Top pick selections for all races at Laurel Park today, plus select trip notes and horses to follow. 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.
Race Selections
R1: 9-11
R2: 1-2
R3: 9-6
R4: 6-1
R5: 4-1
R6: 8-9
R7: 4-7
R8: 8-9
R9: 10-4
Trip Notes – Recent performances that deserve an asterisk. All others: trust the past-performances.
| Race 1: Claiming 16k, 3YO+, 5 ½ Furlongs, Turf | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Notes |
| #9 HOPPETOSSE | Claiming 16k, LRL, 5 1/2F, Good Turf, 10/02/26 – 2nd | Chased even pace from 3L back to the turn; dropped to rail and advanced to stalk in the pocket rounding into the stretch; briefly thought about splitting foes in upper stretch but instead cut back inside; rival then came down and closed the rail gap, forcing him to wait at a pivotal moment; found room again inside the final furlong and then stayed on willingly for 2nd but the winner had already flown. | Although he never checked, having to wait on the rail in mid-stretch did cost him momentum while also allowing the eventual winner to open up an unassailable lead; not sure he’d have won with a better stretch run, but he would have gone close and more might be expected of him today.
Note: his two-back effort deserves a small pace upgrade. |
| Other notes:
– After chasing the even pace and then swinging a little wider-than-ideal into the lane, #1 RAGS TO LACE finished really well over a flat 5F last time; today’s 5 1/2F trip (which he tries on the grass for the first time) might help unlock a little more improvement; respected. – Cut back to 5F, #10 ROYAL RENEGADE finished very well into just an even pace at Delaware last time; today’s extra 1/16 should help him step forward on that effort, especially if the pace is stronger. – Similar to both of the above, following a game staying on 2nd over a flat 5F last time, #11 DERZ SMART should appreciate today’s extra 1/16. |
|||
| Race 2: OC25k/SAL20k, 3YO+, 1 1/16 Miles, Dirt |
| Other notes:
– Given his three career wins have come via a deep closing trip, the slow pace in #2 NO MORE CALLS’ last race (25.44, 50.04) surely didn’t see him to best effect; he also failed to settle early which didn’t help. – Returned to dirt at 7F last time, #1 LOOKIN AT MAC ran in a manner to suggest he’ll appreciate the return to two-turns today. – #1A GEOSTOBLAME popped the gate prior to winning his barn debut for Ness off the layoff last time; he’s eligible to improve on that effort. – #5 CHOWSER failed to stay while wide and out of cover at Delaware last time. |
| Race 3: MSW, 3-6YO (F), 5 ½ Furlongs, Turf | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #9 CHARLIBU | MSW, LRL, 5 1/2F, Good Turf, 09/18/26 – 4th | Stumbled, bumped hard start; away slowly in last; chased honest pace from ~10L back in a detached last to the turn; responded when nudged along turn and took slightly closer order; cut corner into lane, then stayed on well between foes inside for 4th but had too much to do; nearest finish. | While conceding experience to everyone in this race as the only debutant, she lost all chance at the start and a much improved effort can be expected second out; player. |
| Other notes:
– #8 MAD MISTY didn’t quite offer enough of a late punch to earn an upgrade last time; however, she was boxed in and prevented from advancing or building momentum from the 5/16 to the 1/8 pole which mightn’t have helped her chances; she has a game attitude and is entitled to respect today. |
|||
| Race 4: Claiming 12.5k, 3YO+, 1 1/16 Miles, Dirt |
| Other notes:
– #3 MAUPANSANT once again became very fractious prior to the start of his last race. – #6 ICE SHOT didn’t quite do enough to earn an upgrade last out; however, he also wasn’t helped by the fact that he was bumped, pinched and steadied at the start which left him in last early; he then used energy to regain a prominent position early before being caught a little wide on the turn, too; so, there are reasons as to why he may be able to offer more today. Note: he received a favorable pace setup when winning at Penn National two-back. |
| Race 5: Maiden Claiming 16k, 3-6YO, 1 1/8 Miles, Turf | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #1 MUSTBETHEMUNNING | Maiden Claiming 40k, MTH, 1 1/16M, Firm Turf, 09/12/26 – 2nd | Hit gate; chased even pace from ~6L back on the rail in third racing to the far turn; came under pressure and responded approaching the ¼ pole, then tried to muscle his way between foes but was bumped numerous times and then steadied back a little in upper stretch; regrouped and regathered stride after straightening when in 4th, then re-rallied into 2nd through the stretch. | His trouble in upper stretch didn’t cost him the race (winner was a mile the best), but he was a clearer second best than the margin suggests and he can likely offer more today (something closer to his two-back effort) with a clean trip. |
| #4 PLENTY ON TAP | Maiden Claiming 16k, LRL, 1M, Good Turf, 09/11/26 – 3rd | Step slow start; chased honest pace from ~5-6L back 3W rounding the first turn, then took a strong hold and dragged his rider a little closer racing to the far turn; continued pulling while tight between foes rounding the far turn, then worked inside and cut the corner into the lane; lacked room shortly after straightening and had to steady on the leader’s heels; dropped back a couple of lengths ~1/16 pole, then found room again and ran on strongly but had too much to do. | His last start on turf, two-back, prior to a game runner-up effort on dirt last time:
The way he traveled into the race and then picked back up inside the final 1/16 to just miss 2nd left the impression that with a clean trip, he’d near enough have won this race; player. |
| Other notes:
– Although the chart comment notes that #5 TYRUS steadied near the wire last time, it was negligible and made no difference to the result or margin of defeat. |
|||
| Race 6: Claiming 7.5k, 3YO+, 6 Furlongs, Dirt |
| Other notes:
– While accepting that #1 SPURIOUS did lose ground racing ridiculously wide on the turn at Delaware last time, we should also note that he was massively aided by the hot pace (21.89, 46.60) collapsing in the lane. – Although we can’t use it in any way as a sole excuse for his defeat, #3 YES CHEF was prominently positioned early while racing over a closer biased racetrack last time which didn’t help his chances. Note: he was also prominently positioned over a speed biased track when finishing second two-back. – #8 TETHERED SOUL sat a wider-than-ideal trip at Timonium last time. – Exiting the same race as #3 YES CHEF, #9 WHO SAYS SO was arguably aided by the track bias when staying on for 4th in that race. |
| Race 7: Maiden Claiming 35k, 3-6YO, 1 1/16 Miles, Turf | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #4 GALLANT LAD | MSW, GP, 7 1/2F, Firm Turf, 03/12/26 – 4th | Bumped, away step slow start; bumped between foes and steadied a fraction entering first turn; pulled hard under a tight hold between foes in the 2-3P ~4L off the lead back stretch; took closer order traveling well approaching far turn; nudged along to hold position as pace lifted bend; in a little tight approaching the top of the lane and shuffled back to last, then carefully threaded his way between foes until properly in the clear ~1/16 pole; stayed on for 4th; nearest finish. | His two-back effort and last on turf, prior to a layoff.
A messy trip in a slowly run race that featured a very tightly bunched field; this race did not see him to best effect, and he has to be respected second back today getting back on grass. |
| Other Notes:
– #1 AGENDUM was arguably an unlucky loser at Delaware last time as he lost more ground racing 3-5W on the turn than the 1/2L he was beaten by; respected. – #3 SOUPER POWER TAPIT didn’t quite do enough to earn an upgrade last time; however, it should be noted that the slow pace led to the running order hardly changing up top which worked against him; whatever the case, it was a step forward and he finished with enough late interest to warrant consideration now stretching out. – #6 NAPISONMYAGENDA took advantage of a speed bias when finishing 2nd two back; blinkers on today. |
|||
| Race 8: OC62k/N2X Allowance, 2YO (F), 1 Mile, Dirt | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #8 U BETTER KISS ME | Starter Allowance, DEL, 6F, Wet Fast Dirt, 10/14/26 – 1st | Slow into stride; chased even pace from ~8-9L back under strong encouragement racing into and around the turn while wide; came 9W into the lane when still well behind in a detached last, then rallied with tremendous enthusiasm and strong strides past everyone to win easily, going away. | This was a visually impressive performance, especially as she lost ground racing very wide on the turn and only had an even pace to run at; she left the impression that she has much more to offer and should relish today’s step up in trip and long stretch. |
| Other notes:
– #9 HIDDEN RHYTHM drew off to score very easily at Delaware last time and was not aggressively ridden through the lane; she surely has more to offer. Note: she had a slightly troubled trip on debut. |
|||
| Race 9: Claiming 16k, 3YO+ (F), 1 Mile, Turf |
| Other notes:
– In her last flat turf start at Penn National in August, #4 V INSPIRED finished very strongly with blinkers off; she could be seen to good effect today getting back to the level with pace to run at. – With lasix removed, #5 CAROLINA SUN ran a very nice race sprinting at Colonial last time, staying on well late having raced in last of five behind some slow fractions early; interesting that following that improved effort lasix stay off today (according to the early overnight) stretching out. – #6 FAHNEE was involved in a hot pace (22.22, 44.91) that ended up collapsing when last seen sprinting; we can be somewhat forgiving of her defeat there; stretches out today. – There was no visible reason as to why #9 LADY EMBRACE underperformed last time, but she never traveled with any zest and was done early; needs to bounce back. – #14 EACHPEACHPEARPLUM ran another winning race in defeat last time but maybe wasn’t helped by again meeting a wet turf course (the sixth time it’s happened in her last seven turf starts); contender if drawing in. |
Horses to Follow
R1: HOPPETOSSE (10/1 ML)
HOPPETOSSE has gone close a number of times recently despite less than perfect trips; he now wheels back facing familiar foes he’s proven himself against with the bug weight off, which, combined with a clean trip, could make him very live at 10/1 on the ML.
R5: PLENTY ON TAP (9/2 ML)
Dropped back into MC16k company, PLENTY ON TAP really should have won his last turf start two-back, but a difficult trip left him with his maiden tag intact; facing a slightly softer group than he has done recently, he can be given one more chance at 9/2 ML odds following a fine effort in an off-turf event three weeks ago.
