Laurel Park Tips and Trips – Friday, February 20, 2026

–        For the second time in a row since returning from a layoff, #2 BOB MARCO stopped very quickly on the home turn last out (1 1/16M, LRL, 02/05/26) without a visible reason as to why. Hard to trust him now.

–        #3 ARROW SPEED couldn’t have asked for a better ground saving trip when finishing 4th at 58/1 last out (1M, LRL, 12/21/25), possibly reducing his ability to repeat/improve upon that level of form.

–        Although the pace was honest, speed held well in the race that #4 HOLY SYNCHRONICITY, #6 JOLLY BY GOLLY and #7 AZTEC all exit (7F, LRL, 01/23/26); the runners positioned first-through-third at first call (at odds of 9/2, 11/1, and 28/1), ended up finishing 2nd, 3rd and 4th. Therefore, #7 AZTEC’s effort – rallying with great energy from ~9L off the pace to win despite losing ground racing 4-5W on the turn – is worthy of an UPGRADE. Meanwhile, #6 JOLLY BY GOLLY, who was part of the pace that held well, may need his effort downgrading a little.

–        #1 TOP GUN GIRL ran a very game race in defeat last out (6F, AQU, 12/26/25), beaten just 3/4L at 9/1 despite having lost a little ground racing 4W on the turn – (tiny) UPGRADE.

–        The chart comment notes how #2 HAPPY CLOUDS “tossed head hit gate hard” last out (7F, CT, 01/23/26); while this did happen and obviously wasn’t desirable, it’s hard to say via the tape that it was the reason behind her poor effort – she didn’t lose contact with the field, ran well to the far turn, then stopped. Things to prove today.

–        Visually, #3 IN MY MEMORIES looked to relish the sloppy conditions when producing a dominant career best victory last out (6F, LRL, 01/10/26). She sat a good forward trip, received strong ride and was potentially moved up by the going (she was fully extended and it’d be a surprise if she more improvement to come) – but there are specs of rain in the forecast again today…

–        #4 CONQUERTHOSEWECAN’s last effort the Politely Stakes (6F, LRL, 12/20/25) is worthy of an UPGRADE as she sat close to an honest pace on a track that was presenting a notable closer bias. She ran with credit to finish 4th at 16/1 and can offer more of a fair track with lasix back on.

–        #2 IMPRESSIVENESS (briefly lacked room at top of lane) and #5 RIO DEL VALLE (wide trip) ran better than the PPs suggest in their two-back efforts. They were then separated by just a length in the same race last time (5 1/2F, LRL, 01/23/26) with RIO DEL VALLE finishing just ahead of IMPRESSIVENESS; the latter had raced much wider on the turn, though, and there was theoretically actually very little separating their performances. IMPRESSIVENESS receives a weight break today.

–        After running an eye-catching race on 09/01/26, #4 Q GOT HOPS stayed on well in the lane and just missed place honors by a head last out (7F, LRL, 02/04/26) despite having lost a little ground racing 3-4W on the turn – (tiny) UPGRADE. Back at 6F today.

–        The chart comment notes how #1 SEVEN’S ELEVEN met “traffic upper” last out (6F, LRL, 02/05/26). While this did happen, he’d sat a fine ground saving trip up to that point; he never checked or had to significantly drop his momentum when behind horses; and he then found very little after switching (just two paths) out into the clear, finishing evenly on his left lead. His effort is not worthy of an upgrade.

–        #2 CATAHOULA MOON closed with credit into an even pace last out (6F, LRL, 02/05/26) to finish 3rd despite having lost a little ground (more than the 1/2L he was beaten by #1 SEVEN’S ELEVEN) racing 5W from the 5/16 pole into the lane; wouldn’t be a surprise if he were to reverse form with #1 today.

–        The head on camera lens was dirty (!), so one can’t say for certain, but #3 A G DIAMOND looked to have been in tight and checked a little at the break last out (4 1/2F, CT, 01/23/26); doubt it made much difference to the result (he was 56/1), but it wouldn’t be a surprise if he showed more speed today.

–        Having contested fast fractions between horses (often unideal) to the far turn last out (6 1/2F, CT, 01/21/26), #4 COLD AS HELL faded on the bend and was then not persevered with in the lane, exasperating the margin of defeat; although one would still have liked to have seen more from him, less pace pressure, a stronger ride in the lane and a cut back to 5 1/2F should see him improve today.

