Laurel Park Tips and Trips – Friday, February 06, 2026

–        #3 I’M A LIL WICKED made a relatively early move into the fast pace approaching the turn last out (1M, LRL, 01/10/25), then lost ground racing widest (3W) on the bend and was floated ~5W into the lane before staying on with credit for 4th. There was only 1 length between her and the re-opposing pair of #4 FASTFIELD and #5 KITTYUP at the wire yet she raced much wider than either of those rivals and one suspects she can at the very least narrow the margin on them today.

–        #5 KITTYUP set honest fractions for the class level last out (1M, LRL, 10/01/25) and was game to stick around for 2nd. Replay suggests that with lasix now on, 7F could suit her nicely.

–        The bump that #7 STROLL TRIPPIN took at the start last time (6F, LRL, 01/16/25) was inconsequential; she sat a great ground saving trip and the result/speed fig is fair. She also failed to switch leads in the lane.

–        After being out-sped through the opening furlong, #1 DEVASTATING moved out into the center of the course early last time (7F, LRL, 12/28/25) and then, after taking a slight bump ~1/2m pole, sat a wide enough trip to warrant an UPGRADE (4W turn, 6W into lane). Suspect she lost more ground than the 2 ½ lengths she was beaten by the rail skimming #6 ESROH who re-opposes today. Loved her attitude. Makes debut for Farrior today.

–        #2 FABIA found herself in tight and was bumped around slightly between horses when fighting gamely for the lead from the 3/16 pole last out (1M, LRL, 01/17/26); she then had to take up and steady just inside the 1/16 pole. Her stretch run almost certainly cost her 3rd and her speed fig should be upgraded by a point or two. Loved her attitude.

–        #3 TUNED TO THE MOON was beaten just a 1/2 length by a rail skimming winner last out (6F, DEL, 08/08/25) despite having raced raced 3-5W on the turn herself; easy to argue she was best in there. Returns off layoff today.

–        The chart comment notes how #4 RUNSWEETLY brushed with a rival at the 1/16 pole last time (6F, LRL, 12/14/25); while this did happen, it was very minor and of no consequence. Do not upgrade this effort.

–        #5 KRISSI N’s last start (6F, LRL, 12/27/25) is worthy of an moderately sized UPGRADE: having chased the even pace on the rail into the turn, she began to make smooth headway on the bend but then found herself short of room ~1/4 pole and was forced to take up briefly at a crucial stage of the race; having then found room again at the top of the lane, she regathered her stride and continued her forward progress but was again short of room when forcing her way between rivals ~3/16 pole and bumped on both sides, slightly losing her back end and momentum; the front two were away and gone by this point but still, she angled towards the center and stuck on gamely when in the clear for 3rd. Suspect she’d have gone very close with a clean trip and we can expect more today.

–        #3 POINT AVEN showed much more speed with blinkers off, then took pressure every step of the way on the lead last time (7F, LRL, 01/10/26) and did well to finish 2nd (behind a winner who romped) – slight PACE UPGRADE. The cut back to 6F and addition of lasix should help today. He also looked to get out very slightly on the home turn.

–        Could be harsh, but it seemed #4 BALLINACLASH just idled a little when hitting the front last out (5 1/2F, LRL, 01/16/26); he ran well but also had no real excuse as the 1/1 fav.

–        No replay is available for #7 SIR GEORGE’s debut effort (5 1/2F, DEL, 09/11/25); there was a closer bias present this day, however, and the pace fell apart a little, possibly aiding him.

–        #1 OUR DAY WILL COME, #2 PALACIOS and #6 PRINCE OF DARKNESS ran 1-2-3 in that order when the trip met last time (6F, LRL, 12/28/25). OUR DAY WILL COME gamely won despite having racing widest of the three (was 2-4W on the bend; other two skimmed the rail), warranting the smallest of upgrades. PALACIOS possibly had to wait longer than ideal when traveling strongly in behind horses on the rail to the top of the lane, then took a minor bump ~1/8th pole. His trip overall was a good ground saving one, but considering he missed by just a nose, it’s possible that if he’d built momentum earlier and not received that bump, he’d have won (though remember, OUR DAY WILL COME also lost more ground than he did on the bend). #6 PRINCE OF DARKNESS set the pace throughout and gamely held the lead into the stretch, then checked and steadied between the top two finishers when bumping with PALACIOS ~1/8th pole; he was seemingly on the retreat at the time and booked for 3rd, but the interference definitely exasperated the margin of defeat – his speed fig should be upgraded by a point and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he got closer to the top two today. Based on that race alone, it’s tough to split OUR DAY WILL COME and PALACIOS for win purposes today.

–        #5 MISTER ROSCOE was a good winner last out (5 1/2F, LRL, 01/16/25); he posted a career best speed fig and finished like today’s extra 1/16 would suit. It should be noted, however, that overall, he sat a good trip (the bump ~1/16 pole was inconsequential) and speed held very well in the race (top three finishers filled those positions throughout).

–        #4 PAUL’S GUITAR managed to run down the lose 15/1 pace setter despite having failed to switch leads in the lane when breaking his maiden on the synth last out (6F, TP, 12/11/25); might not get away with that (not switching) against winners today.

