Top pick selections for all races at Laurel Park today, plus select trip notes and horses to follow. Good luck!
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Race Selections
R1: 8-5-1
R2: 4-5-1
R3: 1-9-4
R4: 5-2-3
R5: 2-5-7
R6: 7-2-4
R7: 4-8-1
R8: 1-4-5
R9: 5-7-3
Trip Notes – Recent performances that deserve an asterisk. All others: trust the past-performances.
| Race 1: Maiden Claiming 16K, 3-6YO (F), 5 ½ Furlongs, Turf | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Notes |
| #8 LOAF OF SOF | Maiden Claiming 12k, LRL, 5 1/2F, Good Dirt, 03/27/26 – 4th | Broke slowly from rail, then resented the kickback and dropped herself out into a hopelessly detached last approaching the far turn; shifted out 5W to avoid kickback racing to the top of the lane, then finished up with decent energy but had way too much to do. Galloped out well thereafter. | Clearly resented the kickback early and threw away any chance she had as the 9/5 fav, then lost further ground racing wide on the far turn; this was far from an accurate reflection of her ability; late energy and gallop out suggest we should see much more from her switched to turf without kickback (assuming she handles surface) as she makes her debut for McFarlane today. |
| Other notes:
– #1 PONEY ISLAND raced slightly wider than ideal at Charles Town last out and then lost a little ground drifting out in the lane too. She wasn’t wide enough to earn a notable upgrade speed figure wise, but she did loose more ground than the 1/2L she was beaten. – #6 FORTUNE GARDEN showed a likable attitude to hold 4th last out after being caught notably wide on the turn – tiny upgrade. |
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| Race 2: MSW, 2YO (F), 4 ½ Furlongs, Dirt |
| Other notes:
– All debutants. |
| Race 3: Maiden Claiming 16K, 3-6YO, 5 ½ Furlongs, Turf | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #4 ALL FRUITS RIPE | Maiden Claiming 16k, LRL, 1 1/16M, Firm Turf, 04/19/26 – 8th | Away alertly; crossed to rail, then settled ~5L off runaway leader (fast pace) entering back stretch; lost a position but remained 5L off lead racing into far turn, then steadied a little 5/16 which shuffled him back a length or so; took another noteworthy bump upper stretch, then lacked room inside ~3/16 pole and had to switch out when all his momentum should have been going forward; from there, he remained at an even pace. | Not sure how he’d have faired with a clean trip, or how this race translates to today’s 5 1/2F distance, but he did suffer a troubled trip in this race and is deserving of a slight UPGRADE. Potential to step forward second off the layoff today. |
| #9 ROYAL RENEGADE | Maiden Claiming 16K, LRL, 1 1/16M, Good Turf, 11/27/25 – 7th | Took strong hold contesting fast pace between horses 2W to far turn; dismissed of pace rivals and briefly took lead on the run to the top of the lane; lost lead to winner upper stretch but continued battling hard for 2nd until inside the final 1/8, then faded. | Racing on a ‘good’ listed turf course, he formed part of a fast pace (23.61, 47.60) that eventually collapsed and actually did well to still be there battling for a share inside the final furlong (he did by far the best of the three speeds). Being sandwiched between horses for the first ½ of the contest didn’t help his chances either. He’s deserving of a small PACE UPGRADE for this effort and if ready off the bench, could prove that turf sprinting is his best game. |
| Other notes:
– #1 POTCAKE ran a very likable race when last seen in October, doing best of the leading trio who contested a solid early pace (one pace rival was the 3/5 fav) despite having been caught in an often-unfavorable spot between horses throughout. Returns off layoff today. – #2 KING OF FOG lugged out badly on the turn and through the lane (causing him to bump a rival hard in upper stretch) during his last turf race (08/22/25). He then checked hard at the start when last seen on the dirt in December, but we cannot fully use that as an excuse for his defeat at odds of 1/1. Returns off layoff with lasix added today. – As highlighted in the chart comment, #7 SIR LOMAX had a little traffic trouble at the 3/8 pole last out. It was extremely minor trouble, though, and inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. Cuts back making debut for Keil today. Note: his debut (closed into pace that collapsed over closer friendly track) needs to be downgraded. – #10 GIMME TWO SHOTS showed speed, a likable attitude and overall promise on debut with a slightly wide trip until tiring late on. Interesting second out switching to turf on debut for Geralis. Drops. – #13 BAND TOUR (AE) was caught very wide on the far turn when going two-turns off the layoff last time. Cuts back in distance today. |
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| Race 4: Claiming 30K, 3YO+ (F), 6 Furlongs, Dirt |
| Other notes:
