Trip notes for Laurel Park’s four stake races today, plus three horses to follow. Good luck!
Make sure to check out the fantastic daily handicapping guide put together by the MJC Team via THIS LINK.
Race 4: Deputed Testamony S, 3YO+, 1 1/8M, Dirt
| HORSE | RACE | TRIP NOTE |
| CURLIN’S MALIBU | Alw, Pim, 1 1/16M, Fast, 05/16/25 – 4th | Despite brushing slightly with a rival leaving gate four, ‘CM’ got away well & showed good natural speed before settling back into mid-pack, ~5L off the pace while 3W rounding the first turn. Under patient handling, he then became outpaced & dropped back as the field strung out racing down the back stretch. He passed the 1/2M pole in last, ~13L off the lead, then came under a ride while 3-4W on the bend but lacked a major response to pressure & failed to initially advance. However, he did maintain stride well & after reaching the top of the lane fully extended, still ~10L off the lead, he stayed on at one pace past tired horses for a nonthreatening 4th. Sat a clean but slightly wide trip. Today’s addition seem to be required following this effort, as he showed enough speed to adopt a favorable position out of the gate but then failed to keep up & dropped a long way behind down the back stretch which ended his chances of winning. He seems to stay well but is very one paced & will need a fast pace to chase, (and to improve), if he’s to be involved today. |
| MOVISITOR | Alw, Prx, 7F, Fast, 05/17/25 – 3rd | MOVISITOR broke sharply from gate two, showed good natural speed & quickly took the lead early. He traveled well setting an honest pace with ~1L advantage to the bend, then his rider gently squeezed him along to hold his lead & he did so nicely, hitting the top of the stretch still 1L in front. From there, he came under a strong ride & willingly continued trying to the wire; however, he was headed approaching the 1/8th pole & had no more to give thereafter, fading into a well beaten 3rd. This was a decent effort in a competitive allowance off the bench. He got tired late having done plenty in front early but should now strip fitter & be more comfortable back going his preferred two turns. Can build on this & should be thereabouts today. |
| POST TIME | Blame S. (G3), CD, 1 1/8M, Fast, 05/31/25 – 3rd | ‘PT’ was unhurried from the gate & quickly dropped back to chase the field in a detached last, ~7L off the pace rounding the first turn. While still under a tight hold, he then crept closer along the rail racing down the back stretch, tagging on to the rear of the body of the field to hit the far turn just 4L off the pace in behind foes. He continued traveling powerfully in behind horses on the bend, then eased out into the 2-3P ~5/16 pole, advanced slightly to reach the top of the stretch just 2L behind, then found a wide opening in the 3P & was sent for home. He responded well to pressure; however, MYSTIK DAN kicked powerfully off the bend & opened up by 2L on the field ~3/16 pole, leaving ‘PT’ & the others a touch flat footed. ‘PT’ did eventually find top gear inside the final furlong, though, & then gamely rallied at the leader late alongside ANTIQUARIAN but could not reach the winner in time & narrowly lost the place spot. Clean trip. A really solid effort in defeat against tough competition. He was patiently handled early but traveled powerfully into the race, then finished willingly but could not reach MYSTIK DAN who had slipped the field off the home turn. Today’s competition is softer than the group he met here & with a couple of speed horses in here to set things up nicely for him to unleash his customary strong finish, he could be tough to beat. |
| SPEEDYNESS | Alw, Prx, 7F, Fast, 06/17/25 – 1st | SPEEDYNESS broke alertly from gate four & showed good natural to grab the early lead & cross to the rail leaving the chute. He then shook off a rival who threatened to pressure him on the lead & traveled well in hand setting a modest pace with ~1L advantage to ~1/4 pole. He then received slight pressure to his outside rounding into the stretch but maintained his advantage, then came under a strong ride & kicked away nicely, despite being very late with his lead change, to own a 2L lead ~1/8th pole. From there, he held safe to the wire despite a rival closing strongly late. Clean gate to wire trip. This was a likable score; however, he was the 2/5 fav & benefited by the fact that he was allowed to set a relatively modest, uncontested pace which may not be the case today. Also, he did have his lead reduced late in the stretch which, not for the first time, could raise questions about him getting today’s 1 1/8M trip. He’s clearly in good form & will be part of the pace early, whether he can hold on late off just 11-days rest in a question mark, though. |