–        Not helped by the fact that he was drawn low nor ridden with restraint early, #5 BEACH COWBOY was shuffled back a little and found himself much further back than usual last out (5 1/2F, LRL, 02/05/26) which led to him being pace compromised in a slowly run race; he then lost ground circling horses 4-5W on the turn as well before staying on well through the lane for 3rd. UPGRADE this effort and expect a little more today.

–        #6 UNIWINNER could have likely benefited from a slightly more aggressive ride last out (6F, LRL, 12/26/25) after breaking a step slow from the rail, but he didn’t really have a major excuse and will now have to bounce back somewhat on debut for Nambo today.

–        #1 IAMDEPENDINGONYOU was game breaking her maiden last out (1M, LRL, 01/17/26) and looks to be heading in the right direction; however, she was undeniably the beneficiary of a fast pace in that race (closed from 14L back into a pace that led to the leaders crawling home), and we probably need to DOWNGRADE her effort some.

–        #2 SECRET OAKS stumbled very slightly at the break last out (1 1/16M, LRL, 01/16/26) but she didn’t lose contact with the field and seemingly ran a similar race/sat a similar trip (which was a fine one) as if she’d broken perfectly. Her effort is not worthy of an upgrade. Still, it was a nice performance she put in; she showed a game attitude closing strongly behind #6 DIAMOND DRESS and will demand respect making her debut for Kreiser with blinkers on today.

–        As mentioned in the chart comment, #3 HOLY STORM was in a little tight between foes at the break last out (5 1/2F, LRL, 01/10/26) but it made no difference to her trip/the result. Tough to gauge how she’ll handle today’s step up in trip off the tape – strides like a sprinter but did stay on well enough in the lane.

–        #4 STROLL TRIPPIN broke her maiden last out (7F, LRL, 02/06/26) in wire fashion, despite failing to switch leads in the lane; she might not get away with that against winners today.

–        There was no visible reason as to why #1 GLUCKSTADT ran a long way below his best last out (1M, LRL, 01/23/26); he never traveled and will need more today.

–        Both #2 DAVYJONZ and #3 CRAB DADDY sat good trips when running well at big prices in behind LONESOME ROAD last out (1M, LRl, 01/23/26). CRAB DADDY in particular shaped with promise as he made eye-catching and effortless headway into contention heading into the far turn and then sustained his run gamely to the wire for 2nd. 7F could be his sweet spot.

–        #5 PRADO ROAD didn’t quite have the pace to challenge at 5 1/2F off the bench last out (5 1/2F, LRL, 01/16/26) but he did stay on well enough in the lane; expect we’ll see an improved effort from him back out to 7F today with a run under his belt.

–        #7 JAMES P SULLIVAN was only hand ridden through the lane when producing a powerful finish to win impressively on debut (6F, LRL, 12/21/25); he seemingly won with something in hand and can likely be even better second out at 7F. Note: the speed didn’t collapse in his debut race either – he ran the leaders down fair and square.

–        There was no real reason as to why #1 TIERRA SANTA ran blow par at odds of 9/5 last out (6F, LRL, 01/09/26); she’ll need to bounce back today.

–        In a game effort, #2 BOND’S BELLE was beaten just 1 1/4L last out (6F, LRL, 01/09/26) despite having lost plenty of ground racing 5W on the turn – UPGRADE.

–        Although beaten at odds of 8/5, #3 COCKTAIL HUMOR actually ran very well last out (1M, Lrl, 01/16/26) having set legit fractions in front (23.83, 47.06) over a distance that has always stretched her and only been collared inside the final 1/16 (she drifted out late when weary). She lost little in defeat and should be suited by the cut back to 6F today.

–        The replay offers no clues as to what went wrong with #4 FEELIN SO LUCKY last out (1M, LRL, 01/16/26) – she was keen between horses heading into the far turn, then stopped and was eased. Cuts back to 6F today with questions to answer.

–        #5 SUNFLOWER STATE won convincingly at 10/1 last out (6F, LRL, 01/23/26) despite having been caught marginally wide on the turn and having made an (undesirable) lead change on the turn (switched to right lead ~5/16 pole); small areas where she can improve again third off today.

–        #6 MAP TO THE MOON was bumped and pinched at the break last out (6F, LRL, 01/23/26) which left her racing even further off the pace than usual. Her trip thereafter was good, though, and as a 99/1 shot it’s difficult to assess quite what she’d have accomplished with a smooth beginning.