– Nobody can argue with the fact that #2 TUNED TO THE MOON was much the best when winning by 6 1/4L with a career best 75 Beyer at Charles Town last time. It should be noted, however, that he was fully extended and had ridden the strong speed bias present this day. Therefore, although he could, it’s far from certain that he’ll replicate that same speed figure today. – After suffering a wide trip at Colonial two-back, #5 SHKHARA FIRE was arguably ridden with too much patience in a race where horses really struggled to improve their positions (running order hardly changed throughout) last time, settling 7L off the even pace early and largely remaining under a hold in last until reaching upper stretch. Feel that she can offer more than this. |
| Race 5: Claiming 16K, 3YO+ (F), 1 Mile, Turf | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #4 QUEEN ROCKET | Starter Allowance, LRL, 1 1/16M, Firm Turf, 11/02/25 – 1st | Step slow break; traveled strongly ~7L off even pace behind horses in rear racing to far turn; waited in traffic when still ~6L off lead far turn before briefly checking off heels upper stretch; finally got out and into the clear ~3/16 pole when in 8th, then launched a power-packed finish in the center to get up on the wire before galloping out nicely. | She won this race despite having had to wait in traffic on the far turn when she’d ideally have been advancing into the even pace that slightly benefited forwardly placed runners. Her effort (supported by a strong gallop out) was better than the winning margin and speed figure suggests. Returns off layoff today. |
| #5 BELLA ESTRELLA | Claiming 16k, LRL, 1 1/16M, Firm Turf, 04/10/26 – 4th | Tracked even pace from ~4L down on rail; crept closer under hand ride far turn, then steadied slightly when running up on heels ~1/8 pole; regathered herself quickly and then continued to fight gamely but did not have enough. | She hardly lost any ground when steadying ~1/8 pole and had sat a good trip up to that point, so it’s hard to upgrade her effort too much or say that she’d have won with a clean trip. But still, she did have her momentum slightly halted at an inopportune moment and considering it was her first start off the layoff, granted a clean trip, we should see more from her today. |
| Other notes:
– #8 IMPETUS ECHO (GB) was racing on a sloppy and heavily speed biased track that may have been unfavorable to her when last seen. She’ll still need way more today. |
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| Race 6: Allowance, 3YO+ ®, 1 1/16 Miles, Dirt |
| Other notes:
– #7 BLUE KINGDOM’s two-back effort in the 6F Not For Love Stakes is deserving of an upgrade as he sat a slightly wide trip (widest of the four runners) while closing from furthest off pace over a heavily speed bias track. While he did also look to hang a little late on, it was a solid effort under the circumstances. What’s more, his last effort going two turns (10/11/25) in which he set the pace before fading to 3rd is also deserving of an upgrade, as there was a significant closer bias present that day. Looms a logical win contender stretching back out in distance with lasix on. |
| Race 7: Allowance, 3YO+, 5 ½ Furlongs, Turf | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #4 JEAN VALJEAN | King T. Leatherbury S., 5 1/2F, LRL, Firm Turf, 04/18/26 – 7th | Took strong hold contesting very fast fractions 2W into and around the turn; took over upper stretch and gamely held the advantage deep inside the final 1/8, then faded grudgingly. | This return effort off the layoff is deserving of a PACE UPGRADE – he was in front until late on and only beaten 3 1/4L despite having contested unsustainably fast (22.08, 44.08) fractions early (other pace setter – the 2/1 fav DONCHO – faded to last). Second off the layoff today and with lasix back on, he could strip fitter and be tough to peg back if rationing out his speed just a fraction more efficiently. |
| Other Notes:
– #1 PRINCE OF JERICHO’s turf debut in the King T. Leatherbury Stakes is not deserving of an upgrade because he had a wicked pace to close into (22.08, 44.08) and overall, his trip was fine. However, he was roughed up at the start somewhat and therefore ended up racing out of his preferred position (on the lead). Therefore, with lasix back on, provided he can get away from the rail, there is a chance that he’ll be more comfortable back up front early today and improve on his last effort. – After setting hot fractions in front, #3 NORMANDY HERO was very game to hold on for the win in his last turf start (11/23/26) and if returning to that level of form, he should play a role today. A possible concern, however, is that he did only just hold on that day (was all out late and in 2nd one stride after the wire), raising the question as to whether he can do the same again today without a recent run behind him? – #8 WHERE’S RAY was promoted to 1st via DQ last time after he was floated out by the first-past-the-post finisher at the 1/16 pole. While this interference did cost him more than the nose he was beaten by and therefore made the DQ understandable, it did not impact him enough to warrant a speed figure upgrade. Saying that, though, he was a little wider than ideal (4W) racing off the turn and into the lane, and he was returning from a layoff too, so he may well be able to improve today still. Note: he flopped leads a couple of times in the stretch as well, but that’s not uncommon for him and seemingly doesn’t dent his finishing effort. |
