Laurel Park Tips and Trips – Friday, April 24, 2026

–        #2 FRYE ISLAND (IRE) was caught in a speed duel (22.17, 44.90) on the synthetic last time which likely contributed to his poor finishing effort. It should be noted, however, that one of his sparing partners (a 13/1 shot) held on for 2nd, and the other finished 6th, so he did underperform somewhat checking in a distant 10th. The switch back to turf and cut back in distance could help him get back on track as he makes his debut for Farrior today.

–        Speed held very well in PAUL’S GUITAR’s last turf try (11/07/25) – the horses positioned 1st through 4th at first call (7/1, 7/1, 62/1 (PG) and 43/1) hung around to fill the 2nd through 5th finishing positions – downgrade his effort there.

–        #15 LEIGH’S LAST HERO (AE) closed well into just an even pace going 5F on the synthetic at Gulfstream last time and if drawing in, could be suited by today’s extra 1/16.

–        #5 FLYING TO WORK didn’t quite see out the mile distance last time; cutting back in trip today should be to his benefit.

–        #7 BILLY BOY sat a slightly wide trip when debuting in a competitive spot last time. Eligible to improve.

–        #3 BALLINACLASH’s two-back effort is deserving of a PACE UPGRADE; running back on just 15-days rest at Colonial last time, he may have ‘bounced’ a little off that upgradable effort. Gelded since.

–        Exiting the same race as #1 SIR GEORGE, #4 MARGIE’S LAST didn’t quite do enough running to earn an upgrade last time, but she was also racing against the speed bias, so we can be somewhat forgiving of her defeat.

–        #2 STRIKING SPARKS sat a slightly wider than ideal trip when running very well in defeat last time (tiny upgrade).

–        #5 HAY CHIEF won nicely with a good attitude off the layoff last time; he’s eligible to strip fitter today and will demand respect again today. It should be noted, however, that he had a dream trip and setup in that last race, saving ground while closing into a red-hot pace that eventually collapsed – possible downgrade.

–        When wiring six rivals over 1 1/16M last time, #6 WHITE SERIES failed to switch leads in the lane and therefore had his lead dramatically reduced late on, possibly raising concerns about his chances of repeating the feat at 1 1/8M today.

–        #7 MASAKADO sat a dream ground saving trip from the pocket before going onto score last out, the trip helping him produce a career best Beyer (81). Therefore, while he may, it’s not garunteed that he’ll reproduce that exact level of form again from gate 7 this afternoon.

–        #2 SELL IT never lifted a hoof and was not asked for an effort last out. Seeing as a 440 day layoff has followed that run, we can probably assume something was amiss, toss the effort and judge him on his prior tries instead. Returns of bench making debut for Ness today.

–        With the rails set at 73 feet, speed held relatively well in #7 LONGHI’s last race at Gulfstream which, after enduring a rough beginning, left him at a disadvantage as a deep closer. He didn’t then do enough running late to earn an upgrade, but we may still see improvent from him today as he drops in for a tag second off the bench and runs as a gelding for the first time.

–        Although his early speed and stride pattern (quick turnover) would suggest that #10 CALVIN’s best game is sprinting, he did hit the line with good energy when breaking his maiden on debut over the main track last time and he galloped out well, too, offering hope that he’ll handle today’s stretch out. Makes barn and turf debut.

–        Whether it was greenness or fatigue, #11 LIKE TYSON drifted out badly in the lane when breaking his maiden on the dirt at Parx last time. He’ll need to run straighter if he’s going to follow up against tougher today. Makes turf debut.

–        #13 DYNAFLAME took off like a shot, strung the field out by setting a fast pace on a clear lead, and then forgot to stop when last seen, breaking his maiden in taking fashion. Now adding lasix and making his debut for Payne, he’ll demand respect again today. It should be noted, however, that although the pace was hot, speed held very well in his last race with the top five finishers (at odds of 5/1, 13/1, 2/1, 36/1 and 13/1) filling those positions throughout which might mean that we need to downgrade his effort somewhat, or at least place an asterisk by it.

