Laurel Park Tips and Trips – Friday, March 13, 2026

–        #1 TURKISH BREEZE (on debut; prompted even pace to ~5/16, floated/drifted wide off turn, drifted in and weakened lane; not a horrible try until 3/16); #2 ROSIE’S FORTUNE (two-back (stumbled and unseated rider after being fidgety in the gate last time), chased pace and weakened); #3 MODERNIS SILVER (on debut; broke slowly and outwards, lugged out throughout back stretch and turn while tough to handle, seemingly wanting to head back to the barn area, no factor; lasix off today); #4 NAOMI AN RUTH (worked forward to set honest fractions on the rail to ~5/16 pole, then gradually faded and was not persevered with late; lasix off today); #5 EASTCOASTGIRLSRHIP (chased the even pace to ~3/8, then faded after making an early lead change on the bend); and #6 STYLISH GEM (prompted honest pace on rail to turn, dropped back a little bend, cut corner into lane, then stayed on willingly for 2nd), all sat perfectly fine trips in their respective last starts and were ridden through the line – their results/speed figs seem fair.

–        Considering she was facing much tougher competition than she did two-back, #3 DIAMOND N DRESS probably didn’t receive the best trip/ride last time (1 1/16M, LRL, 02/20/26): rushed up between foes, she lost ground racing 5W on the first turn, then rather than rating off the speed and catching a slight breather, the rider kept the revs up and continued to press on into a 1L lead racing through the back stretch while in the clear 3-4 deep, inevitably setting things up well for her rivals and leading to her tiring on the far turn. Feel that different circumstances can see her to better effect.

–        After chasing the even pace from a detached last, then swinging 4-5W into the lane (noteworthy ground loss), #4 YES PICNIC stayed on and galloped out well enough last time (5 1/2F, LRL, 02/14/26) to suggest today’s extra distance could bring about improvement.

–        #5 HONOR OUR COUNTRY’s best efforts have come when she’s racing in a forward position with daylight in front of her; she didn’t get that trip last time (1 1/16M, LRL, 02/14/26), as she failed to make the front and was stuck in behind the leaders while tightly bunched between foes throughout – seemingly racing out of her preferred position, she may offer more with a wide post and different trip, down in class today.

–        #1 NO MO MUFFINS (chased the even pace in the center to the turn, made brief headway in 3rd ~5/16 pole, then faded; nothing to suggest she really wants today’s 1M distance); #2 BACK WALL BANDIT (with lasix first time; tracked honest pace to turn, made smooth headway while ~3-4W turn into lane, took over 1/8, then powered away under light handling late; gallop out only so-so); and #6 ONLY MARIA (four runner race; chased the hot pace throughout and failed to factor, despite trying and staying on well enough through the lane, gallop out okay), all sat perfectly fine trips in their respective last starts and were ridden through the line – their results/speed figs seem fair.

–        #1 CROSS OF VALOR, #4 PNEUMONIA WARRIOR and #5 CHILLY GIRL all exit the same race (6F, LRL, 02/13/26) in which speed held very well, and the running order hardly changed throughout, possibly raising questions about the validity of the form: CROSS OF VALOR tracked even pace 2W into turn, dropped back slightly approaching top of lane, then stayed on willingly inside; PNEUMO WARRIOR, at 21/1, vied for command through even fractions 2W into the turn, lost contact with the eventual winner on bend but stayed on willingly regardless to hold 2nd, despite remaining on left lead; and CHILLY GIRL took a hefty bump at the break, chased pace while losing a little ground outside COV 3-4W, made an early lead change on the bend, then faded. It’s possible that the pace flow/race shape helped PNEUMO WARRIOR and worked against her two re-opposing rivals slightly.

–        #3 LOVELY LOOKIN LILI (chased even pace ~3W into lane, then stayed on willingly and galloped out in front; made another likable impression – debut was good too); and #6 OLD FASHIONED CANDY (on debut, was urged along chasing modest fractions from last too the turn, then gradually weakened; returns off layoff today), both sat perfectly fine trips in their respective last starts and were ridden through the line – their results/speed figs seem fair.

