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

Post time: 12:10 p.m.

Carryovers: 
Chesapeake Jackpot Pick 6 — $0
Jackpot Super High 5 — $5,115
Late Pick 5 — $0

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RACE 1: CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

2-7-8-6

#2 Tiny Lake (4-1) is a perfect 2-for-2 since Kieron Magee claimed him in mid-November, including a going-away victory at this level last out despite a wide trip. He should easily handle this field. #7 Bigtonten (6-1) took a big step forward to break his maiden at Charles Town last out with a much-improved brisnet figure of 75. He lures Arnaldo Bocachica in for the mount. Bocachica has won with four of his last five mounts here. #8 Urban Symphony (8-1) won at this level three races ago, and gets class relief after facing first level rivals going longer in each of his last two starts.

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

7-3-6-4

#7 Bad Boy Blaze (4-1) broke his maiden in impressive gate-to-wire style last October. He went off as the favorite against winners next out, but abruptly lost his footing on the far turn and was never a factor from there. Something must have gone amiss in that moment, as he’s been off since that October 24 effort. He’s put in five workouts since then, including a bullet drill, and will be very tough if he’s ready first off the bench. #3 Sir Chance a Lot (5-2) rallied up the inside to break his maiden at seventh asking last out, in a nice rebound effort following a dull race two starts back. He should sit the trip just off the leaders on the inside and try to make a similar move as last time. #6 Sir Mick (2-1) faded after an early duel last out, but lasted through pace pressure to break his maiden three races back. He’s bound to be sent for speed, and might be fast enough to outrun Bad Boy Blaze early and get to the rail and the lead. From there, it’s a matter of how long he can last.

RACE 3: CLAIMING $12,500 (N/W3L), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

8-7-1-3

#8 Secret Treasure (2-1) needed every bit of the long one-mile stretch to win last out, as he surged up the inside and got up to beat a non-winners of two field in the final strides. He’s in improving form, and will once again be a late factor with any kind of pace to close into. #7 Motskari (9-2) faded in his last start at Parx, but has recently shown sharp form on this track, including a strong third with a career-best 87 three starts back. He closed admirably off a slow pace that day. #1 Inspeightoftrainer (5-2) stopped badly first off a seven-month layoff last out, but he’s shown promising form in the past, and may take a big step forward first off the claim by Jamie Ness.

RACE 4: NELLIE MORSE STAKES, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES

1-4-5-2

#1 Sea Can (7-5) made her dirt debut a winning one last out, coming from well off the pace to beat a much better field in the Carousel Stakes. She’ll be hard to beat in here if she can repeat that race, and there’s little reason to believe she can’t. #4 Peppermint Class (12-1) set easy fractions and won two starts back, then faded last out after she got caught wide the whole way. The truest version of herself is probably somewhere in between those two performances, but if she can get to the rail and the lead, she’ll get about as ideal a trip as she can hope for. After a disastrous series of races, #5 Call Another Play (9-2) perked up to beat a better field in the Geisha Stakes last out in a 15-1 upset. She won three in a row on this track last year, including the Weber City Miss Stakes. If you believe she’s turning a corner, she’s worth a play.

RACE 5: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

10-4-2-6

LATE PICK 5 STARTS HERE. CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO ANALYSIS

#10 Freeze the Fire (9-5) may not have been out of place in the General George Stakes later today. He finished a game-closing second in the Fire Plug Stakes last out, matching his career-best 96. He’s the only one in the race who has run at least an 87 in each of his last five starts, and has some of the best late pace figures in the race. With some cheap speed in front of him, he’s bound to get the setup he wants. #4 Radical Right (3-1) just missed in the mud at Saratoga two starts back with an impressive 100, then finished a game third after a wide trip to the very sharp Worcester last out. This one should take another step forward second off a five-month break. #2 Full Irish (5-2), who looked like a rising star at this time last year, has begun to rediscover his best self. He’s won three races in a row, including a determined effort against a salty group at Charles Town last out. He won a stretch battle with S S Sinatra in his last start on this track. S S Sinatra returned to win a Maryland-restricted allowance last Friday.

RACE 6: BARBARA FRITCHIE STAKES, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 7 FURLONGS

5-6-3-4

#5 Irish Maxima (1-1) took the Weather Vane Stakes on this track last September after racing on a hot pace, and has since gotten better with every start. She rode a wet, speed-biased track to a 13-length victory in the Mrs. Claus Stakes last out at Parx. While she’s not as good as that last race, she’ll likely get a wet track again, she has lots of early speed, and this track has been favoring frontrunners as of late. #6 Royal Spa (4-1) has closed well against better in her last two starts at Oaklawn Park, and will assuredly take advantage if Irish Maxima gets caught up in a duel and can’t last. #3 St. Benedict’s Prep (5-2) sat off free-wheeling Ms. Bucchero in the What a Summer Stakes two starts back, and just missed catching her by a nose. With Irish Maxima’s blazing speed to her outside, she might be better off not trying to engage that rival and risk getting burned out, but rather sit just off of her and try to mow her down, like she did in the What a Summer.

RACE 7: JOHN CAMPBELL STAKES, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/8 MILES

7-3-6-5

#7 Offaly Cool (8-5) came from just off the pace to win the Kris Kringle Stakes on that speedy Parx track last out, in his first start in 11 months. He’s shown great form on this track and in the mud, and has also proven he can run well from off the pace. That will prove handy here, considering #3 Speedyness (5-2) is bound to be sent for speed. He stopped on the front end in the Jennings Stakes last out, but dug in and just missed after setting the pace in his last three two-turn stakes tries. A similar scenario is likely to unfold here. #6 Red Vine (8-1) came from off a slow pace to beat a salty third-level field last out at 16-1, and could once again make a surprising impact at a price.

RACE 8: GENERAL GEORGE STAKES, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 7 FURLONGS

2-5-3-4

#2 Quint’s Brew (3-2) made his 4-year-old debut a dazzling one in the Jennings Stakes last out. He won by six lengths despite racing greenly in the stretch with a dazzling 106. He broke his maiden in similarly impressive fashion last March on a sloppy track, so we know a wet surface won’t slow him down too much. The sky looks like the limit for this promising gelding. #5 Prince of Jericho (6-5) called on his class to win the Fire Plug Stakes last out. He lasted through early pace pressure, then kicked away to win for the seventh time in 15 starts on this track. He usually sits just off the pace, and could pack a powerful middle punch. #3 Celtic Contender (8-1) has won three of his last four starts on this track, and he ran huge in his one defeat, lasting through a long duel with Speedyness to get second in the City of Laurel Stakes, outfinished only by a rival who sat a great trip off that duel. This one missed a planned start in the Fire Plug, but has put in three workouts since then, and should be ready to run a big race.

RACE 9: CLAIMING $25,000 (N/W3L), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE

2-4-7-3

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