden at tenth asking last out, and has taken steps forward with each of her last few starts. #2 Style and Profile (3-1) drops in for a tag against winners for the first time. She raced closer to the pace than usual at Penn National last out and flamed out, but ran at this track’s fall meet when she came from well off the tempo. #7 Titian Tyrant (2-1) just missed first off a 7 1/2-month layoff two starts back, but took a step backwards last out when she has no late punch at all. She stretches out further from a mile here, and has enough flashes of brilliance to make her a contendr.

RACE 5: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS, 1 MILE

6-4-8-3

#6 Bjorn (5-1) got involved in a tense duel last out, and while he couldn’t fend off favored Bestfriend Rocket, he put away his dueling partner and held third. There’s no one in here as good as Bestfriend Rocket, so he should be able to last even with a decent amount of pace pressure. #4 All the Hardways (7-2) rated off the pace, moved to the front on the turn, and held sway last out. He’s one of two in here who has beaten winners, and the only one to do so at a mile. #8 Pay Billy (3-1) dramatically improved last out, breaking his maiden with an 86. That’s a jarring outlier from the rest of his figures, but he can afford to drop a few points off that race and still win.

RACE 6: CLAIMING $7,500 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

4-10-5-11

#4 Sapphire Beauty (6-1) wore down the early leader and took control last out, but couldn’t hold off one of the favorites, who came from well off the pace, and finished second. Take out her race two starts back, where she couldn’t get settled, and her start three back at Charles Town, and her form is very consistently solid. #10 Yumyum Eat Em Up (12-1) has run in the 70s in her last eight starts at 5 1/2 or 6 furlongs, and gets one of her preferred distances today. She made decent ground last out over a very wet track behind an impressive runaway winner. #5 Forgotten Gift (12-1) set the pace and just got caught in her last try at this level, which came two races back. There’s speed drawn to her inside, but she looks fast enough to outrun them and try to last as long as she can.

RACE 7: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 7 FURLONGS

6-5-8-9

A victory by Forgotten Gift in race 6 would boost the stock of #6 Tam Char (3-1), who beat that rival two starts back. She finished second t this condition last out, beating some of these while finishing behind the very classy Anonymously. There’s no one in here at Anonymously’s level, which will make Tam Char’s job much easier. #5 Skip Thru Da Fire (6-1) was third behind Tam Char and Anonymously last out, running a career-best 82 in the process. She won three in a row on this track last fall, and while she hasn’t done much against better in her last few, this looks like an easier field than what she’s grown accustomed to. #8 Bound by Destiny (10-1) was no match for better in her last two races, but now finds an softer group, and ran an impressive 88 three starts back when she set the pace.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W3X), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

6-5-2-1

RACE 9: CLAIMING $25,000 (N/W3L), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

7-3-1-6

#7 Lottie Deno (4-1) has run only two figures that wouldn’t win this race. One of them came in a race where he a claim on her was voided, the other came in the race right after that. Whatever ailed her then has apparently since healed, considering she sat the trip and cruised to clear her non-winners of two condition last out. #3 Feelin So Lucky (9-5) got caught wide all the way last out at Penn National, and subsequently dropped back. She ran well against better on this track two and three starts back including a sharp 79 when chasing the the-to-wire victress Lovely Charm last out. #1 Conquest Dancer (5-2) managed to eventually make the front from her outside draw last out. Though she flattened out, she still ran a career-best 79. She’s in ascendant form, and should be a much more prominent pace presence from the inside.

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