| TELL ‘EM I’M COMIN | MD MSW, Lrl, 6F, Fast, 06/20/25 – 2nd | ‘TEIC’ was slow into stride from the outside post & ridden hard chasing he field in a detached last, ~9L off the pace early. He then began to find stride & traveled better from ~9/16 pole, building slight momentum into the bend. Having then moved out into the 3P, he came under heavy pressure to maintain this very slight momentum ~3/8 pole & did so but was still ~7L off the pace in 5th when fully extended at the top of the stretch. From there, he stayed on best past tiring rivals in the lane to grab 2nd late, despite only switching leads ~1/16 pole. Clean trip. Was outpaced from the word go, then stayed on past tiring rivals. Based off this effort, today’s stretch out in trip will help; however, as a 22-race maiden, it seems impossible for him to play any factor today & he’ll need much, much more. Didn’t like his very late lead change either. |
| OFFALY COOL | Alw, Prx, 1M 70yds, Fast, 05/27/25 – 1st | Having broken well from the outside gate, ‘OC’ got caught 4W entering the first turn when just ~1L off the pace, then he crossed down behind the leaders to adopt a tracking position in the 2-3P, ~3 1/2L off the lead. He travelled well in this position to ~1/2M pole, then received a tap down the shoulder & took closer order racing into the turn just, ~1L off the lead. He then moved into the clear 3-4W, came under a hand ride ~3/8 pole & steadily built momentum around horses racing to the top of the lane, despite having switched to his right lead when still on the turn ~1/4 pole. He drew level for the lead at the top of the lane, then came under a strong ride & from there, edged away for a comfortable score. Sat a clean trip though was slightly wide. This was a solid effort in which he traveled well in a good spot, then kept answering every question his rider asked of him to win comfortably. He hit the line strong, so should have no issue with today’s extra yardage (it could even move him up), and he looks set to receive another good set-up. Only knock here was his lead change to the right halfway around the bend, but it clearly didn’t affect him too much. Player. |
Race 9: Alma North S., 3YO+F, 6 1/2F, Dirt
| HORSE | RACE | TRIP NOTE |
| ST BENEDICTS PREP | Bed o Roses S. (G2), Sar, 7F, Fast, 06/06/25 – 7th | ‘SBP’ broke alertly from the outside gate & flashed good early speed to race within 2L of the lead while in the clear 5W though the opening 3/16M. However, she then dropped back slightly racing to the 1/2M pole & as the field then hit the far turn, it was clear that she was struggling to keep up. She came under a strong ride while ~3-4W on the bend but offered no response & dropped further behind to wearily hit the top of the lane ~10L behind, then she faded further in the lane. Sat a slightly wide trip but it made no difference to the result. She flashed some good early speed but started struggling ~1/2M pole & faded thereafter. This was a talented group she was facing & today’s competition is much softer; however, it’s hard to take too much confidence from this run & she’ll need to rebound in a big way to score this afternoon. Was it too bad to be true? |
| ALANI | Rehoboth S., Del, 6F, Fast, 05/31/25 – 4th | ALANI broke slightly outwards from the outside gate, then found herself a touch outpaced chasing the hot pace from ~4L back in 5th while racing in the clear 5W early. She was ridden along to keep up in this position to the far turn but struggled to do so, then dropped further behind when ~4W on the turn, reaching the top of the lane fully extended ~9L off the lead. From there, she plodded home at one pace, overtaking a very weary rival to claim a poor 4th. Sat a wide trip but it didn’t make much difference. She was outpaced from the start, lacked a finishing kick & will need to find more today. |
| ADMIRAL HOPPER | The Very One S., Pim, 5F, Good, 05/16/25 – 10th | ‘AH’ broke from the gate cleanly but the drifted in sharply shortly after & bumped hard with a rival while lacking early foot. She crossed to the rail behind horses & dropped ~9L off the pace while being squeezed along chasing the speed in 10th to the far turn, then she crept fractionally closer after coming under a stronger ride ~5/16 pole but remained well back, hitting the top of the stretch ~7L behind in 7th. From there, she came under an even stronger ride but lacked a kick & retreated again from ~1/8th pole. Took a bump at the start but overall sat a clean trip. She was outpaced from the start & so stretching out to 6 1/2F on the dirt today should help. However, she lacked a finishing kick in this race, performed well below stakes level & didn’t show enough to make one believe she’ll be a factor this afternoon. Will need to find much more. |
| EASY RED | Alw, Kee, 6 1/2F, Fast, 04/13/25 – 1st | ‘ER’ broke in mid-pack from the outside gate, then worked forward while in the clear ~5-6W to adopt a forward position in 4th, ~3L off the lead early. She traveled well in this position to ~1/2M pole, then took closer order entering the bend, received a tap down the shoulder from her rider ~7/16 pole & made a steady 3W move on the bend to draw level for the lead approaching the ¼ pole. She then came under a strong ride, surged into a clear 3L lead shortly after the 3/16 pole & safely held her advantage to the wire. This was a good performance against a decent field that can be upgraded somewhat due to the fact she gave away lengths racing wide on the bend & sat close to the hot pace which took a significant toll late on the other forwardly placed horses. Her effortless move on the bend was eye-catching & it wouldn’t be a surprise to see her take a step forward from this run. Should play a leading role again today. |
