Top pick selections for all races at Laurel Park today, plus select trip notes and horses to follow. Good luck!
Make sure to check out the fantastic daily handicapping guide put together by the MJC Team via THIS LINK.
Race Selections
R1: 5-1-6
R2: 5-3-4
R3: 3-2-6
R4: 6-8-5
R5: 3-5-2
R6: 4-2-3
R7: 7-2-3
Trip Notes – Recent performances that deserve an asterisk. All others: trust the past-performances.
| Race 1: Maiden Claiming 25k, 4-6YO (F), 6 Furlongs, Dirt | |||
| HORSE | RACE | TRIP | NOTE |
| #5 NIT WITNESS | Starter Allowance, PRX, 6 1/2F, Good Dirt, 03/23/26 – 2nd | Broke sharp; settled ~1L off fast pace while 4-deep to turn; launched 3W bid far turn; drew level with leading duo ~1/4, then forged into clear lead upper stretch; from there, he stayed on gamely to the wire but was nailed last jump. | Facing winners (!), did best of the speed after sitting close to a fast, closer friendly pace that set up well for the eventual 2/1 winner (who closed from last). Small PACE UPGRADE. Adds blinkers today. |
| Other Notes:
– #6 LOVELY LOOKIN LILLI can be excused for her most recent defeat as she was bumped and pinched hard at the start which resulted in her getting away slowly in rear and trying to close into a slow pace on a speed favoring track (far from ideal) thereafter. We can likely expect more from her today. – #7 PEACE BEFORE CHAOS stumbled shortly after the start when in tight between foes making her debut last time. She recovered fairly well, though, and the trouble does not explain her underwhelming performance. |
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| Race 2: Claiming 30k, 3YO+, 6 Furlongs, Dirt |
| Other Notes:
– #1 SET FOR LIFE was forwardly placed throughout in a modestly run race over a speed bias track last time, likely warranting a downgrade. Still, it was a decent effort and he could step forward second off the bench today. – #4 ZIO LINO broke like a shot in his last race but wasn’t rushed at all and ultimately gifted the lead to the two favorites (including the 9/5 wire winner); may be it didn’t make a difference [not holding his position early] but it’s often not ideal to give up a great start like that. He then lost an unnecessary amount of ground when floating wide off the home turn too, which maybe cost him a length or so. Has scope to improve again. – After breaking from the rail, #4 LIFTING just went too fast for his own good trying 7F last time; provided he’s ready off the bench, the cut back in distance should suit. Note: he was also trying to drift out persistently through the lane. – #5 NEVERWORKEDADAY set himself a tall task when throwing his head at the break and giving a field of talented foes a small head-start last time. He stayed on evenly enough thereafter (aided by a perfect trip) to suggest a clean break would have seen him go relatively close. 6F today should be more to his liking too as he returns from the bench. |
| Race 3: Maiden Claiming 35k, 3-6YO (F), 1 Mile, Dirt |
| Other Notes:
– #1 CROSS OF VALOR bore out and bothered rivals at the break last time, then failed to fire despite having been well positioned in a modestly run race on a speed favoring track. She’ll need to bounce back returned to a mile today. – It’s tough to say with certainty, but there is a possibility that #2 KINDA KRAZY wasn’t in love with the sloppy kickback sprinting at Colonial last time – she was prominent early, then lost position and dropped well back between foes when taking kickback on the turn, switched out into the clear off the bend and finished well again for 3rd. Chance that she improves for a faster track third off the bench, although today’s mile distance is a slight question mark – her gallop out last time was only okay, at best. – #3 SAVANASRIOGUERRERA can likely improve on her debut effort today simply for better conditions – her last effort came in the most treacherous and fowl snowstorm. Note: from what video we have to work with, it did appear that she stayed on evenly enough through the lane and then she clearly galloped out well, which is a positive sign. |
| Race 4: Claiming 12k, 3YO+, 5 ½ Furlongs, Dirt | |||
| HORSE | RACE | TRIP | NOTE |
