Select trip notes for all races at Laurel Park today, plus two spot plays. Good luck!
Make sure to check out the excellent daily handicapping guide put together by the MJC Team and grab your FREE DRF Laurel Park PPs via THIS LINK.
Trip Notes – Recent performances that deserve an asterisk. All others: trust the past-performances.
| Race 1: Maiden Claiming 35k, 3-6YO (F), 5 ½ Furlongs, Turf |
| Other notes:
– #7 LUCKY LIS ran well to finish 4th last out after pressing a fast pace early (21.74) that favored closers. She seems a logical contender right back dropping in class and could still have more to offer if rationing out her speed a touch more efficiently. – #9 ROCK TALK stumbled at the start last time which wasn’t ideal; not sure it was the reason for her being beaten 20L, though, and she’ll still need way more cutting back in trip. |
| Race 2: Claiming 7.5k, 3YO+ (F), 6 Furlongs, Dirt | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Notes |
| #6 CHEESE | Claiming 12k, LRL, 6F, Fast Dirt, 05/30/26 – 6th | Clean break from rail; prompted even pace from ~1L back on the rail to the ½, then found herself in tight, took up and steadied hard, losing several lengths and momentum; from there, she failed to recover. | While one would still have liked to have seen her offer more of a recovery after the interference, this was clearly a troubled trip that led to a below par effort; we’re probably best off tossing this race and giving her another shot with blinkers off today. |
| Other notes:
– Making her first start against winners, #4 I’M A LIL WICKED was shuffled a back a little entering the far turn last out, which cost her several lengths on the quickening leaders and put her on the back foot, from where she couldn’t recover. She didn’t nearly do enough to earn an upgrade, but she might be capable of offering more like she did two back with a different trip that allows her to remain with the ‘flow’ of the race. – After being bumped at the start, #5 TIPMANEE was outrun and then asked for no effort at all from her rider through the stretch when making her turf debut off the layoff last time; plenty of reasons to believe that she simply didn’t handle the surface that day, and it might be worth giving her another shot under more favorable conditions. Note: her lone win came over a heavily speed biased track. |
|||
| Race 3: OC 55k/C Allowance, 3YO+, 5 ½ Furlongs, Turf |
| Other notes:
– In his last start on turf (05/01/26), #4 WHERE’S RAY briefly found himself boxed in on the turn last out which forced his rider to wait a little longer than intended before commencing a run. It’s tough to say that was the reason for his off-board finish though, because he then had plenty of time to make inroads through the stretch when clear, but was readily out-kicked by #5 INCINERATOR. Seems more likely that he was just simply below his best, possibly ‘bouncing’ off his big return effort; he then ran a flat race on the dirt last time which, even if it did come over his lesser preferred surface, does leave him with questions to answer now. – #5 INCINERATOR was instantly put at a disadvantage when he stumbled badly at the start last out in an off-turf sprint here at Laurel – we can forgive him that effort and judge him on his prior turf tries instead. Note: in his last start on turf with lasix, although the pace was hot, with the rails at 70ft, it didn’t fall apart and he ran a very solid race to finish 2nd – that form makes him live today. |
| Race 4: Maiden Claiming 12.5k, 3-6YO, 1 Mile, Dirt | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #2 DIVINE SWAGGER | Maiden Claiming 12k, LRL, 1 1/16M, Fast Dirt, 05/30/26 – 2nd | Restrained entering first turn; traveled strongly ~6L off the modest pace while racing towards the center of the track back stretch; advanced with a 4W bid on the far turn racing into the lane, then stayed on well (despite his rider losing the crop ~1/8 pole) but had too much to do. | This effort is deserving of a small UPGRADE, not only because he raced wide on the far turn and his rider lost the crop in the lane (that mightn’t have made much difference), but the pace was also modest-slow (50.61 ½) which helped the always prominent winner and early pace setter (finished 3rd at 12/1). Suspect he can improve from this route debut with a more efficient trip and better setup. |