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| Race 8: Allowance, 3YO+, 6 Furlongs, Dirt | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #1 HAILEYSFIRSTNOTION | Maryland Million Sprint S., 6F, LRL, Fast Dirt, 10/11/25 – 3rd | Bumped hard start but still well into stride; set pressed pace on rail to ¼, then met bid and briefly dueled upper stretch before fading very grudgingly late on. | A huge effort to finish just 1 1/2L 3rd after setting a pressured pace over a track present a strong closer bias – UPGRADE. Returns off layoff with lasix added today. |
| #3 DON’T WAIT UP | Claiming 30k, LRL, 6F, Fast Dirt, 04/10/26 – 4th | Tracked modest pace 2W between horses early; dropped back a little turn, then lacked room approaching the ¼ and had to angle off heels into the 5P, costing him a little momentum while the wire winner was spotting clear; turned for home ~3-4L down, then offered a mild rally for 2nd but did not have enough. | A tiny UPGRADE can be awarded here because he didn’t quite have enough pace to run at (does best closing into fast fractions like two-back; he was never catching in-form wire winner after a 46.79 half) and he also lost some momentum/ground racing into the stretch. Makes debut for Perri today. |
| #4 HOWGREATISNATE | Allowance, LRL, 6F, Fast Dirt, 03/15/26 – 3rd | Step slow from rail; lacked room inside ~5 ½ and had to ease back when already in rear; this left him racing ~7L off the even pace early; angled outside ~5/8 and chased the pace into and around the turn before losing ground when floated out 5W approaching the ¼; ducked back inside and then launched a late rally but had too much to do. | He did best of the closers in this race that saw speed hold relatively well (top two finishers filled those positions throughout; winner was 20/1) despite experiencing some trouble early after a rail break and ending up further back than necessary, and losing ground with a wide trip on the turn. He galloped out in front, and his effort is deserving of an UPGRADE. |
| Other notes:
– None |
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| Race 9: Maiden Claiming 12.5K, 3YO (F), 6 Furlongs, Dirt | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #5 KELSEY HILL GIRL | Maiden Claiming 12k, LRL, 6F, Fast Dirt, 03/20/26 – 4th | Broke from outside post; chased honest pace 5-6W into the lane, then stayed on gamely on her left lead. | She arguably lost more ground with this very wide trip than the 1 1/2L margin she was beaten, and her effort is worthy of an UPGRADE. A more productive trip (and preferably a lead change in the lane) can see her step forward making her third start of the form cycle today. |
| Other notes:
– #2 ELITE MISS seemed to be unsuited by the mile distance last time and should be more competitive back sprinting and down in class today. She wasn’t had ridden when beaten last time either, exacerbating the margin of defeat. Returns on relatively short rest. – We may be able to excuse #3 FASTFIELD for her dull last effort as she was left racing against a speed bias after taking an extremely hard bump at the start – one that could have knocked the wind out of her. Cuts back in trip today. – #7 HOTTER THAN FIRE was DQ’d on debut after causing interference at the gate. She didn’t really do enough running to earn an upgrade in that start; however, it should be noted that she was running against a speed bias throughout, entitling her to offer more today. Cuts back in distance this afternoon (didn’t particularly look like a sprinter on debut). |
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Horses to Follow
R1: LOAF OF SOF (6/1 ML)
Following four consecutive bullet drills at Fair Hill Training Center, LOAF OF SOF was sent off at 9/5 on debut, but failed to handle the kickback and was forced wide on the turn, effectively ending her chance. That run is best forgiven. She still showed some late interest to pick up fourth, however, and could take a notable step forward now switching to the grass, which her pedigree suggests could suit. Making her first start off the claim for McFarlane, she’s one to keep onside in the opener.
R7: JEAN VALJEAN (5/1 ML)
Making his first start in 525 days off a limited series of workouts, JEAN VALJEAN didn’t fare badly at all in the King T. Leatherbury Stakes last time, holding the lead into deep stretch after being part of a frenetic early pace (22.08, 44.00) that ultimately favored closers. Now dropping back into allowance company and getting Lasix again, he should strip fitter for that return and could prove hard to peg back under Karamanos.
