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

Post time: 12:10 p.m.

Carryovers: 
Chesapeake Jackpot Pick 6 (races 4-9) — $3,043
Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6) — $1,717
Late Pick 5 (races 5-9) — $7,225

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: MAIDEN CLAIMING $12,500, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES

1-7-8-10

#1 Authenticated (3-1) has disappointed at low odds in two career starts at this condition, but fortunately for her, the rest of this field is completely formless. She’s the only one in the race to run a brisnet figure of at least 55 in each of her last two starts, and has shown some early speed in a race without much pace. This looks like a prime spot to pick up an easy maiden victory. #7 Behind Schedule (8-1) outfinished Authenticated in her last start, grabbing third with a career-best 62. That represents drastic improvement from her first two starts, where she showed little. She’s one of the lighter-raced horses in the field, and has a chance if she runs close to her last start. #8 She Got the Munni (2-1) just missed second behind next-out winner Rapscallion in her first start at this condition and distance last out. It looks as if she’s trending in the right direction at the right time.

RACE 2: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (OPEN), 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 6 FURLONGS

6-2-1-3

#6 Safe Trust (2-1) ran her eyeballs out in the Beyond the Wire Stakes last out, crossing the wire a whisker behind Moon Cache. She was elevated to victory when that rival was disqualified. This one came from off the pace to win that race, but has otherwise displayed potent early speed, and looks better suited for this spot than next week’s 1 1/16-mile Weber City Miss Stakes. #2 Great Andrei (9-2) set the pace and held second in a short but stout field last out, in her first race off a four-month layoff. She has potent early speed and a great post position from which to show it. #1 Shkhara Fire (5-2) has hit the board in all four of her starts at six furlongs or shorter this year, but hasn’t won any of them. I’ve seen her song and dance enough times to not be fooled again, but I still respect her as a vertical candidate.

RACE 3: CLAIMING $7,500 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE

6-4-10-11

#6 Freccia d’Argento (3-1) hasn’t won in a while, but she’s also been facing better rivals as of late. She was second behind the impressive Haleigh B last out, who returned to beat open claiming horses as the odds-on choice in her next start. This one has superior speed and late pace figures compared to these, and looks to have finally found her field. #4 Braquet (12-1) has been in improved form since coming from Canada to Penn National. Her late pace figures have been solid and suggest she’ll take full advantage of the lone one-turn mile stretch. #10 Divine Exchange (6-1) hit the board in three consecutive starts at Delaware Park last summer, and makes her first start since the end of August. She has some early speed from the outside and gets a fairly easy field for her return.

RACE 4: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS, 1 MILE

3-2-4-1

#3 Straight to Water (2-1) broke his maiden at first asking last out going seven furlongs. He rated off the pace, kicked on at the top of the stretch, and held clear late despite drifting out. He ran an 80 that day, better than any of these can consistently run. While I would’ve liked to have seen a workout since that March 30 race, the upside is there, and he should enjoy another good setup. It might be the same class on paper, but #2 Top Blood (6-1) faced a much better field last out. He checked on the first turn, raced behind a wall of horses approaching the final bend, and ultimately came up empty. Two starts ago, he beat a similar field to this one going away with an 85. He also gets Yedsit Hazlewood in the saddle, who has been riding very well as of late. #4 Tethered Soul (9-2) broke his maiden first off a six-month layoff at Colonial Downs last out, battling on the pace every step of the way and holding on to win. He may have taken advantage of the track dynamics in that victory, but it was still a strong performance for his 3-year-old debut.

RACE 5: NATIVE DANCER STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/8 MILES

5-4-6-1

LATE PICK 5 STARTS HERE. CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO ANALYSIS

#5 Film Star (3-2) and #4 Speedyness (7-5) get a rematch here after facing each other in the Bob Manfuso Stakes in late December. Speedyness set the pace that day, but Film Star wore him down and won by a head. That type of effort has been Speedyness’s M.O. around two turns. His only stakes victory going a route of ground came two starts back, when he took advantage of a speed-favoring track to wire the John Campbell Stakes. On a normal surface, he almost assuredly would’ve gotten caught. He’s the lone speed of the field, and he might get another biased track, but Film Star’s got great tactical speed and is more proven around two turns. I’ll bet on a repeat of the Manfuso result. #6 Cataleya Strike (7-2) was well-beaten by those two in the Manfuso, but has since turned in a series of solid efforts against softer, including a determined victory against third-level rivals last out. He has slightly more early speed than the other very deep closers in this field, so he can sit somewhat close to the pace and take advantage if either of the top two don’t fire.

RACE 6: HEAVENLY CAUSE STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE

2-8-11-10

A few of these are cross-entered elsewhere, including top choice #2 Catherine Wheel (7-2). Should Chad Brown elect to ship her down, she’ll merit plenty of respect. She improved dramatically second off a year-long layoff last out, getting up after a wide trip to win a second-level contest at Aqueduct with a career-best 94. She has a good enough post and decent speed, so Jevian Toledo could send her to the front if he desires. #8 Royal Spa (4-1) was a sharp second behind the speedy Irish Maxima in the Barbara Fritchie Stakes last out, running about as well as one could expect given the circumstances. She looks like she’ll thrive at a one-turn mile. #11 Sea Dancer (5-2) is a perfect 2-for-2 on this track, including a victory over a very nice field in the Carousel Stakes in December. Brittany Russell was on the fence about running her earlier this week, so if she goes postward, you know she’s ready to fire a big race.

RACE 7: PRIMONETTA STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

6-5-4-7

#6 Disco Ebo (4-1) won this race last year, setting the pace and holding to win a four-horse affair. She has by far the best early pace figures in this year’s edition, so a repeat performance is very possible. #5 All Class (7-2) gets Jaime Rodriguez aboard for her local debut and has good tactical speed. Her last race at Aqueduct was subpar, but she consistently ran in the 90s prior that effort. A return to that form wins this one. #4 Firstlady Rosalynn (5-2) won’t get as easy a setup she she did last out, when she crushed a second-level field at Colonial in easy gate-to-wire style, but she’s lightly-raced, in improving form, and has a high ceiling.

RACE 8: FRANK WHITELEY STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 7 FURLONGS

3-2-5-6

#3 Worcester (7-5) won impressively twice on this track over the winter, then ran a game-closing second to Bank Frenzy in the Stymie Stakes last out. That one returned to win the Excelsior Stakes last Saturday. This one looks perfectly-suited to seven furlongs and should roll late. #2 Circle P (5-1) sat the trip and got up in the last jump to win the Not For Love Stakes last out, defeating next-out winner S S Sinatra and Speedyness. It’s unlikely he’ll get as nice a setup here, but without a ton of other early speed, he might end up closer to the lead than he did last time. The main speed threat is #5 Bartlett (5-2), who won in gate-to-wire style three times in four starts last year. He’s making his season debut in this spot, and might want more distance, but his early foot cannot be discounted.

RACE 9: CLAIMING $25,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 7 FURLONGS

4-7-6-2

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