| #5 BLO BY’EM | Claiming 12k, LRL, 6F, Muddy Dirt, 03/13/26 – 3rd | Hopped start, away slowest; chased modest pace 4W into turn; hard chase while widest bend; brush upper stretch; evenly for 3rd. | His best work comes when able to run at a hot pace on a fast track; he didn’t get that here – the pace was modest and the track was muddy and speed favoring… the conditions and setup (and the fact he was widest of all) did not allow him to display his best and although the cut back is a question mark today, we could well see an improved effort from him. |
| #8 RED SPITFIRE | Claiming 16k, LRL, 6F, Muddy Dirt, 03/08/26 – 5th | Rushed up contesting fast pace between; dropped inside and chased leader through fast fractions to ~5/16; tipped outside and came 4W into lane, then stayed on very willingly while drifting/floating out a little, only to be caught for any slice of it late on. | He was forwardly placed throughout in a fiercely run race that played right into the hands of the closers. He did well to be beaten just 2 1/2L for everything at the wire and is deserving of a PACE UPGRADE. Cutting back to 5 1/2F and dropping in class a little today could help. |
| Other Notes:
– #1 POOR PEANUT looked good when wiring 12k maiden claimers on debut last time. However, he was likely aided by the fact that the track was presenting a notable speed bias, and he managed to establish an uncontested lead from the get-go – potential downgrade. – Surely, the slow pace (25.77, 51.63) and a slightly wide trip did not help #2 TELL ‘EM I’M COMIN last week? He’s probably capable of improving on that effort again, however, whether we see that today over 5 1/2F seems questionable. – #4 WHO SAYS SO exits the same race as #5 BLO BY’EM that was run over a speed favoring track. The conditions didn’t seem to impact WSS’s trip, result, or fig, though – he sat a fine trip and was 2nd best. Note: the bump he and #5 BB took at upper stretch was relatively inconsequential too. |
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| Race 5: Claiming 20k, 3YO+, 7 Furlongs, Dirt |
| Other Notes:
– #2 AZTEC may well have been best last time, but he did have an exceptional setup too, closing from well off the pace into splits of 23.40, 46.92 for 1 1/16M. It’s therefore fair to question whether he’ll replicate that level of form (74 Beyer) back at 7F today. – #3 TOP BLOOD looked to run a fine race last time; he was just outrun slightly over 5 1/2F. Expecting more back at 7F today. – In a tough 6F starter, #4 DADDY YANKEE stayed on well enough despite a 5W trip (small upgrade) to suggest he can play a role at 7F today, facing slightly easier. – #7 FAN CLUB lost ground with a 5-6W move from the ¼ pole into the lane last out, which may well have cost him the race. However, he did also have a favorable pace setup as a closer going 1 1/8M. Cuts back to 7F making debut for Leaf, III today. Note: he took advantage of a closer bias when winning three back and a fast pace when winning on 11/09/25. |
| Race 6: OC62k/N1X Allowance, 3YO (F), 1 1/16 Miles, Dirt | |||
| HORSE | RACE | TRIP | NOTE |
| #2 CURLENE’S SPIRIT | Claiming 25k, 1 1/16M, LRL, Sloppy Dirt, 02/20/26 – 1st | Unhurried from outside; tracked even pace in the clear 6W first; 3W+ bid far turn; going best ¼ when well off rail; came 5W into lane, then powered away. | She made a splash in the slop on route debut here, winning with something in hand despite a notably WIDE TRIP – UPGRADE. Note: her gallop out was impressive too. |
| #3 YAU MAJESTY | MSW, 1M, LRL, Fast Dirt, 03/01/26 – 1st | Up close inside; nudged along briefly far turn, then just squeezed to keep the revs up inside while waiting for a clear split; came out off turn, then edged off heels, brushed with a foe and rallied willingly for the score. | She’s entitled to the smallest possible UPGRADE for this effort as she wasn’t quite able to build as much momentum or get as forward as she’d ideally have liked when behind horses on the rail on the turn, then she made contact with a foe at the top of the lane which very slightly knocked her momentum. Could offer more third off the bench. |
| Other Notes:
