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

Post time: 12:10 p.m.

Carryovers: 
Chesapeake Jackpot Pick 6 — $5,609
Jackpot Super High 5 — $10,468
Late Pick 5 — $0

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

1-8-2-5

#1 Yumyum Eat Em Up (6-1) chased the pace and flattened out going a mile last out, but that distance isn’t quite her speed. She ran much better brisnet figure going this distance or shorter, and will benefit from a cutback in distance. #8 Bad Temper (4-1) has run in the 70s in each of her last four starts, the only one in the field to do so. She has by far the best late pace figures in the race, and will be a threat if she can stay somewhat close to the leaders. #2 Levisa (3-1) looks like she’ll be able to make the rail and the lead from her draw, which should lead to her maximum effort. She faded after a wide trip last out, but led most of the way and held second two races ago.

RACE 2: MAIDEN CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/16 MILES

2-1-3-5

Many of these exit the same race on January 17. #2 Amazing Bernie (3-1) made decent ground from well off the pace, getting up for third while missing second by less than a length. Runner-up Veneto has run twice since then, finishing fourth behind odds-on choice Derz Smart, then finishing a game second to well-backed Brittany Russell trained firster Chesapeake Dream. This one is in improving form, and should do his best running late. #1 Percy (8-5) finished third in that Derz Smart contest, and drops to this level for the first time since getting claimed by Phil Capuano for this price in mid-November. This one might not have as high a ceiling as Amazing Bernie, but he’s very consistent, and might take control of the pace in a contest without much speed. #3 Wrap and Send (4-1) was fourth in that January 17 race, improving 15 points to a career-best 72 second off a three-month layoff. This one is a half-brother to two stakes winners; one of them, Law Abidin Citizen, was a graded stakes winner around two turns.

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

3-2-7-1

#3 Minister (7-2) debuted on a chilly day, but you could see the steam coming off of his back with how much action he got at the windows. As the only first-time starter in the field, he went off at 4-1 on a tough maiden race. However, his extreme outside post did him in, and he stopped after a wide trip. He’s worked well since then, including a drill with a similarly well-meant horse named Where’s My Chew. That one broke his maiden at first asking last Friday, after taking plenty of play. This one adds Lasix for his second start, keeps Jaime Rodriguez aboard, and should drastically improve. #2 General Maximus (5-1) and #7 Blo By’em (3-1) both exit the last race on February 8. Both ran career-top figures that day, with Blo By’em rallying and losing by a nose, while General Maximus made a bold move and ended up missing by a half-length. General Maximus gets my slight nod between the two, as he’ll be a better price and looks more suited for this distance, while Blo By’em might want to go further.

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

7-3-5-6

#7 Haleigh B (8-5) has hit the board in her last four tries without winning, but she has standout figures compared to these, and should sit her trip and cruise without much drama. #3 Freccia d’Argento (2-1) chased a gate-to-wire winner on a speed-favoring strip last out and finished second. She might find herself chasing Haleigh B in the stretch here, and is a good horse to key underneath in a cold exacta with the chalk. #5 Sweet Talia (8-1) is not at her best going 1 1/16 miles here, but has run in the low/mid-70s consistently at a one-turn mile, and scored by 13 lengths with a 74 at Charles Town last out. The 1 1/16 mile lines disguises her otherwise solid form a bit.

RACE 5: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/16 MILES

1A-6-4-3

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#1A Aikmans Audible (4-5) went off favored when dropped to this level last out, and ran a solid second to Tuff Luck, who’s much better than anyone else in this contest. This one’s run in the 70s in back-to-back starts, something no one else in here has come close to doing. #6 Parlay for Destiny (7-5) was third behind Tuff Luck and Aikmans Audible last out, running a career-best figure by seven points in the process. He has a decent late kick, but no early speed whatsoever, which will likely leave him with nothing more than a smaller share. #4 Align (3-1) was third behind Tuff Luck and another next-out winner in Buds Island last out, and led most of the way and held third two races ago. He’ll likely set the early pace; it just isn’t clear how long he can last.

RACE 6: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 5 1/2 FURLONGS

3-9-1-8

The only bad dirt race of #3 Double Airo (3-1) came two starts ago, when she got entangled in a speed duel going seven furlongs in the Miss Behaviour Stakes at Parx. She bounced back with an 81 at Aqueduct last out, which, while not good enough to win there, puts her in contention with these. #9 Krissi N (7-2) has taken a step forward with every start, and was a solid-closing third behind Safe Trust and Malibu Hooch last out, both of whom are better than anyone she’ll have to deal with here. She’s run well despite wide trips in her last two races, so the outside post shouldn’t be a huge impediment. #1 Pocket Sand (8-1) beat winners two starts ago at Penn National in a gate-to-wire triumph, then got bumped at the break last out and showed little. She’s worked well since then and gets Lasix for the first time.

RACE 7: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500, 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/8 MILES

4-2-5-1

#4 Fun Lovin Criminal (5-2) does well on this track against these types, and won impressively at Charles Town first off a two-month layoff last out. That race should have prepped him nicely for today’s spot. #2 Yodel E.A. Who (9-2) took advantage of a largely paceless affair last out and won in gate-to-wire style. This classy veteran looks like he’s rounding back into his best form. #5 Goodluckchuck (6-1) is a question mark at this distance, but he’s run well in shorter two-turn races in the past, and has the most early speed in this contest.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

5-3-4-1

#5 Exploration (7-5), a $900,000 yearling purchase, was thought enough of by the Brittany Russell team that Sheldon Russell has traveled to Parx and Aqueduct to ride him. Chris Elliott had the mount on him last out at the big A, and he raced wide on the pace and drew off to win with an impressive 88. Sheldon’s out of town to ride Worcester in the Stymie Stakes, but Jevian Toledo will jump aboard. This one has a very high ceiling and will be tough if he runs his race. #3 Beaver State (5-2) and #4 Swifty Devil (4-1) finished second and third to the impressive St. Jude last out. Those two dueled each other, and St. Jude took advantage of the battle, but Beaver State finished two lengths clear of Swifty Devil while running a 90 for the second time in his last three starts. Swifty Devil is in improving form, and could go back to the front or sit just off the pace.

RACE 9: CLAIMING $12,500 (N/W2L), 4-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES

6-2-7-4

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