| #3 BIGSHOT NESS | Maiden Claiming 25k, DEL, 1M, Muddy Dirt, 05/27/26 – 5th | Reluctant to load; broke sharp and set an honest pace in front rounding first turn; was then taken on racing down the back stretch and engaged in a speed duel while racing down on the rail; dropped back a little rounding the far turn despite willingly responding to pressure, then faded grudgingly through the stretch. | It was unfortunate for him that the eventual 3rd place finisher decided to take him on racing down the back stretch (he was racing on the rail, so it was hard for him to take back out of the duel) as the pair then whipped through a 47.91 which proved too much for him. He can improve on this tricky trip if able to ration out his speed more efficiently today and he looms a big player down in class. |
| Other notes:
– Not sure it made much difference as he was never far back, but it might be worth noting that there was a speed bias present at Gulfstream when #1 VEKOMA VELOCITY last ran which possibly made his task of running down the eventual wire winner more difficult. Whatever the case, it was a likable effort from him and he’s respected today. – #4 TREASURETHEMEMORIES bolted off the first turn last out was was quickly pulled up thereafter; tough to trust. – #5 GONNA MAKE IT didn’t do nearly enough running to earn an upgrade but did sit a wide trip on the turf last time. – #6 MODRANACH became fractious in the gate last time which is often an underrated reason as to why a runner can improve on another day. – Exiting the same race as #2 DIVINE SWAGGER, although he wasn’t setting fast fractions in front, it seemed like #7 HOORAW was just being rushed off his feet early to hold his front running position before fading. Feel he is a closer through and through, and he may be more effective if resorting to those tactics today. |
|||
| Race 5: Maiden Claiming 35k, 3-6YO (F), 5 ½ Furlongs, Turf | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #3 CRAB MENTALITY | Maiden Claiming 35k, LRL, 5 1/2F, Sloppy Dirt, 05/22/26 – 5th | Away well; contested pace to ½, then dropped back and chased from between foes in the 3P racing to the top of the lane; stuck to her task well under pressure racing to the 1/8 pole, then steadied and checked as a rival came across her, costing her a little momentum and ground; from there, she ran on but was never getting involved. | Returning off a lengthy layoff and running on what is surely her lesser preferred surface, she encountered trouble in the stretch here which possibly cost her a position or two. Having broken very slowly on debut, it was pleasing to see her get away well here; with a sharp break again and a cleaner trip second back and returned to the turf, a PB looks in the offing today. Note: there was a strong speed bias present this day which possibly did help her. |
| #5 DANDY VANDY (FR) | Maiden Claiming 35k, LRL, 5 1/2F, Sloppy Dirt, 05/22/26 – 2nd (DQ) | Lacked speed and raced in rear of pack early, then dropped back further when resisting kickback as rivals crossed over entering far turn; was roused along and taken wide out of kickback, then made a bold bid in the 5-6P rounding into the lane before continuing her rally – while drifting in (which she was later DQ’d for – to the wire. | Making her first start for 237 days and racing on her lesser preferred surface, this runner-up effort can be UPGRADED through her very wide trip and because she rallied (after resenting kickback) against the strong speed bias. Especially if she can keep straight through the lane, she should play a significant role with a more ground saving trip back on a fair turf track and with the long stretch to help her late kick. |
| Other notes:
– In her lone turf try (04/18/26), #7 TRULY THRILLING was twice pushed out into the center of the track through the stretch, possibly costing her 2nd. Makes her first start on turf with blinkers on today. Note: there was no visible reason for her tame effort on the dirt last time. |
|||
| Race 6: Claiming 16k, 3YO+ (F), 1 1/16 Miles, Turf |
| Other notes:
– While launching a bid from the rear, #6 RISK AND REGRET was hemmed in by a rival between the ¼ and 1/8 pole last time and had to force her way out, making contact with her foe which lost her a touch of momentum; while it didn’t cost her the race, a slightly smoother trip second back could see her build on that promising comeback effort (her first start with lasix). – The chart comment notes how #7 PAP’S LIL PATRIOT steadied at the ¾ pole last time, but it’s a reach to call that a steady (she seemed to be lugging out a little on the turn) and we cannot attribute her heavy defeat to that. – Although she didn’t quite do enough to earn an upgrade, having lacked speed and then been very keen in rear, #8 SOMME RIVER lost ground racing very wide on the far turn last time which almost certainly cost her a position or two, and there are reason to believe she still has more to offer. Note: she had a very favorable pace setup when winning at Tampa two back; also note: regarding her last start, the chart comment from Delaware (again!) is inaccurate – she was beaten a good five lengths, not three. – #10 FAHNEE was ridden way too aggressively over 6F last time, setting rapid, closer friendly fractions with a 4L lead before inevitably tiring late on. While today’s trip remains a question mark, we shouldn’t take that last try as an accurate reflection of her ability. |
