John Piasek August 16, 2024
We'll be covering the Laurel Park races every day…
Posted at 12:25pm
Carryover:
Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $619
Jackpot Super High 5 — $0
Late Pick 5 — $0
For other handicaps, click here.
Race 1: $20,000 (conditional), 3 years and older, 1 1/8 miles (turf)
1-3-5-7
The turf races will see a busy start to the final week of the season with a lineup of well-conditioned claimers. First-place David's Pro Spec (20-1) ran well late in the turf season last year, staying close to the pace and holding his share at a good price. He didn't do very well at this level in his last race after an eight-month break, but that was a five-and-a-half-furlong race, so it seems likely that this race was used as preparation for a race like this one. He should run better at longer distances, and even in races without speed, he has speed. Third-place Silver Bullet Twenty (5-2) came in third in his last turf debut, but in that race he had a fast pace to catch up with. He doesn't have much speed this time, but he has shown some tactical footwork in the past, suggesting he could attack alongside the top group. Fifth-place Class Wizard (6-1) will face his sixth jockey in his last six races. In this case, it's Jevian Toledo. He ran in the same race as Silver Bullet Twenty and finished just behind that fast pace, although he is a very consistent type who rarely runs badly and should win at least once.
Race 2: Maiden Claiming, $12,500, 3, 4 & 5 year olds, fillies, 6 furlongs
2-1-6-7
No. 2 Kiss Me More (8-1) will be competing on a dirt course for the first time, but no horse has ever shown his ability on this course. In his first two races, he posted Brisnet figures in the 70s in both races, showing promising results against better horses, but in his last race at 1 1/8 miles, he struggled against a tough field. That race may have spooked him a bit. When the race was shortened to a mile in his next race, he was completely off the pace. It will be interesting to see how he does on the shorter distance on dirt. No. 1 Lance Smile (9-2) is coming off a three-and-a-half month break and seemed too eager to take the lead in his last race, fighting for the pace early on before dropping back. He may do better racing a little further back from the front on the rail. No. 6 Stormy Irish Lass (9-5) has been getting better in each of her recent races, finishing a solid second in her last race to Brittany Russell's 1-5 Lottie Deno. Luckily for her, there's no one here who's as good as her rival.
Race 3: Maiden Claiming $30,000, 3, 4 & 5 year olds, 1 mile (turf)
7-4-8-9
No. 7 Zihuatanejo (4-1) is one of two horses from the Parx-based Guadalupe Preciado stable, and this was his first start for the stable and his first start on the East Coast two races ago. He set the pace and held on for most of the race, but was caught in the closing stages and lost by two lengths. After being swept away in his last race, he's back on the turf and should be able to lead by a long way. No. 4 Pietrelcina (3-1) showed some strength in the final strides last time out, his fourth start off the bench (including a point-to-point race in late March), and will be a bit of a relief from the $45,000 level. Along with Zihuatanejo, he is one of two horses to have run in the 70s in each of his last three starts on the turf. No. 8 Owatanite (20-1), got off to a clumsy start in his last turf race and barely showed his true potential, but this was the first time he had dropped to this level in a turf race, and he has little racing experience and is a pedigree that is well suited to turf.
Race 4: Starter Option Claiming $30,000, 3 years and older, 1 1/16 miles (turf)
5-3-8-9
Stellar Root (8-1), who is in fifth place, posted a personal best of 84 when he made a bold comeback to finish third in his last race. He'll need pace to make up ground, but he has enough speed in theory to get there. Louise's Spirit (8-1), who is in third place, has been good on dirt, posting at least 86 in nine of his last 10 starts. The only time he wasn't that fast was on the dirt at Pimlico three races ago after a rest break. He has never raced on turf, but he is a half-brother to two turf winners, including 2019 Ellis Park Turf Stakes winner Sensitive. American Unity (3-1), who is in eighth place, posted his best win at this level at this track last fall and has room to bounce back from his last flat run on the soft course at Delaware Park.
