Laurel Park Tips and Trips – Friday, April 17, 2026

–        #2 KING OF FOG had a rough break last out, but it made no difference to his trip or result. Needs much more returning to turf today.

–        #4 BRIGHTSHININGLIGHT raced slightly wider than ideal when returning from the layoff with another nice effort last time. Makes turf debut today. Note: his debut is deserving of a small pace upgrade.

–        #7 COWBOY ROY didn’t do enough running at Turfway last out to earn an upgrade; however, we can be somewhat forgiving of his defeat as he was positioned close to a fast pace (that collapsed) early, between horses (often unideal), and racing on a closer friendly track. He wasn’t hard ridden in the closing stages, exasperating the margin of defeat too, and a bounce back returned to turf today is very possible.

–        #10 BALTIC was again quite keen while showing early speed on the dirt last time and then tired quickly. He’ll need to settle better if he’s to handle today’s long stretch on turf debut.

–        In the Private Terms Stakes last out, #1 HOLLYWOOD IMPORT ran in a manner to suggest he’d be suited by today’s cut back to one turn. Lasix added.

–        #2 MAGIC WALLET let the leaders go a little on the turn last out in order to create room for him to angle off the rail, then came with a visually impressive stretch run to win with something in hand. He seemingly has more to offer. Adds lasix.

–        Aided by a good trip and setup, #3 TOP MANIPULATOR earned his second career victory last out despite not changing leads in the lane. Adds lasix.

–        Although you can knock #5 CROSSINGTHECHANNEL’s win last out owing to the fact that he was able to set a slow, uncontested pace in front, there’ no denying that he was tremendously impressive in victory and never really asked for any real effort. Seems there’s much more to come from this guy.

–        #5 NICHE was caught in a crazy speed duel (20.60, 45.04) sprinting on the turf at Fair Grounds last out and understandably tired late on. If transferring her ability back to the dirt and rationing out her speed more efficiently, she can likely improve. Blinkers off.

–        #6 THISISHOWWEDOIT’s debut 3rd at Colonial may need downgrading slightly as there was a closer bias present this day, possibly helping her rally from off the pace. Her effort was still commendable, though, and hr gallop out was very good. Adds lasix returning off the layoff and making debut for Salvaggio today.

–        Speed held well in #1 GRAVITY HILL’s last turf race (09/26/25), with the top two finishers (at odds of 4/1 and 10/1) running 1-2 throughout, possibly entitling ‘GH’ to a tiny upgrade (as she closed form off the pace to finish 4th). Note: she seemingly did not handle the mud when returning from a layoff last time.

–        #2 TEA ROSE’s last turf start (11/07/25) – in which she was beaten just 3 1/2L – is deserving of a small upgrade because after being roughed at the start, she sat a notably wide trip and had little pace to close into (24.95, 49.34). Returns to the grass today following a nice win on the dirt last time, aided by a good trip and setup.

–        When racing on the turf in 2025, #3 JULIA’S A FOX consistently ran in a manner to suggest long on the turf (which she tries for the first time today) could be her best game.

–        #4 REHOBOTH AVENUE did best of the speed last out (small upgrade), running a game race in defeat to get the better of #11 LUMINOUS SECRET (whose last turf start in November was slightly upgradable owing to a bad break and wide move into the lane). Both return to turf today.

–        #6 RED HAIRED GAL’s bobble at the break last time was inconsequential. The surface switch needs to (and should) help her improve today.

–        #9 JUMPING JULIA sat a notably wide trip at Turfway last time. Makes turf debut on first start for Boniface today.

–        #10 LIEN ON HER was very late with her lead change in the stretch when breaking her maiden – aided by a good trip and setup – sprinting on the synthetic at Gulfstream last time. Her gallop out was poor.

–        Hate to knock #2 POOR PEANUT too much for his likable debut winning effort; however, it does need to be noted that there was a speed bias present that day, possibly warranting a downgrade and/or reducing his scope for improvement second out.

–        #1 RAMPAGIUS flopped back to his left lead close home last out. Stretches back out to two turns and returns to the turf today.

–        #11 RUDDY BUDDY was hung 4W on the far turn and then came 5W into the lane before rallying to miss by just a nose at Sam Houston last time. He lost more ground than the distance he was beaten by, and he probably shouldn’t be running in this race (N2X).

–        #3 BEST GIRL MAGIC’s lone turf try (11/21/25) was a very likable and UPGRADABLE effort owing to her wide trip. Adding lasix last time at Turfway looked to backfire and lasix come back off today.

–        #4 DON’T FOOL WITH ME was shuffled back a couple of times during her last race going 7F on the dirt, but it made little difference to the result. Makes turf debut off bench today.

–        #8 BLAME THE BANKER found herself slightly boxed in on the turn sprinting 6 1/2F on the dirt at Aqueduct last time; she was also racing against a strong speed and actually ran with credit to be beaten just 3L. Returns to what seems to be her preferred surface off the layoff today.

–        #9 LOVELIEST settled well in front when taking on stakes caliber runners off a layoff at Fair Grounds last time but seemingly failed to stay the distance, possibly not helped by a lack of recent match fitness. As a 2YO, she had been keen in her races and overall, seems to be a filly who will be suited by the cut back to 5 1/2F with a long stretch run here at Laurel. Note: she suffered a troubled stretch run at Kentucky Downs in August.

–        Admittedly aided by a strong early pace, #10 BEDAZZLE showed a nice late kick when winning at Sam Houston last time and galloped out in a manner to suggest that today’s extra 1/16 would be to her benefit.

–        Although the pace wasn’t frenetic for the class level (23.81, 48.40) in the route race that #5 MAD FOR MADDY exits, it played out like the pace was hot in front and closers really did come to the fore. She may therefore be deserving of a slight pass for her defeat as she was forwardly positioned throughout. Cuts back to the distance she was a smart winner over two-back today.

–        Regarding #6 NANCY MARY’s last start going two-turns, you can ignore the short comment “steadied into first turn” – it was hardly a steady and made no difference to her trip or the result. Cuts back in distance today.

–        #1 NIGHT TIME NAP underperformed last time and his effort is not deserving of an upgrade. However, he failed to adopt his preferred front running/forward tactics when out-sped early (by two foes who, despite a strong early tempo, ran 1-2 throughout), and he was also slightly wider than ideal off the home turn, so there are some excuses to be made for him. Switches rider today.

–        #2 TOP BLOOD was forced in notably at the start (by #7 DADDY YANKEE, who sat a fine trip himself) when sprinting 7F on the mud (which he might not have cared for) last time, but it made little difference to the result. Stretches back out making debut for McKenzie today.

–        #4 AMAZING BERNIE under performed last out. However, he was unsuited by a crawling pace (25.67, 50.14) and should be able to at least offer a bit more in a more honestly run affair today.

–        #6 BIGTONTEN stuck around with credit late on in his last race considering how hard he had pulled through the opening ½ of the contest. Cutting back to a flat mile today could be to his benefit.