| Race 7: OC 55k/C Allowance, 3YO+, 6 Furlongs, Dirt | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #6 HOWGREATISNATE | Allowance, LRL, 7F, Fast Dirt, 05/29/26 – 7th | Bumped start, away slowly in rear; tracked even pace in last from ~4L back into the turn; held his position inside while traveling well to ~5/16; angled off the rail and began to launch a rally between foes entering the lane but was then put in very tight between horses ~3/16 which caused him to clip heels and stumble badly, completely ending his chances; from there, he was not persevered with. | Lucky not to have fallen, this was a very troubled trip, and we can toss this race, judging him on his prior starts instead. Note: his effort two back is deserving of a small upgrade (did best of the closers despite some early trouble and wide trip in a race that saw speed hold well). Player. |
| Other Notes:
– Feel that we can be forgiving of the fact that #1 INTREPID’S LEGACY regressed on the Beyer scale last time because her stablemate (HAILEYSFIRSTNOTION, who romped in wire fashion with a 96 Beyer) dragged the field through blistering fractions which only she could sustain; this inevitably led to the three beaten runners (including ‘IP’ who was wide on the turn) tiring late on. It was a solid enough effort in defeat from her regardless and she’ll demand respect again today. Note: she’s a very headstrong mare which could make things difficult for her rider/lead to traffic trouble having drawn the rail. – #2 PRINCE OF JERICHO has been bumped exiting low draws in his last two starts (both on turf) which have prevented him from showing the early speed he’s shown on the dirt before; he can be more forwardly positioned with a cleaner break today. Note: he was lightly bumped between foes in the stretch last time and then tapped on the brakes very close home which cost him more than the nose he was beaten for 4th (not enough to earn an upgrade though). – #3 CYBERTIME was able to set a slow, uncontested pace in front before narrowly holding on at Delaware when last seen (possible downgrade). Returns off lengthy layoff today. – #4 BOLD DIVERSION lost ground with a wide trip on the turn last out; while it’s a stretch to say it cost him a position, it did likely hurt his speed fig. |
|||
| Race 8: Claiming 16k, 3YO+, 5 ½ Furlongs, Turf |
| Other notes:
– Speed held very well in #1 BELTANE’s last race (11/21/25), with the top five finishers (including runners at 20/1 and 71/1) filling those positions throughout; probably best to take that form with a pinch of salt. Returns from layoff today. – Accepting the fact that he was returning from a layoff and trying to wire a tough group of horses over 6F when last seen, it was still somewhat concerning to see quite how quickly #4 ALEXIS ZORBA (GB) stopped in the stretch (rider was not hard on him), and he now has questions to answer. – Although #8 RED SPITFIRE lost ground with a wide move on the turn before rallying on his left lead to win last time, we shouldn’t upgrade the effort as he also received a very favorable, closer friendly pace to run at. Makes turf and barn debut today. |
Horses To Follow
R5: DANDY VANDY (2/1 ML)
DANDY VANDY (FR) brings the strongest turf form into this race, having repeatedly held her own against tougher company. Returning from a 237-day layoff in an off-the-turf event last time, she resented the kickback early and dropped out to last before making a huge wide rally against a speed-favoring track to pass the post in second. Although later disqualified for interference in mid-stretch, the effort was better than it looks on paper. Now back on the grass, with a long stretch to aid her late kick, and taking on the the easiest field she’s ever faced on turf, she could prove tough to stop second back with Hazlewood retaining the ride.
R7: HOWGREATISNATE (8/1 ML)
A three-time stakes winner with multiple lines that fit very well against today’s group, at 8/1 on the morning line HOWGREATISNATE could be worth chancing once again in today’s seventh. His recent form doesn’t stand out but is easy enough to forgive, given he’s endured a run of bad luck, catching speed-favoring tracks, trying to close into slow paces, and most recently a near-disaster when clipping heels in the stretch. It may simply be too soon to say that he’s lost the step his PPs suggest he has, and a clean trip shouldn’t see him too far away.