–        #2 TOUGH WORKOUT and #8 NOAH CHANCE both ran well when last seen finishing 3rd and 2nd, respectively, in the same race in November. It should be noted that speed held well in that race, however, with the top four finishers (at odds of 6/1, 5/2, 7/2 and 9/1) filling those positions throughout which slightly raises questions about the validity of the form. Note: NOAH CHANCE was the only horse in the top four finishers to improve his position when he moved past TOUGH WORKOUT (who was sat 2nd early) and he did it despite racing wider than that foe – off that race alone and not accounting for the fact that they are both returning from layoffs, it may be difficult for TW to turn that form around. #11 BIGDADDYSBOY and #12 UPSIDEDOWN MAN also contested that turf race; after being pinched at the break and away slowly in rear, BIGDADDYSBOY was therefore left racing against the flow. Note: the rider dropped the crop when we last saw him on the dirt, but that made no difference to his effort. UPSIDEDOWN MAN was slightly shuffled back entering the turn and also left racing against the flow, but his overall effort was subpar, period, and he’’ll need to show more off the bench today.

–        #3 CUT GALSS sat a slightly wider than ideal trip when last seen sprinting on the dirt (minuscule upgrade). He also fared best of the speed in a very fast paced affair at Turfway two-back (small upgrade for that effort too).

–        The aforementioned fast pace that #3 CUT GLASS was part of at Turfway two-back was beneficial to the re-opposing #4 NOBLE JOHN, who closed from a long way back for 2nd. We may need to downgrade the latter’s effort in that race a little, although he does project to be suited better by today’s 5 1/2F distance at the same time. Note: NOBLE JOHN’s last turf start (11/16/25) was a troubled trip, and his prior turf tries are a better indication of his ability on the grass.

–        Regarding #9 LOU’S BIRTHDAY’s last start, we can ignore the chart comment “steadied 3/8” because it was a negligible steady. Blinks off returning to turf today.

–        After breaking from the outside gate, #6 GENIEINABRIDLE was slightly wider than ideal on the turn last out. Still, she seemed below her best. Note: she rode a speed bias two-back – downgrade that effort.

–        #7 WATCH YOUR TONE lacked the required late pace to factor when cut back to 6F last time. She continued trying hard to the wire though and then galloped out in front. Suspect today’s stretch back out to a mile will be to her benefit.

–        #2 DON’T TELL KELLY (surprisingly) took a strong hold and engaged in an early pace going a mile on the dirt duel before understandably tiring in the lane last out. She actually ran a respectable race given the circumstances and hung around in front right up until the 1/8 pole. That effort is borderline deserving of a pace upgrade. Returns to her preferred surface off the layoff today.

–        Something was clearly amiss with #5 ATLAS STRONG last out: she was unruly behind the gate and then never lifted a hoof. Assuming she’s over whatever was holding her back that day, we can likely toss that ‘too-bad-to-be-true’ effort as she returns to the grass today. Note: she sat a perfect trip and had a great setup when finishing behind #10 DON’T TELL DEREN and #6 BAY STREET in her last turf start (11/08/25).

–        In her last turf start (10/19/25), #7 STELLA MARS did not have nearly enough pace to close into (24.35, 49.91) after being shuffled back a little and left racing in last leaving the chute at BAQ. She ran with credit to finish as close as she did at 14/1 and if leaving her last dirt race behind her (never ran a step), may be able to improve on that BAQ effort given more pace to run at.

–        #9 CLASSICALS FINALE sat a good trip at Tampa last time while taking advantage of a pace collapse (as she did two-back, too). Both those recent two efforts may need downgrading slightly.

–        #1 TOO MANY KISSES sat a fine trip while taking advantage of a great pace setup last out (red-hot pace favored closers) – we may need to downgrade that effort somewhat (although she was running back on just 13 days rest and making her first route start since Jan ’25). Exiting the same race, #3 THE GODDESS FACTOR was also aided by the early speed duel (possible downgrade for her, too).

–        There was a strong speed bias present when #5 OLD BAY wired two other rivals last time – we probably need to downgrade that effort.

–        While accepting that she had everything her own way in front and was only facing three other rivals, #7 SHIRL’S DELIGHT was still an impressive winner at Penn National last out as she crushed by 10 1/2L without ever truly being asked for an effort. She hit the line under a hold with her ears pricked and may very well have more to offer now making her third start of the form cycle.

–        With blinkers added, #6 BROKTON became quite keen in front at the Fair Grounds last out and set a relatively fast pace in front (23.75, 47.60) which ultimately told on him late. While he did well to hang around late on for 5th (borderline pace upgrade) and looms as an obvious win contender on the drop, you do have to wonder whether he’ll do too much too soon again today with other speed horses and stretch out sprinters in this lineup.

–        #11 REBEL PRINCE sat a slightly wider than ideal trip sprinting on the dirt last time. Stretches out for turf debut today (gallop out last time was mediocre).