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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 — $1,206
Jackpot Super High 5 — $1,916
Late Pick 5 — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

6-2-7-1

We’ll try a longshot in the opener. #6 Miss Serafina (6-1) is one of two first-time starters in this uninspiring field. She’s worked well for Jerry Robb, who’s off to a solid start at the meet, and Robb’s first-call rider, Xavier Perez, picked this filly over the other Robb trainee in the field. If she can run a brisnet figure somewhere in the low-60s on debut, she’ll contend, and she seems more than capable of doing so. #2 Diane Lee (6-5) has run in the 60s three times in four career dirt starts. She battled wide on the pace against better last out and faded, and now takes a career-low drop in class. While she looks tough to beat, the value will be minimal. #7 Gala Dancer (5-1) showed speed on debut here and faded, then ran a much-improved race last out at Charles Town. We know she’ll show speed, and while it’s not clear if she can sustain it for a while, the possibility of further improvement makes her worthy of respect.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $12,500 (N/W2L), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

5-3-2-1

#5 Super Needy (9-5) sat off a hot pace and led briefly last out, but was overcome by a rival who came from even further out of it. His only bad recent race came when he was caught impossibly wide two starts back; that almost certainly won’t happen here. #3 El Divino Nino (7-2) set that aforementioned early pace, and held on to finish third while outfinishing his dueling partner by 30 lengths. He was well-beaten at Charles Town next out, but should appreciate the return to the big track. #2 Putthepastbehind (5-2) ran a big race first off a year-plus layoff two starts back, rating off the pace and finishing third behind a pair of sharp rivals in Beach Cowboy and next-out winner Win No Joke.

RACE 3: MAIDEN CLAIMING $30,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 6 FURLONGS

4-2-6-7

#4 Happy Hour Joker (9-5) was well-bet in her first two starts against straight maidens, but couldn’t keep up and faded. She ran in the 60s both times, which fits in with these, and should relish the class drop. #2 Divining Smile (6-1) has shown steady improvement in each of her last few starts, peaking at a 63 when a solid-closing fifth last out. She probably wants more distance than this, but should at least be a late threat. #6 Anotherhope (5-2) owed promise last summer, and faces a fairly easy field for her first start since mid-August. Any improvement since then puts her in the mix.

RACE 4: CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 1 MILE

6-4-5-2

With eight races today, this race begins the late pick 5. #6 Fitness (7-5) left her race in the gate on debut at Parx, but when she settled down at second asking, she improved sharply, breaking her maiden with an impressive 73. Jaime Rodriguez gets aboard this Jamie Ness homebred for the first time. #4 Golden Aurora (5-1) was outkicked against classier rivals in her first try against winners, but closed ground and won with a solid 67 two starts ago. She turned in a very sharp workout on Tuesday, and should be ready to run one of her best races. #5 Cruz Chica (9-5) is one of two in here who has won at today’s distance, doing so at Churchill Downs last fall with 72. She faded after a wide trip last time, and will be a threat if she can find a way to save more ground.

RACE 5: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

5-3-7-4

#5 True Sunshine (3-1) has won two of her last three starts by open lengths. The only time she didn’t was when she was run off her feet by a gate-to-wire winner. While this is a step up in class from what she’s been facing, her recent figures fit right in with these. #3 Baby Sox (4-1) has won her last two starts from well off the pace, including a victory at this distance two starts back. Any kind of honest pace will put her in the late mix. #7 Annieworkstoomuch (8-1) has ben in sharp and improving form at Parx, but hasn’t proven herself at other tracks. Her only bad recent race came when she got involved in a tussle at Aqueduct and faded. It’s possible her best race doesn’t travel, but she might be in generally improved form, and can contend if she can avoid getting caught up in the early pace.

RACE 6: CLAIMING $7,500 (CONDITIONED), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

10-1-2-3

#10 Pudge Boy Palace (8-1) certainly outran his 61-1 odds last out, pressing eventual winner Sunset Town, giving him a challenge in the stretch, and hold on for second. He’s stretching out beyond six furlongs for the first time in a while, and has found a field at this distance that he should contend in at a good price. #1 Yodel E.A. Who (5-2) gobbled up ground off a solid pace and got second at this level last out with a 84, his best figure since returning from a three-month break in mid-October. It was the first time in a while he managed to put in a sustained rally, and he’ll be a threat if he repeats that race. #2 Martini Martin (3-1) was no threat last out in a race where the leaders never wilted, but now drops in class and cuts back from 1 1/16 miles. Like Yodel E.A. Who, he’ll do his best running late.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W3X), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

5-2-3-1

#5 Paradise Valley (7-2) won three of his first four starts of the year, with figures in the 90s every time. He hasn’t done much in his last two starts against stakes-quality fields at Parx, but now gets class relief and has the potential to rebound against these. #2 No Easy Days (5-2) got involved in a very hot pace in the Fire Plug Stakes last out, and subsequently showed little. He’s much more dangerous when allowed to rate off the pace, and with some established frontunners in here, he might be able to get the trip he wants. #3 Talented Man (5-1) has the most natural early speed of anyone in here, and if anyone ends up getting loose on the lead, it’s likely to be him.

RACE 8: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

6-7-2-5

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