Laurel Park Tips and Trips – Saturday, February 28, 2026

–        #4 SINCERITO was caught wide enough (~4W) on the turn last out (1M, LRL, 01/17/26) that his effort deserves a small upgrade.

–        #5 HAWKSTONE conceded ground when caught wide on both turns before staying on (left lead) from mid-pack to finish 2nd last week (7F, CT, 02/21/26) – slightly upgrade the effort.

–        Last out (1M, TP Synth, 01/09/26), #6 ALREADY ENOUGH broke slow; chased the even pace from rear around the first turn; shifted out entering the back stretch; advanced with a 4-5W move around horses on the far turn, then stayed on gamely in the stretch to get up by a neck. His slightly wide, sustained overland move entitles him a small upgrade, and it’s worth noting that the pace did not collapse in this race – he ran the leaders down fair and square. His gallop out was good, and he’ll be a player if transferring this form back to the dirt today.

–        Having broken a beat slow from the rail last out (1M, TP Synth, 02/12/26) and then chased the pace inside from rear, #7 AGENT KELLY was forced to wait in behind horses slightly longer than ideal rounding the far turn into the lane (when he really needed to be building momentum/advancing more so than he was); he then found a seam ~1/8th pole and stayed on evenly for 3rd. Slightly upgrade this effort; he’s a logical contender if transferring this ability back to the dirt today. Note: his action is a little ‘turfy’.

–        #1 LUCKED IN (slightly flat effort, stayed on to just miss the show spot behind DOCSGOTALLTHECANDY); #2 DOCSGOTALLTHECANDY (speed and fade, left lead lane; cut back today could suit) and #3 RAPIDITY (gradual fade, didn’t look to be crying out for further) all sat relatively good trips in their respective last starts – their results/speed figs seem fair.

–        #2 BLO BY THE FIELD did best of the forwardly placed runners last out (1M, LRL, 01/17/26) despite having been caught ~3-5W on the turn (minute upgrade); he was game in the stretch and ran a likable race in defeat; player right back.

–        #3 LORD’S LADY was bumped a little leaving the gate and dropped well back; crossed to the rail and chased the even pace to the turn; advanced with good energy on the run to the top of the lane; stayed on very gamely while tight between foes in the lane; flopped leads close home and held safe for 2nd. Overall, her trip was pretty good for a closer – saved ground and kept her momentum up throughout – and her effort isn’t deserving of an upgrade. But still, the ground she made up from rear (closing from 14L back into just an even pace), and the fact that she was bumped a little at the break and tight between foes in the lane (which isn’t always ideal) while running off the bench makes this race worth highlighting for it’s promise. Live contender right back if stripping fitter today.

–        #1 STRESS RELIEVER (was slightly too keen); #4 A COZY THING (sat close to a fast pace and ran a very likable race in defeat – borderline upgrade); and #5 MINT DRIVEN (a fraction wide on the far turn but not enough to warrant upgrade), all sat relatively good trips in their respective last starts – their results/speed figs seem fair.

–        #4 EASTCOASTGIRLSHIP was fractious in the gate last out (6F, LRL, 01/16/26), then pulled hard (over-raced) while contesting the hot pace three deep, lost ground racing 3-4W on the bend, then faded. Suspect her true ability is greater than this result suggests, but she needs to relax better pre-race and early on in the contest to be seen to best effect.

–        Both #5 AMAMA (saved ground and ran evenly) and #6 MY GIRL BACK HOME (speed and fade) sat good trips in their respective last starts and were fully extended to the wire – results/speed figs fair.

–        #3 PIT STOP MAN failed to capitalize on a good pace set up last time (6F, LRL, 02/06/26), just running evenly throughout. He was widest on the bend (~3W) but in the grand scheme of things that was relatively inconsequential. Stretching out to 7F on the drop could see him to good effect, though, and he’s worthy of consideration regardless.

–        #6 DAUFUSKIE ISLAND used up plenty of gas early when sent hard contesting fast fractions through the opening half of his last race (6F, LRL, 02/06/26) and so it wasn’t a surprise to see him tire late on; however, the speed with which he stopped at the ¼ pole was a little concerning and the other speed kept on to the wire – he underperformed, period, and will need more today.