–        #2 A. L.’S BOY deserves a small pace upgrade for his last effort (7F, CT, 02/25/26): he broke sharp from the rail, set fast, pressured, closer friendly fractions on the fence to the far turn, then faded grudgingly on his left lead but was game enough to hold 3rd. Seems capable of improving if able to save a little more for the lane; cut back to 6F today could suit.

–        #5 BLO BY’EM lost ground racing 4-5W (widest of all the re-opposing runner from that race) from ~3/8 pole into the lane before staying on evenly on his left lead to split #1 D HOPPER and #6 ELLINGER last out (6F, LRL, 02/04/26) – the ground loss likely didn’t cost him 2nd, but we can very slightly mark up his effort.

–        #1 D HOPPER (two-back – last out replay unavailable; set honest pace in front to turn, extended lead bend, fought willingly stretch but was run down late, clear 2nd); #3 RIGHT OF RUSH (broke sharp from rail and set pace through opening 1/8, dropped back and chased pace on fence to ~3/8 pole, then gradually faded, despite trying hard); #4 WHO SAYS SO (broke sharp from outside, stalked pace 2W into turn, then gradually faded; no visible reason for sub-par effort); and #6 ELLINGER (tracked honest pace ~3W into lane, then faded grudgingly; no visible reason for sub-par effort), all sat perfectly fine trips in their respective last starts and were ridden through the line – their results/speed figs seem fair.

–        After becoming outpaced on the bend and losing contact with the front three (who filled those positions throughout), #3 CALL ME VICTORIOUS stayed on well enough with a likable attitude last time (6F, LRL, 02/06/26) to suggest today’s extra distance can see him to better effect.

–        On debut last time (5 1/2F, LRL, 01/23/26), #5 MODRANACH brushed with a foe at the break and got away a beat slow; recovered and traveled well chasing the even pace from ~4L back in 4th; lost a little ground racing ~4W on the turn; then finished up with credit and galloped out nicely. Under the circumstances, this was a promising debut effort that he can build on today, while also shaping as if today’s distance will be more to his liking.

–        #6 BIGSHOT NESS made a likable debut last out (1M, LRL, 02/13/26): he was bumped hard at the start, bobbled and got away slowly, then rushed up and contested even fractions in the 2P to the top of the lane, battled hard between foes (often unideal, especially with debutants) into deep stretch, then steadied slightly ~1/16 which slightly checked his momentum (not much, but slightly). With the benefit of experience, a better break and a slightly more favorable trip, he’s likely to improve today. It should be noted, however, that speed held well in that race, with the 6/1 winner wiring the field and the eventual runner-up (a 19/1 shot) never more than 2L back. The race flow arguably aided BIGSHOT NESS somewhat, while fellow exiters #1 MASTER SCHEMER (3rd) and #7 PAID VACATION (5th) might be deserving of extra credit. MASTER SCHEMER dropped back early but was still well in touch, advanced with a smooth trip 2W on the turn, cut the corner into the lane and stayed on willingly doing best of the closers; PAID VACATION, somewhat surprisingly, failed to get forward early, took a strong grip towards the rear heading to the turn, made smooth progress with a good trip into the lane, then finished evenly.

–        #2 IT’S ALL GRAVY (off layoff and on the slop as a fresh gelding with lasix first time; chased the even pace from last to top of the lane, then failed to progress towards center lane; stretch out in trip could be to his advantage as he was simply not fast enough for 5 1/2F here, though gallop out was uninspiring – maybe he just needed the race off layoff?); and #4 RIVER CITY RUNNER (outrun rail, never involved), all sat perfectly fine trips in their respective last starts and were ridden through the line – their results/speed figs seem fair.

–        There was absolutely no visible reason as to why #1 MORE VINO ran below par last out (7F, AQU, 02/19/26): he had a fast pace to run at, and the track was playing favorably to closers. The drop looks necessary today as he makes his debut for Geralis.

–        #2 MAGIC SPIN stumbled pretty badly out of the gate last time (6F, LRL, 02/15/26) but recovered quickly and sat a fine trip thereafter – result/speed fig seem fair.

–        Having broken from the outside post on the slop last time (6F, LRL, 02/20/26), #3 UNIWINNER sat a wide enough trip (5W for entirety of bend) to warrant an UPGRADE. He ran a likable race in defeat.