| JEANNE MARIE | PA Alw, Prx, 6 1/2F, Fast, 04/28/25 – 1st | ‘JM’ broke sharply from gate three & showed good early speed, then settled down in a stalking position in 2nd, ~1L off the pace while 2W early. She traveled well in this position to the far turn, then came under a steady hand ride & gradually advanced in the 2P on the bend to draw level for the lead between horses ~1/4 pole. She then came under a strong ride, disposed of the longtime leader & gamely edged away from a stubborn foe who had pestered her towards the outside from the 3/8 pole to score by 1 1/4L. Clean trip. This was a very professional win off the bench, displaying good early speed, a strong finish & a game attitude. She’s entitled to step forward for this comeback run today & is clearly in fine form; however, this was a much weaker field than she’ll be taking on today & she’ll need a career best to win. |
| HAPPY CLOUDS | Skipat S., Pim, 6F, Fast, 05/17/25 – 5th | ‘HC’ took a hefty bump at the break but that didn’t stop her getting away well from gate two & adopting a favorable rail stalking position in 3rd, ~1 1/2L off the even pace early. She traveled well in this position to the 1/2M pole but then began to struggle entering the bend & came under a ride. Gamely, she managed to stick within 2L of the lead racing to the top of the stretch; however, she could then offer no more in the lane & faded out of contention. Took a bump at the start but otherwise sat a perfect trip, just wasn’t good enough. It’s hard to see her improving greatly upon this effort & she appears to be up against it today. |
| FIONA’S MAGIC | KY Oaks (G1), CD, 1 1/8M, Sloppy, 05/03/24 – 14th | ‘FM’ broke slightly inwards but wasted no time in getting into stride & advanced to take a 2W share of the lead between horses rounding the first turn. She then dropped ~1/2L back off THORPEDO ANNA racing down the back stretch & traveled okay stalking/pressing the pace to the far turn. However, she then stopped quickly as the field hit the far turn, plummeted back through the field to hit the top of the stretch ~15L off the pace in 12th, then was eased through the lane. Clean trip. Showed sprinter speed to contest/press the lead to the far turn, then stopped fast. She was clearly below her best here & on the face of it, it’s hard to take encouragement from this run. However, she stopped so fast on the turn & hasn’t been seen since, so surely something was amiss here & if you’re a forgiving bettor, you may be willing to draw a line through this run. The layoff is a massive concern today, but she showed she’s fast enough to sprint here & has proven herself to be talented in the past. Question is how much ability she retains & if she’s ready off the bench. |
| MYSTIC LAKE | Memorial Day Sprint S., LS, 6F, Sloppy, 05/26/25 – 1st | ‘ML’ broke alertly from gate nine, showed good early speed, seized the lead early & crossed to the rail where she then traveled well setting a pressured pace with ~1/2L advantage to the 5/16 pole. She then disposed of nearest pursuer, received a shake of the reins from the rider, shook off a brief challenge from another rival & gradually edged away in the lane. Her advantage was slightly reduced by a deep closer late who rallied to take 2nd, but she was always doing enough. Clean gate to wire trip. She dominated this field from the start as a 3/5 favorite should, displaying tremendous early speed to have her rivals cooked on the bend, then gamely holding firm to the wire. A repeat of this performance will make her the one to beat today. The only hole you can poke in this effort was that her lead was reduced late by a deep closer who then quickly overtook her past the wire & then galloped out in front, potentially raising concerns about her getting an extra 1/16M today. |
Race 10: Prince Georges County S., 3YO+, 1 1/8M, Turf
| HORSE | RACE | TRIP NOTE |
| CRYSTAL QUEST | Dinner Party S. (G3), Pim, 1 1/8M, Good, 05/17/25 – 5th | Having broken cleanly from gate eight, ‘CQ’ quickly crossed down to the 2P & settled comfortably into a mid-pack position, ~4L behind the very slow early pace rounding the first turn. He traveled well between horses in this position to ~7/16 pole, then received a shake of the reins from the rider, worked out in to the 2-3P, advanced very slightly & tried to stick with the quickening leaders on the far turn. He held onto the leaders’ coattails to ~1/4 pole; however, he then lacked that extra gear at the top of the stretch & dropped back under a strong ride before staying on at one pace through the stretch for 5th. Clean trip. This wasn’t a terrible effort against the toughest group of rivals he had ever met; he traveled well into the race tracking the very slow pace but then lacked the required gears to quicken in the lane. The way he ran suggested that he’d have been seen to better effect if the pace was stronger early, and the ground was also extremely holding which may not have suited. Feel that in a more honestly run race on a fairer turf course, he may have more to offer as he makes his third start of the form cycle. May he possibly have bounced a touch off the huge career best he ran off the layoff two back? Has upside. |