Race 5: Maiden Claiming, $30,000, 2-year-old fillies, 5 1/2 furlongs
6-1A-7-3
No. 6 Another Hope (2-1) has run 60 miles in both of her two starts, but she showed some energy last time out, finishing second close to the pace. She has trained well since then and is well qualified to go further. No. 1A Ferociousness (9-5) is one of two homebreds of runner Jamie Ness and has a long and steady training history at Delaware Park. She is a full sister to Rousey Express, who finished second as a 2-year-old filly and won. No. 7 Hi Ya Love (6-1) has trained two bullets at Pimlico and Milan Milosevic has occasionally put up big numbers to take first place.
Race 6: Allowance Optional Claiming (N/W2X), 3-year-olds and older, 5 1/2 furlongs (turf)
7-1-3-4
No. 7 Tidewater (2-1) led for most of the stretch in the Ben's Cat Stakes before losing by a neck to Honed to the Ven in the straight. Still, he posted a career-best 92 that day and hasn't had a bad race at the track this year. No. 1 Swill (5-2) ran well against his third-place rival in his last race, the Jamie Ness Recapture, and will drop down a class this time. Tidewater has speed to draw from on the inside, and Swill should take full advantage of it if he's sent out and can't get away. The same goes for No. 3 Had to Have Him (5-1), who beat Tidewater in the prize money four races ago and finished a respectable fifth in the most recent Ben's Cat. He's been outshot by better horses the last few times, but he should at least make up a spot here.
Race 7: Starter option $12,500 billed, 3 years and older, 1 mile
2-1-4-6
Second-place Ariferas (2-1) ran wide most of the way in his last race at this level, but felt the effects of the stretch when he broke away in the closing stages and lost by a neck. Still, he has been in top form since returning from a long break in late February and may benefit from the shorter distance of 1 1/16 miles. First-place Zoomer (9-5) followed the pace in his last race and finished third behind Ariferas, making his mark in three straight races. He has lost 19 straight races, but has been checked well in between and should be able to take at least one place in these races. Fourth-place Artistic Reason (8-1) has been gate-to-finish in his last two races and is again looming as a speed mainstay.
Race 8: Starter Option Claiming $12,500, 3 years and older, 1 mile (turf)
10-2-8-14
No. 10 Two By Two (5-2) has won his last two starts at this level, both coming from behind. The only obstacle is the distance. He has won at 1 1/8 miles and 1 1/16 miles, but a mile may be too short for him. No. 2 U.S. Constitution (7-2) was outpaced by Two By Two in his last start and lost by a nose. He has a little more opening speed than Two By Two and should run close to that opening pace while hiding behind the rail. The only thing that can slow him down is getting stuck in traffic. No. 8 Prince Causin (8-1) was mediocre against first-level opponents last time out, but finished second at good odds in his two previous starts.
Race 9: Allowance Optional Claiming (N/W2X), 3-year-olds and older, 5 1/2 furlongs
4-6-1-8
No Easy Days (2-1), number 4, is one of two horses who have run in the 90s in each of his last four starts. He picked up the pace in his last race and has been catching up at this level, winning three races this year and beating Sugar Steve, who finished a close second in his next race. He lost by a length in his last attempt at this level, but he ran into horses like Indian Lake and Arden's Lucky Toob, both of whom are tougher than anyone he will face in this race. Take A Hint (5-2), number 6, has also been consistently running in the 90s recently, but has not raced since April 14th. He lost the pace late on and was beaten by the very tough Lominski and others. When he is in top form, early speed can be dangerous, and Gary Capuano is good at running horses back from 90+ days of rest in the lead. No. 1 Real Talk (3-1) is Jamie Ness' pick to lead the way. He won gate-to-finish in his last race at the Parks and survived a tough battle with Meet Me in the next race at Mundis, where he beat Sugar Steve.
Race 10: Maiden Claiming, $30,000, 3-, 4- and 5-year-old fillies, 5 1/2 furlongs (turf)
1-9-2-10
First-place finisher Ariel Moon (2-1) recorded times in the 70s twice in maiden races at the end of last year's turf season, and after a nine-month break, recorded a good time in the 69s against better horses in his last race. He should be a step forward from that race. Ninth-place finisher Ginger's Race Day (6-1) placed third in his debut race in the 69s, and will be looking to bounce back after his last race on a flat field. Second-place finisher Dropping Lemons (5-2) fought hard but narrowly missed out on his last turf debut, but should be the pace maker again this time.
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