– As a closer, #1 IXCHEL had a favorable pace setup as a closer when finishing 2nd last time. She also displayed a somewhat ‘turfy’ action. Returns off lengthy layoff with lasix first today. – #4 MOMAXIE bobbled at the break a little last time, but it made no real difference to her trip or the result – she recovered quickly and was third best. – Although #5 DIAMOND N DRESS was a much the best 5L winner last time, it needs to be highlighted that she was always forwardly positioned on a speed bias track – it’s therefore fair to question whether she’ll replicate that level of form (58 Beyer) facing tougher around two-turns today. |
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| Race 7: Maiden Claiming 12k, 3YO, 5 ½ Furlongs, Dirt | |||
| HORSE | RACE | TRIP | NOTE |
| #3 ADMIRAL STEVE | Maiden Claiming 12k, 6F, LRL, Sloppy Dirt, 02/20/26 – 6th | Dropped back shortly after break, then resisted the kickback and climbed a little for a few strides; moved to center and chased 4-deep into turn; hard chase 4W to 5/16, then floated 7W into the lane before tiring. | He disliked the kickback early (not unusual for a debutant), then lost a lot of ground with a wide trip thereafter. While one outed have still liked to have seen more from him, he appears open to nay amount of improvement second out, now gelded. |
| #7 FAYES HEART | Maiden Claiming 30k, 6F, CNL, Fast Dirt, 03/14/26 – 5th | Sharp break; pressed fast pace between horses 4-deep into turn; dropped back a little bend but was still hanging in there when forced to check a little ~5/16; dropped further back, then cut corner into lane and stayed on willingly before galloping out well. | In a competitive race, he was caught in a slightly tricky spot between horses while wide and pressing a fast, closer friendly pace, then he had to take up ever so slightly at the top of the lane which cost him a little momentum. Liked the way he then stuck on in the stretch, and his gallop out was nice too. Don’t think this race showered him to best effect and he can likely improve down in class today. Player. |
| Other Notes:
– #1 GONNA MAKE IT was sent hard dueling between foes 3-deep around the first turn, then continued to vie through very fast fractions down the back stretch before running out of puff last time. Based off that effort alone, he could well be suited by the cut back from 1 1/8M to 5 1/2F off the claim today. Note: it was obvious how Toledo seemingly wanted to keep him forward and in the clear last time – is he one that resists kickback/being in behind horses? That could be a worry with the rail draw. – #2 TIZ THE GREAT had to very lightly tap on the brakes when in a touch tight ~1/8 pole last time, but it didn’t really make any difference. Under pressure throughout, he didn’t particularly look suited by 5 1/2F. – #6 STORMY BREW finished very tired and failed to switch leads least time. |
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Horses to Follow
R3: SAVANASRIOGUERRERA (6/1 ML)
SAVANASRIOGUERRERA can be forgiven his debut effort at Colonial on March 12, as the race was run in an extreme snowstorm and offered little chance to show his true ability—particularly for a first-time starter. What could be seen was mildly encouraging though, as after being outrun early he stayed on through the lane and galloped out toward the head of the field. With just a couple of works beforehand, improvement is to be expected, and his pedigree—his second dam being a stake winner at two-turns and his sire a Grade 1 winner over 1 1/4 miles—suggests this stretch out from six furlongs to a mile will suit. In a race that doesn’t look especially strong, he rates a likely improver in Friday’s third for a barn that has been operating efficiently with second-time starters.
R5: TOP BLOOD (12/1 ML)
TOP BLOOD has turned four solid efforts sprinting on dirt since being gelded, most notably when just nailed on the wire by AZTEC at odds of 28/1 two starts back after sitting close to a hot early pace. He backed that up with another sound run last time, though the 5 1/2-furlong trip looked a shade too sharp. The return to seven furlongs should suit much better, and in a race lacking early speed, he figures to secure a favorable position throughout. At 12/1 on the morning line, he appeals as a live longshot.