–        #1 FIGHTERTOWN (contested pace, faded; could be suited by cut back); #2 MISTER AGENT (saved ground and ran evenly); #4 ROB THE RICH (tracked even pace and faded); and #5 WOODLINE (wire winner under hand ride though looked to be giving all; left lead lane) all sat good trips in their respective last starts – results/speed figs fair.

–        #2 BOLD MIRAGE was out-sped in a strongly run race last time (6F, LRL, 02/14/26) and dropped a long way back on the turn but then stayed on with credit through the lane to snatch 4th; he ran in a manner to suggest today’s mile trip could see him improve slightly third off the bench.

–        #3 FREEDOM GLIDER underperformed as the 9/5 fav when making his dirt debut last time (5 1/2F, LRL, 12/26/25); the fact that he was slightly wide on the turn seemed inconsequential – he was done early and will need more today, period. Saying that, though, he did race a little awkwardly on the run to the top of the lane when fading earlier than he should have done if simply tiring; he wasn’t really persevered with in the stretch; and he’s had two months off since. Whether it was just the 5 1/2F distance being too short or something else, it feels as if this wasn’t a true reflection of his dirt ability and it wouldn’t be a complete shock if he was to rebound somewhat back at a mile today.

–        #4 TELL ‘EM I’M COMIN was slightly wide on the turn last out (1M, LRL, 02/06/26) and didn’t quite get enough pace to run at following a slow break (he was forced to make a move into the slow pace approaching the far turn while the eventual wire winner was enjoying a breather in front; the wire winner then out kicked him from the top of the lane), so things weren’t completely in his favor. However, he was very much second best, and his speed fig seems fair enough. Now 0-for-31.

–        #6 HELLO NEWMAN looked flat out from the word go last time (6 1/2F, AQU, 12/26/25) and was under pressure to keep up throughout; continued trying with credit, despite losing ground coming wide on the turn, and stayed on evenly to the line, then appeared to gallop out okay (tape cuts short). He ran in a manner to suggest that today’s stretch out in trip will help him improve as he drops down on debut for Foley. Player.

–        #1 UNDER THE RUG (prominent early, then stopped ~1/2 and eased); #5 KITTY’S SON (chased and faded off the bench); and #7 BROTHER BOBO (pressed winner 2W, stopped turn) all sat good trips in their respective last starts – results/speed figs fair.

–        #6 SQUARE SLICE advanced with credit along the rail from rear to narrowly take 4th ~1/8th pole last out (1M, LRL, 02/05/26), then hit a wall inside the final furlong and faded again; it seemed that he simply failed to see out the mile distance and he should be seen to better effect back at 6F today, third off the bench.

–        #1 TRULLI WARRIOR (inside speed, game); #2 SCHRADER (nice first start as a gelding; cuts back); #3 YOUTHFUL ENERGY (chased evenly, finished well); #4 FIRMANTOWN (wire winner, all out); #5 BRINDANO (unhurried and lacked speed, slightly wide into lane, evenly past tired foes); and #7 PARALEGAL (pace, confronted ¼, extremely game in defeat off bench, entitled to step forward) all sat good trips in their respective last starts – results/speed figs fair.

–        The bump #4 MASTER OF NONE took at the break last out (1 1/16M, LRL, 01/17/26) was fairly inconsequential, and the “steadied ¾” mentioned in the chart comment wasn’t overly significant either (maybe cost him a length at most). However, the massive mid-race move he made – and sustained – was impressive and coupling that with the fact that he was 3-4W on the far turn does mean that his effort is worth of an UPGRADE. It was a smart performance; now makes debut for Magee.

–        Not sure what happened with #6 CUT THE CORD last out – he never lifted a hoof, eased and walked off. In his start prior (1 1/18M, SQU, 01/01/26), he did steady shortly after the break, as highlighted in the chart comments, but then (as he had in his start three-back), he just completely dropped himself out and trailed in a well detached last – he was seemingly always going to end up that far back and it’s very unlikely that the “steadied 8 ½” made any difference to the result/trip – he ran around in rear and passed tired foes late on, finishing a non-threatening 3rd, beaten 16 1/4L. Seems hard to trust, even taking this massive drop in class today.

