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

Post time: 12:30 p.m.

Carryovers: 
Chesapeake Jackpot Pick 6 — $3,019
Jackpot Super High 5 — $2,368
Late Pick 5 — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: CLAIMING $7,500, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE

5-3-9-4

#5 Baby Sox (5-1) gobbled up ground from well off the pace to win against conditioned rivals last out. She loves this track; her only bad recent race came at Charles Town two starts back. She’s stretching back out from six furlongs, but did win at this distance a few races ago. #3 Major Houlihan (6-1) got caught in a duel against much better rivals last out, and stopped badly. Her recent form outside of that race has been very sharp, and she looks fast enough to be able to control the early tempo. #9 Freccia d’Argento (3-1) comes out of the same race as Major Houlihan. She battled on the pace and held fourth, improving to a brisnet figure of 74 second off a seven-month break. She’ll rate off the pace in the clear and take advantage if Major Houlihan packs it in.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

4-7-5-2

#4 Little Bit Risky (8-5) ran a game race against better last out, hanging in until late despite racing very wide on a contested pace. He’ll win if he repeats any of his last three starts. #7 Tiny Lake (6-1) set the pace and drew away to break his maiden at second asking last out at Penn National. He showed dramatic improvement in that race from his debut, where he battled on the pace and faded. It’s hard to tell if he can’t withstand pace pressure or if she’s simply in quickly improving form. This race will be his litmus test. #5 English Daddy (4-1) stalked the pace and kicked away to break his maiden last out. He keeps Jaime Rodriguez in the saddle, and will hope the aforementioned two burn themselves out.

RACE 3: CLAIMING $7,500 (CONDITIONED), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

7-4-5-9

#7 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. #4 Genieinabridle (9-2) has run exactly a 78 in each of her last three starts. and gets some class relief after facing the very classy Anonymously in her last start. #5 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.

RACE 4: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES

2-3-7-1

#2 Viennese Waltz (12-1) closed from the clouds to win going away against softer last out. She goes first off the claim by Hugh McMahon and gets Weston Hamilton in the saddle for the first time. She’ll be a late threat with any pace to close into. #3 Lovely Charm (7-5) has run some gaudy figures as of late, but many of those were earned with the aid of easy trips on the lead. While she might not have as easy a setup this time, this one’s upside cannot be discounted. #7 Sister Supream (2-1) cruised to a gate-to-wire victory at Parx last out with a career-best 89. She had been in middling form going one turn in her prior races, but blossomed when stretched out to a mile and 70 yards in that Parx contest. Jaime Rodriguez gets aboard this Jamie Ness trainee for the first time. Ness broke out of a season-starting slump in yesterday’s finale.

RACE 5: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

7-6-3-5

#7 Mersin Heat (10-1) 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. #6 Let Fly (15-1) 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 could possibly surprise. #3 Severn Run (7-2) drops after a pair of tries at the $45,000 maiden claiming level. He’s run a 60 and a 61 two trips to the post. While those figures don’t contend against the horses he’s been running against, they fit in with these.

RACE 6: CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

1-10-4-8

#1 Itsamonstermash (3-1) lasted through pace pressure and drew clear to break her maiden as the 1-2 chalk last out. The 78 she ran that day is the best last-out figure by nine points, and she ran a 77 when fourth in the Maryland Million Lassie three starts back. The only ones in the field who have shown they can run that fast are drawn far to the outside. #10 Ade (7-2) is one of the aforementioned ones who can run in the mid-70s, and goes first off the claim by Emanuel Geralis (who is sneaky good with that angle) while luring Arnaldo Bocachica in for the ride. This one held second last out after a wide trip, albeit with a regressed figure, and might have to overcome another similar setup. #4 Pootoogook (20-1) makes her first local appearance, and her first start since September 12. She showed improved form over the summer at Belterra Park, and looks like an interesting longshot in a field that’s quite formless beyond the top two.

RACE 7: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

2-1A-3-4

#2 Sagrada Ray (5-2) comes in off a gate-to-wire win. He faded after setting fast fractions first off a three-month layoff two starts, but lasted all the way with a race under his belt. The only threat to his dominance is #1A Splendor Beauty (9-5). He led for every step while under a drive at this level last out, and looks like he should get a similar trip as last time, as long as Jamie Rodriguez sends him to the front from the outside draw. #3 Hornbeam (6-1) was wide all the way last out and showed little, but generally has good closing speed, and should make up plenty of ground with any kind of pace in front of him.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W3X), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 7 FURLONGS

5-2-6-3

RACE 9: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W3X), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

5-2-6-1

#5 Cataleya Strike (3-1) was no match for stakes company in his last two starts, but was a sharp winner in his two tries against allowance rivals at the fall meet. He should sit well behind early, but roll in the stretch. #2 Mindtap (2-1) beat second-level rivals second off an 8 1/2-month layoff in his last try, with a career-best 94. He may be the most talented one in the race, but is sure to get hammered at the windows. #6 Red Vine (8-1) has been in fantastic form at his Penn National base. He was in a bit over his head against much better in the Bob Manfuso Stakes last out, but now finds himself in a spot where he’s the lone speed, and should have a major pace advantage over these.

RACE 10: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

3-5-8-7

#3 Defined Boundaries (5-2) was well-bet against better last out, battled on the lead, and faded to fourth. His 61 was his worst figure in a while, but it’s still the third-best last-out mark in the race, and his figures from two and three races back would annihilate these. #5 Bold Diversion (2-1) also continues a steady drop down the class ladder, having held third after dueling on the pace with Defined Boundaries last out. He’s in slowly improving form, and might find himself engaged in battle with Defined Boundaries once again. #8 Bye Bye Wicked Eye (6-1) 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.

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