–        #4 FIND FAITH failed to hit the board last out (5 1/2F, LRL, 02/05/26) despite having saved ground throughout and been positioned close to a slow early pace that favored forwardly placed runners. He’ll need to improve for the addition of blinkers to score today.

–        Last out (5 1/2F, LRL, 02/13/26), #5 KERNESS K was hard sent to dispute the pace with the eventual winner on the rail, dropped back a little racing into the lane, then stayed on willingly but could not go with the top two from ~1/8 pole; his rider then stood up just inside the 1/16 pole, slightly exasperating the margin of defeat (by ~1L). Adding another 1/16 to the trip today, taking him back off the pace slightly, and/or getting off the rail (anything that allows him to just get a breath in mid-race), plus a stronger late stretch ride could see him improve slightly today.

–        Last out (1M, LRL, 02/14/26), #10 QUINCANNON broke from the outside, pulled hard in the clear 3W while pressing an honest pace, dropped back slightly while conceding ground 3W on the turn, then stayed on well between foes for 4th, despite flopping leads close home. Nothing about his trip really entitles him to an upgrade for this effort, but it was commendable that, despite racing widest, he fared best of the three early front runners (even though the other two were well fancied at odds of 4/1 and 5/2); and at the same time, owing to the fact that he pulled hard early and tired slightly late on, his effort suggested that he’ll be at least as effective back at 6F today.

–        #6 CATAHOULA MOON (lacked speed, chased the honest pace from towards rear, was in a little tight along the rail and very lightly steadied (inconsequential, in the grand scheme of things) ~7/16, then finished evenly on his left lead without ever getting involved; drops today); #7 PROM KNIGHT (quickly became detached behind the slow pace and was eased for the second time in a row); #8 KEEPING IT COUNTRY (touch wide into lane but not enough to warrant an upgrade; tracked pace, gradual fade; cuts back today); and #9 MISTER AGENT (stalked even pace on rail, gradual fade to last), all sat perfectly fine trips in their respective last starts and were ridden through the line – their results/speed figs seem fair.

–        #4 CHANGE MY WORLD (3rd) was positioned slightly farther off the slow early pace and raced a path wider on the turn than #5 WICKEDDIVINE (2nd) when they met last time (5 1/2F, LRL, 02/13/26). CMW was therefore at a slight disadvantage relative to ‘WICKED’ and may be able to narrow the gap today, but off that race alone it’s a little difficult to see him reversing the form — ‘WICKED’ was clearly second best and was pulling away from CMW late.

–        #1 PACO THE TACO MAN (broke sharp, contested even fractions 2W to top of lane, steadily pulled away despite drifting out a touch, then held off a fast-finishing foe late, fully extended); #2 ENZO (on turf; pressed even pace between foes in 2P, took over turn, emerged with clear lead in stretch, held advantage to close home, nailed; returns from layoff today); and #3 GUAPONESS (set even fractions with a clear, uncontested lead to turn, came under pressure and had lead reduced approaching top of lane, was overtaken ~3/16, gave way grudgingly, 2nd best; cuts back today), all sat perfectly fine trips in their respective last starts and were ridden through the line – their results/speed figs seem fair.

–        #4 BABBLE isn’t deserving of an upgrade for his last effort (1M, LRL, 02/27/26), but the ride likely didn’t see him to best effect either: he was unhurried early (when he needed to be hustled) and dropped a long way (16L) behind, then made a big mid-race move from ~9/16 running into and around the bend (premature and badly executed, unideal) to be racing just 4L off the pace in a share of 3rd ~3/8 pole, 3W; he then lost ground floating 5W+ into the lane and faded. If keeping up early, having shown a little pace making the mid-race move and then failing to stay a mile, the cut back today might suit, along with a shaper ride, could suit.

–        #1 RIO DEL VALLE (never traveled, always behind; cuts back today with blinks on); #2 TUG (disputed even fractions inside to 9/16, dropped back and switched out approaching bend, came under a ride and dropped to 3rd bend, weakened for a non-threatening 3rd stretch; cuts back today – possibly to his benefit); and #6 Q GOT HOPS (tracked modest early pace 3W to turn, was floated out ~6W (inconsequential when it comes to the result) racing to the top of the lane, cut back inside and then finished evenly), all sat perfectly fine trips in their respective last starts and were ridden through the line – their results/speed figs seem fair.