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

–        #1 FOCUSYN uncharacteristically flopped back to his left lead in the lane last out and has sat on the sidelines for 110 days since that race – maybe something was amiss that day, and his two back effort – a 75 Beyer earning win off the bench – is a better guide to his ability?

–        Granted, he had a strong pace to run at, but #3 BRINDANO ran an eye-catching race last time, making up a lot of ground to finish 2nd (did by far the best of the closers), despite having lost a little ground racing wide into the lane from ~5/16. Provided he gets a similar pace setup, he might be able to improve a little on that effort by saving more ground into the stretch.

–        Although #4 PLATFORM seemingly failed to fire his best shot last time, period, it should be noted that he was racing against the speed bias, which obviously didn’t help. He may offer a little more today.

–        #5 THE COUNT IS ON failed to stay a mile last time and could be seen to better effect back down in trip today; he’ll likely need pace to aim at, though.

–        #6 FIRMANTOWN’S two career wins have come in gate-to-wire fashion; he failed to get the lead last time after taking a hefty bump at the start, though, and he was then caught between rivals on the far turn which is often unideal – there are therefore some possible excuses for his defeat, though his visual performance was only so-so and he was late and sticky with his lead change in the lane, which was undesirable.

–        There was no visible reason as to why #1 IAMDEPENDINGONYOU ran so far blow par last out. While she didn’t look to resist it, maybe she just disliked the sloppy going? She needs more today, regardless. Note: FWIW, she was not persevered with from ~3/8 pole last out which obviously exasperated the margin of defeat.

–        Although #2 BARBADOS BULLDOG sat a perfect trip last time, saving ground while chasing a fast pace, it should be noted that the track was very speed favoring that day and the running order in that race barely changed throughout, raising questions about the validity of the form – her prior efforts may be a better guide to her ability. The tape offered mixed feeling about her handling the stretch out on the drop today.

–        Despite breaking sharp, #3 ELUSIVE SIONNA (whose two-black effort was upgradable) wasn’t quite fast enough to be competitive sprinting 6F at this level last time – she became outpaced, then ran evenly through the lane before galloping out fairly well. It seems the return to one mile today will be more to her liking. In the same race, #4 STROLL TRIPPIN was also outpaced from the start, ran evenly to the wire behind ELUSIVE SIONNA, then galloped out nicely in front with that foe. Similarly, a stretch out in distance could benefit her today.

–        #5 KITTYUP sat a good trip when breaking her maiden on the slop last time and was fully extended to the wire. While it was a nice effort, today’s field is tougher and she didn’t leave a huge amount of room for improvement.

–        Without lasix, #1 N. Y. FINEST looked unsuited by the 1 1/16M distance last time and failed to get home; while one would still have liked to have seen a little more spark from him in that race, returning to 5 1/2F today with lasix on should help him step back in the right direction.

–        #5 R J’S ICE showed a nice attitude when running well on debut last time, despite having lost a little ground when caught fractionally wide on the turn and having shown signs of greenness through the lane, drifting around a little. Expect he can step forward with blinks on today.

–        #2 LAYSEN clearly improved for the addition of lasix last time, hitting the line with good energy and breaking his maiden with potentially something in hand.

–        #5 SUGAR ON FIRE was shuffled back a little from ~9/16 to ~3/8 pole last time and ended up further back than his rider would probably have liked; however, he was then able to take advantage of the aforementioned hot pace set by #1 STICKTOTHESYSTEM and sat a nice closers’ trip around the turn and through the lane, nullifying the ability to upgrade the effort in anyway.

–        #6 MISTER ROSCOE also benefited from the aforementioned hot pace set by #1 STICKTOTHESYSTEM when getting up to score last out; often this type of favorable setup would result in a downgrade, but he lost so much ground racing very wide on the turn and hit the line with such taking energy that it’s difficult to knock him too much. He and #1 STICKTOTHESYSTEM look the two to take out of the race.