| TRIKARI | Dinner Party S. (G3), Pim, 1 1/8M, Good, 05/17/25 – 9th | TRIKARI wasn’t rushed following a clean break from the outside gate but still managed to work into a favorable position rounding the first turn, tracking the leading duo who set a crawling pace from ~3L back in the 2P. He traveled well in this position to ~1/2M pole, then took closer order as the field bunched racing into the far turn & advanced in the 2-3P to be positioned just a 1/2L off the pace in 2nd ~5/16 pole. He then came under a hand ride & moved up to strongly challenge the leader at the top of the stretch, looking dangerous, & remained level with that foe to ~3/16 pole. However, he then began treading water & quickly retreated through the final furlong to finish 9th. Clean trip. This was a sub-par performance without a visible excuse from this former G1 winner. Maybe he bounced off his big comeback run two back; maybe he didn’t enjoy the ‘good’ listed turf course that jockeys were describing as ‘sticky & holding’? Whatever the case, even with the huge class relief he’s receiving today, he’ll need to bounce back from this dull, uninspiring effort. |
| SUMMER CAUSE | Alw, Tam, 1 1/16M, Firm, 04/11/25 – 1st | Having broken cleanly from gate three, ‘SC’ was quickly restrained to race in the rear of a tightly grouped field, ~4L off the pace while riding the rail around the first turn. He traveled very powerfully & pulled hard against his rider while bottled up behind horses in this position to the far turn, then the field briefly got the jump on him as they quickened entering the far turn, leaving him a touch flat footed & dropping him back to last as he hadn’t had a chance to gather momentum while stuck in behind horses. Them getting the jump on him was of no consequence though, as he simply moved out from behind horses into the 3-4P ~7/16 pole, came under a ride, readily advanced around horses despite conceding ground on the turn, then hit the top of the stretch ~2L down in the 7P & powered by the field in the lane, striding away for a comfortable score. This was a dominant turf debut by ‘SC’ who was much the best. Having traveled very powerfully in behind horses to the far turn, the field then briefly got the jump on him ~7/16 pole but that was of no consequence; he simply wheeled around the outside of them on the turn & powered past them in the lane. If able to gather stride earlier & given more ground saving ride today, he could easily find more, and he should relish the extra yardage too. Steps up in class but seems a big player. |
| SEIGE OF BOSTON | Ft. Lauredale S. (G2), GP, 1 1/8M, Firm, 12/21/24 – 5th | ‘SOB’ was unhurried out of gate seven & quickly dropped back to race in last on the rail, ~6L off the pace rounding the first turn. He was patiently ridden in this position to the far turn, then received a shake of the reins from the rider & advanced along the rail but met traffic ~5/16 pole & was forced to wait for room, ~4L back. He remained under a hold waiting for room to the top of the stretch, seemingly full of run, then continued to find himself blocked behind a wall of horses to ~1/16 pole. He then found a split, came under a ride & rallied late but simply ran out of time. This effort was better than the bare result/speed figure would suggest as he lacked a clear path from ~5/16 pole to ~1/16 pole & despite his best effort, simply could not then get up in time. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to believe that with a clearer path, he’d have near enough won this race & granted a clean trip today, he should be able to improve & go close. Does have to overcome a layoff, though. |
| KINGMAX (IRE) | Mac Diarmida S. (G2), GP, 1 3/8M, Firm, 03/02/24 – 4th | KINGMAX broke alertly from the outside gate but wasn’t rushed & quickly dropped back to settle in mid-pack, ~6L off the pace rounding the first turn, 2W. He traveled sweetly in this position through the lane the first time, around the second turn & through the back stretch to ~1/2M pole, then he moved out into the clear 3W & advanced under mild hand urging on the bend to hit the top of the lane just ~1/4L down in the 3P. From there, he came under a strong ride, battled hard for the lead & finished gamely between horses in a bunched finish. However, he was out kicked by the winner who blew by the field over the top & he came out on the wrong side of a three way go for 2nd. Sat a clean trip though was a touch wide on the far turn which maybe cost him 2nd. This was a very likable effort in defeat against tough competition & it’s hard to knock him for anything. He’ll have to overcome a lengthy layoff today which may be an issue & he’d ideally like some pace to run cutting back to 1 1/8M. However, he showed here that he’s good enough tot win this race & if returning to anything like this level of form, he should be a serious contender. |