–        #1 KITTY’S SON probably didn’t have enough pace to run at last time (1M, LRL, 10/12/25) but that doesn’t explain quite why he ran so far below expectations as the 9/5 fav. The effort was followed by a layoff, so maybe something went amiss in the race; still, he’ll need much more today.

–        #2 RAILROAD INN looked to underperform last out, period, and he’ll need to bounce back today. However, he wasn’t helped by the hefty bump he took at the start, the lack of room he was forced to work with entering the far turn, or the fact that he was forced to check and steady on the rail ~5/16 pole. Stretches back out to a mile today.

–        #3 EDELWEISS didn’t get enough pace to run at last time (1 1/16M, LRL, 01/16/26) and also found himself boxed in on the turn which shuffled him back a little and prevented him from building momentum when he really needed to have been; he ran well for 4th at 35/1 under the circumstances and one suspects he can improve again.

–        #4 TELL ‘EM I’M COMIN was caught notably wide (3-6W – slight UPGRADE) on the far turn when closing from last into just a modest pace last out (1 1/16M, LRL, 01/16/26). A more ground saving trip and stronger early pace can see him to better effect.

–        #5 ALBERT FINNIGAN was able to set a slow, uncontested pace when finishing 2nd with a career best speed fig two back (1 1/16M, LRL, 12/19/25) – DOWNGRADE that effort. (He reared in gate and lost rider at start last time).

–        There was no visible reason as to why either #2 PAY ZONE (6F, MVR, 01/14/26) or #3 QUICK TEMPO (6F, PRX, 01/15/26) ran quite so far below par in their last outs; both need to bounce back today.

–        #5 DAUFUSKIE ISLAND won in commanding fashion last time (6F, LRL, 01/09/26) despite having failed to switch leads in the lane; he might not get away with that (not switching) against a slightly tougher group today.

–        #6 KBCYA LATER won well last time (6F, PEN, 12/19/25) despite having raced widest (4-5W) on the far turn – (slight) UPGRADE. Note: the track was sloppy this day though, so there’s a chance he was actually racing on the best ground).

–        #7 PIT STOP MAN had a troubled and wide trip two-back (6F, LRL, 12/06/25) before romping for the Farrior barn last time; easy to argue he should be shooting for a four-timer today. Makes debut for Allen.

–        #8 LADDIE DANCE gave the field a head start when stumbling extremely badly at the break last time (7F, LRL, 01/23/26), then lacked the chance to get forward in a race where it paid to be close to the pace when absent of a clear run racing into and around the bend. Upgrade or toss this effort and expect him to get right back on track today.

–        The chart comment mentions that #2 CALL ME VICTORIOUS was “forced out” at the start last time (5 1/2F, LRL, 12/19/25) but it’s a real stretch to say that was the case. Both his break and overall trip was just fine. Still, he made a respectable visual impression and ran with credit from rear to finish 4th in a modestly run affair; could be live second out with lasix on.

–        Having dropped back and lost position racing into and around the first half of the far turn, #3 FLIRTY BAJAN looked to then be responding to his rider’s urgings again approaching the ¼ pole last time (7F, LRL, 01/10/26) but was denied a clear path and forced to very briefly wait on heels, halting his momentum slightly. He then found room and stuck to his task with credit in the lane before the rider stopped riding ~1/8th pole which exasperated his margin of defeat and very possibly cost him 5th and/or 4th (behind #4 FINNY (4th) who sat a great trip). A step forward looks likely second out today.

–        #5 CASEOFTHEMONDAYS was bumped between rivals entering the bend last time (6F, LRL, 11/16/25) but it made no difference to his trip or the result. Still, he looms as an obvious win contender down in class with lasix on today.

–        #1 FEAR NOTHING posted a career best 84 Beyer with a smart looking win last out (6F, LRL, 01/23/26) and will demand respect again today. It should be noted, however, that he couldn’t have asked for a better ground saving trip in victory last time (he could, but it’s not guaranteed he’ll run back to that fig).

–        #7 RAMPAGIUS won by 9 1/4L last out (6F, LRL, 12/28/25) despite only receiving one tap from the crop (~3/16 pole) and then simply being hand ridden to the wire thereafter (rider flagged the crop a couple of times but made no contact). Wouldn’t be a surprise if he won with something in hand and improves again second off the bench today. Note: he did drift out notably through the lane last time too.

–        Granted she sat a nice trip, #4 LOVELY LOOKIN LILI responded very well to her rider’s urgings and made a decent visual impression on debut (6F, LRL, 12/26/25). Live with improvement expected second out.

–        #5 ITHADTOBEBLU set the pace, then folded and was not persevered with in the lane last time (1 1/16M, LRL, 12/28/25), exasperating the margin of defeat; she clearly failed to stay two turns so there’s reason to believe more can be expected down in trip today (tough to be confident in her as a win contender, though).

–        #6 SHE’S NOT A LAD set a fast, closer friendly pace last time (6F, LRL, 12/26/25), put away the other speed and was only run down in the last few jumps by a closer who had received a great setup. She was game in defeat, and her effort is worthy of a PACE UPGRADE. Respected again.