–        All others: trust the PPs.

–        There was no visible reason as to why #1 GINGER GIRL ran so far below par last out – she traveled well in behind horses to the turn, then stopped very quickly. She needs to bounce back today. Note: although she visually didn’t look to resist the muddy going, it was only the second time she’d run on an off track, but not the first time she’d underperformed on one.

–        #3 ADE sat a good trip and looked to try hard but was just a little ‘flat’ in her last start, possibly as a result of her running back on short rest.

–        Don’t want to downgrade #4 ENIGMATIC’s last start too much, because she was much the best at odds of 6/5 and scored by 6L; however, it should be noted that she was gifted an uncontested lead from the start, from where she was able to set slow fractions which undeniably helped her. With other speed in today’s contest, she’d unlikely to receive the same luxury in front and therefore, while highly respected, she’s not absolutely guaranteed to produce the same level of performance. Note: she also flopped leads late last out.

–        Exiting the same race that #4 ENIGMATIC won last out, #5 IT’SFIFTYSHADETIME did not receive her preferred setup as a closer (the pace was slow) and could improve on that try with a faster pace expected over a furlong longer today. Saying that, though, it still seems unlikely that she’ll reverse form with #4 ENIGMATIC as she was well beaten by that foe.

–        #7 GENIEINABRIDLE lost a little ground when caught 3-4W on the first turn last out, then dueled through fast, closer friendly fractions into the lane before ultimately tiring late; this trip would usually warrant some sort of pace upgrade, however, the track was so speed favoring this day (and the other pace setter went onto win), so the ability to upgrade this effort is dramatically reduced. Seems she’ll need to bounce back slightly as she makes her debut for McKenzie off 13 days rest today.

–        All others: trust the PPs.

–        #3 ELIMAR had a good trip and setup last time but looked to simply fail to stay the one mile distance. Wouldn’t be a shock if she were to rediscover her better form back at 6F today.

–        #6 CANDY LUNA didn’t do enough running after the break (despite saving ground and having a fast pace to close into) to suggest the start made any real difference to the result, but her start was poor as she broke violently inwards from the rail post and hit the gate hard. There’s a small chance that she can improve with a better break today.

–        #8 KELSEY HILL GIRL took part in a strangely run race when making her dirt debut last time: the pace was hot through the opening ¼, then slowed dramatically through the mid-portion of the race before picking back up again in the lane. However, the flow did not make any difference to her trip or result – she was under pressure while saving ground throughout, then finished evenly past tiring foes. Her result & speed fig seem fair; she is entitled could improve second off the bench today, though.

–        All others: trust the PPs.

–        Although a fraction wide on the turn, there was no real reason as to why #1 BACKNTHEWOODS ran below par again last time – he sat close to a slow early pace, then weakened tamely in the lane. Needs more today.

–        #2 DON’T WAIT UP’s last effort is not deserving of an upgrade (the winner was much the best), but it should be noted that he was a little wide on the far turn and also took a little bump at the top of the lane which slightly knocked his back end out from under him – it wouldn’t surprise if, at the very least, he replicates that level of form today.

–        #3 BUSHIDO only beat three rivals last out, but the style in which he did it was impressive as he set fast fractions in front (that would have likely benefited closers in a larger field contest), and simply ran his rivals off their feet, opening up and drawing away in the lane under a mild hand ride late on. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him step forward (for fitness, a stronger stretch ride and if rationing his speed out even more efficiently), and for him to play another big role as he makes his second start off the bench today.

–        #5 RADICAL RIGHT benefited from breaking on the rail and having foes to his outside throughout in his last race as he lugged/leaned out persistently through the contest and his rivals helped him keep somewhat on track. An outside post could be cause for concern today.

–        All others: trust the PPs.

–        Just in case it goes unnoticed, #4 UNDER THE RUG did finish 2nd last out, but it was only a three-runner race.

–        All others: trust the PPs.