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: 1-4-5
R2: 2-4-3
R3: 5-3-1
R4: 5-1-4
R5: 2-8-11
R6: 7-5-3
R7: 5-6-8
R8: 5-1-7
Trip Notes – Recent performances that deserve an asterisk. All others: trust the past-performances.
| Race 1: Claiming 16k, 3YO+, 5 ½ Furlongs, Turf |
| Other notes:
– #4 STONE COLD JONES pulled hard before tiring late going two turns at Colonial last time; today’s cut back in trip could see him to good effect as he makes his debut for Geralis. – Similar to above, #6 BROKTON showed good speed and was eager going 1m 70y at Penn National last time; he shaped as if today’s cut back in trip could suit. |
| Race 2: Claiming 12.5k, 3YO+, 6 Furlongs, Dirt |
| Other notes:
– #2 MAKE IT QUICK took a couple of light bumps entering the turn when sprinting 5F at CNL last out, but it didn’t make much difference to the result; still, he stayed on well in a race that saw speed hold well, and he was in front of the re-opposing #5 KARMA’S INTHEHOUSE a jump after the wire, so an extra 1/8 miles today could help him reverse that form back on dirt. – There was a speed bias present at Delaware when #6 UNCLE ZEB broke his maiden courtesy of a forward trip last time; makes debut for De Paz today. |
| Race 3: OC12k/SAL8k, 3YO+, 5 ½ Furlongs, Turf |
| Other notes:
– After breaking from the outside post (12) at Colonial last out, #4 UPSIDEDOWN MAN sat a slightly wide trip and closed well into the even pace that held up; reasons to believe he can step forward with a stronger pace and more ground saving trip today. – It’s possibly worth noting that #5 WORA’s best efforts on dirt have been when he’s kept himself out of kickback (which was not the case last out); switching back to turf today and therefore removing the risk of facing kickback may help him get back on track? |
| Race 4: OC12k/SAL8k, 3YO+, 6 Furlongs, Dirt |
| Other notes:
– There was a closer bias present at Finger Lakes on August 05 which possibly aided #4 WITHOUT PRETENCE in finishing as close as he did; still a solid enough effort, he’s respected today. – Both of #5 MILES AHEAD’s recent 74 Beyers (06/12/26 at Pen, 07/21/26 at Prx) were produced over very fast, speedy tracks; maybe take those numbers with a small pinch of salt. – #8 ARTILLERY GUNNER was simply outpaced going 4F at Timonium last week and never a factor, but he did stay on evenly and gallop out okay; suspect we can draw a line through that effort as the trip clearly didn’t suit. |
| Race 5: Maiden Claiming 16k, 3-6YO, 1 Mile, Turf | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #2 WICKHAM LANE | Maiden Claiming 35k, LRL, 1 1/16M, Firm Turf, 06/26/26 – 8th (last start) | Bumped start; traveled well chasing honest pace from ~5L back on rail to far turn; ridden to hold position entering turn, then found himself short of room and steadied; lacked room on rail running to top of lane and steadied/shuffled back to last; turned for home ~7L back, then stayed on evenly. | A troubled trip, this effort wasn’t a completely accurate reflection of his ability; not discounted dropping in class today. Note: his debut deserves an upgrade as he had a troubled trip and no pace to run at. |
| #8 STARMETAL | Maiden Claiming 16k, DEL, 1 1/16M, Firm Turf, 08/15/26 – 3rd (last start) | Broke awkwardly from outside post; pulled hard while very wide heading into and around first turn behind slow pace; dragged rider between foes entering back stretch to track leading duo (who were continuing to set a slow pace); lacked a clear path briefly far turn, then stayed on evenly but didn’t have the pace to challenge. | Amateur rider’s race.