–        #1 BOLD ENDEAVOR (advanced steadily back stretch, took over far turn, fully extended); #2 STATES UNITED (always prominent between horses, drew level 3/16, steadily edged away driving, maybe with a little in reserve); #3 FAN CLUB (always prominent inside, outmatched but trying late, maybe bounced a little); #5 BIGTONTEN (tracked inside, tipped out top of lane, drew off full extended); and #7 PRINCE KHOZAN (hugged rail in rear, passed tired rivals – could benefit from a more aggressive ride early) all sat good trips in their respective last starts – results/speed figs fair.

–        There was a strong closer bias present when #1 THE BIG LEP set blistering fractions in front and then tired in the MD Nursery S. last out (6F, LRL, 10/11/25) but he was done too early and beaten too far to really say that either the pace or track were the reason(s) for his poor showing. The effort was followed by a layoff, so maybe something was amiss? Whatever the case, he returns with lasix on today and a couple of questions to answer. Note: there was also a strong speed bias present when he broke his maiden in wire fashion at Timonium.

–        With lasix first time, #2 OUR DAY WILL COME made quite an early move to the front while conceding ground 3-4W on the bend (tiny upgrade), then drew off under a strong ride in the lane to make it three wins in a row. He continues to improve with every start and left the impression that he might not be done yet.

–        #4 CAIRO SURPRISE held on for 2nd last time (6F, PEN, 11/26/25) despite having dueled through very fast closer friendly fractions on a track presenting a closer bias – UPGRADE his effort. Returns from layoff as a gelding with first time lasix today.

–        #5 WALL ART was a good winner on debut, then looked to have either bolted or had a tack malfunction when last seen being pulled up (6F, DEL, 08/14/25) (no head-on available). He did not look to physically go ‘wrong’. Returns from layoff with lasix on today.

–        #7 WORKER BEE was just nailed in the final strides of his last race (6F, LRL, 02/13/26) despite having set very fast, closer friendly fractions in front (he probably went a little too fast for his own good on the run to the top of the lane); cuts back to 5 1/2F today with a tactical outside post and the potential for more.

–        #8 BUD’S NOTION instantly and impressively found another gear when asked for run at the top of the lane on debut (6F, DEL, 09/20/25), spurted away with good energy, then coasted through the final 1/8th, seemingly winning with something in reserve. A smart debut winner, he figures to be a player even off the bench today. Lasix on.

–        Both #3 OUR NOTION (chased pace, stayed on willingly, cuts back today) and #6 PRINCE OF DARKNESS (speed, willing but 2nd best behind #2 OUR DAY WILL COME) sat good trips in their respective last starts – results/speed figs fair.

–        #1 QUAHOG REPUBLIC was bumped at the break, then slightly wide on the turn when attempting to come with a run last time (6F, LRL, 02/14/26); neither factor was significant enough to warrant an upgrade, though, especially as he had a great pace setup.

–        #2 FURIOUS GEORGE gave the field a small head start when rearing at the break last time (1M, LRL, 02/06/26), then lost considerable ground racing 4-5W on the turn (he was possibly lugging out a little) before fading in the lane, seemingly failing to see out the distance (again). There are certainly areas in which he’s entitled to find improvement and step back in the right direction cut back to 6F today.

–        #4 RAILROAD INN had a great trip through when closing into a hot, closer friendly pace last out (6F, LRL, 02/14/26) – slightly downgrade his effort.

–        #3 FREE COSTS TO MUCH (speed and fade); #5 MANSEEYASWAY (prominent between 2W, weakened grudgingly, blinks off today); and #6 RILEY’S CRY BABY (rank speed, dueled to ¼, early lead change, faded grudgingly, laid up since, returns with lasix on) all sat clean trips in their respective last starts – results/speed figs fair.