He did well to finish 3rd given his very awkward trip, plus the fact that the slow pace worked against him (enabled the top two finishers to run 1-2 throughout); expecting him to offer more today; player. |
| Other notes:
– Exiting sprints and returning to two turns, #11 RED SEA did well to stay on for 2nd at Colonial last time given he was so aggressive and keen early on; if finding cover from his wide post and settling a little better, he may be capable of building on that run with some extra route fitness under his belt; contender. – #5 GORDITO lost ground with a very wide trip at Penn National last time, the ground loss arguably costing him 2nd; long time maiden likely needs more today still. – Tough to assess how much difference it made to the result, but #6 MY FRIEND LOU did find himself without a clear path on the turn for home and in upper stretch last out, allowing others to get the jump on him. – #9 PLENTY ON TAP was one of a few runners to make a mid race move into a fast pace at Colonial before flattening out late last time; wonder whether a slightly more efficient ride combined with a drop in class can see him to better effect today. |
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| Race 6: Allowance, 3YO+ (F) ®, 1 1/8 Miles, Turf | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #4 MAGIC BEAM | MSW ®, CNL, 1M, Firm Turf, 08/15/26 – 1st (last start) | Step slow; patiently tracked slow pace on the rail from ~6L back in last racing to the far turn; advanced between horses while angling out 5W on the run to the top of the lane, then took a few strides to switch leads before leveling off nicely and drawing away for a nice score. | She won this race by going from last to first, despite having had no pace to close into (25.46, 50.25). UPGRADE. |
| #7 PUT A ROCK ON IT | Handicap, CNL, 1 1/16M, Firm Turf, 08/22/26 – 5th (last start) | Beat slow; tracked even pace from ~4L back in rear on rail racing to the far turn; continued chasing into the lane, then came under a ride and tipped out 3W in an attempt to make a run but was shortly after put in very tight and forced to steady hard, ending all chance of a podium finish. | This run against tough competition was better than it looks owing to his troubled stretch run; there’s a chance he’d have gone close to finishing 3rd with a clean trip; a big player right back. Note: his two back effort is deserving of an UPGRADE as he closed into a slow pace that held well. |
| Other notes:
– Speed held well in #3 HIGH VIEW’s last start at Delaware, compromising her chances as a closer; today’s trip combined with a more favorable setup could help her step back up off that try. – #5 JUNIPER JUICE ran very well against tough rivals at Colonial last out, especially as she was made to wait in behind horses while last racing to the top of the lane, allowing the front three to get the jump on her; player. – The chart comment notes how #8 ARISE MY LOVE met some traffic ~1/4 pole at Colonial last time; while true, she never had to check or steady her momentum, and it’s a reach to say it in any way affected her finishing position. |
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| Race 7: OC55k/C Allowance, 3YO+, 1 Mile, Dirt | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #5 WORCESTER | Allowance, LRL, 1 1/16M, Sloppy Dirt, 06/28/26 – 2nd (last start) | Bumped start; caught 4-5W first turn chasing even pace from ~5L back; moved inside ~5/8 pole; held position inside racing into far turn, then steadied off heels ~3/8, costing him momentum and ground; regathered stride, cut corner into lane and straightened ~5L off leader, then made a game run through the lane but had too much to do. | This effort is deserving of an UPGRADE owing to his slightly wide and troubled trip, plus the fact that he was running at a pace that held very well; big player back at one turn. |
| Other Notes:
– #6 ZERO BLITZ won well again last time while shaping as if today’s stretch out to a mile could see him to even better effect; major player. |
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| Race 8: OC35k/SAL28k, 3YO+, 5 ½ Furlongs, Turf | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #5 LUCA MACHINE | Allowance, DEL, 5F, Soft Turf, 08/29/26 – 6th | Chased even pace on rail in mid-pack to the turn; found himself short of room inside rounding the bend, then steadied notably ~1/4 and shuffled back; regathered stride, cut corner into lane, then stayed on willingly but had too much to do. | Over a trip slightly short of his best (better at 5 1/2F), he suffered a troubled trip in this race and can be expected to improve today. |
| Other notes:
– #1 UNBEATABLE received a fortunate trip going 5F at Horseshoe Indy last out as the leader lugged out badly on the turn, carrying a rival out and leaving the rail wide open for UNBEATABLE to slip through; this possibly aided him in achieving his career best Beyer. – #2 TRANSACTIONAL (GB) was already beaten when steadying on the turn at Monmouth last out, and we shouldn’t use the interference as an excuse; cut back today could help. – There was no visible reason as to why #7 DARING VENTURE didn’t fire last time; blinkers added today. |
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Horses to Follow
R5: WICKHAM LANE (15/1 ML)
WICKHAM LANE overcame a troubled trip and lack of pace to finish an eye-catching sixth on debut, then was dealt another poor trip in his third and most recent start here at Laurel in June. He appears to retain some untapped potential, and he shouldn’t be entirely dismissed dropping in class at a fair price in today’s fifth.
R6: PUT A ROCK ON IT (5/2 ML)
Having been severely compromised by a slow pace two-back and then endured a troubled trip against salty competition last time, PUT A ROCK ON IT should be capable of improving on her most recent starts and getting back on the winning thread in today’s sixth.
R8: LUCA MACHINE (6/1 ML)
Twice a winner over today’s course and distance last year, LUCA MACHINE can give the favorite in today’s nightcap something to think about as he drops in class following a troubled trip over an inadequate distance at Delaware last time.