| PASSIONED (MTO) | Clm40k, Lrl, 1M, Good, 05/31/25 – 1st | (Off turf event). PASSIONED broke cleanly & showed good speed from the outside gate to take the early lead & cross to the rail in front early. She then pulled hard & began visibly lugging out while setting a modest pace with ~1L lead into the far turn. She continued to lug out very badly on the turn & floated out into the 5P which restricted her forward momentum & allowed a rival to slip up her inside & narrowly head her at the top of the stretch. However, when then straightened for the drive, she then began running straight again & having come under a strong ride, she moved back up to confront the leader. The pair then engaged in a prolonged stretch duel from the 3/16 pole which saw her gamely win the bob by a nose. Was probably better than the winning margin suggests as she restricted her forward momentum & gave away plenty of ground by lugging out all the way to the top of the stretch. For her to have then stuck on, recover her lead & win the stretch duel was impressive & if she can run straight, she may be able to improve. However, the lugging out has to be a big concern today as she faces a group of tougher foes. |
| WOLFIE’S DYNAGHOST | Alw, Woo, 7 1/2F, Firm, 06/01/25 – 5th | ‘WD’ stumbled out of the gate & got away a touch slowly, then steadied briefly on the run to the first turn before settling down in rear, ~7L off the pace rounding the first turn. As the pace then significantly increased racing down the back stretch, he dropped a long, long way off the lead racing while still under patient handling. He passed the 7/16 pole ~16L off the pace, then received a shake of the reins from his rider to advance on the far turn & responded but could only do so much. He hit the top of the lane still double digits off the lead ~5W, then rallied through the lane but simply had far too much to do. Had a slightly troubled beginning, then his rider got caught napping racing down the back stretch & ultimately left him with far, far too much to do. It’s hard to judge his current levels of ability off this run; however, he should be able to step forward for a better ride today now stretching back out to a more suitable trip with this comeback run behinds him. Considering his back class, despite this run, he would not be a shock winner. |
| OMNI KING | Alw, Del, 1 1/16M, Good, 06/04/25 – 1st (DQ’D) | ‘OK’ wasn’t rushed having taken a bump out the gate & quickly dropped back to trail the body of the field on the rail, ~6L off the pace rounding the clubhouse turn. He was patiently handled in this position to ~1/2M pole, then he moved out into the 2P & took slightly closer order heading into the far turn. He remained patiently handled in share of 4th, ~4L off the pace while 2W rounding the bend to the ¼ pole, then he worked out into the clear 3W & came under a strong ride at the top of the lane. From there, he steadily rallied to take the lead ~1/16 pole & gamely held safe to the wire. However, he’d drifted in ~1/8th pole, caused interference & was ultimately DQ’d to 3rd. This was a decent win against a relatively talented group of rivals. However, he received a good set-up here & it’s hard to see him taking the required jump up that’ll make him competitive today. |
Race 11: Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash S., 3YO+, 6F, Dirt
| HORSE | RACE | TRIP NOTE |
| PEGASUS TWIN | Alw, Lrl, 6F, Fast, 06/06/25 – 4th | ‘PT’ stumbled slightly out of the outside gate & got away slowly in rear but then quickly rushed up on the outside horses to be positioned in a favorable stalking position in 3rd, ~1L off the pace in the 4P passing the 1/2M pole. He then came under pressure to stick with the quickening leaders on the turn but struggled to do so & was caught a touch flat footed while giving away ground in the 4P. He dropped back to hit the top of the stretch fully extended ~5L off the lead in the 5P, then he stayed on evenly though the lane & offered a mild rally to claim 4th but was never reaching the winner. Owing to the fact that ‘PT’ stumbled slightly out of the gate, gave away ground by racing wide on the turn & was running off a 188-day layoff, there’s plenty of reason to believe he can step forward from this comeback run today which should make him competitive. Like his attitude. |
| CARAMEL CHIP | Alw, CD, 6 1/2F, Good, 05/16/25 – 2nd | Having broken cleanly from gate five, ‘CC’ chased the moderate pace from ~3L back in 6th while in the clear 5W racing to the far turn. He was then squeezed along to get closer ~7/16 pole & responded nicely by making an eye-catching 5W move on the bend, despite the fact the pace was increasing in front & that he was giving away ground by racing 5W. He hit the top of the lane still with run in a share of 4th, then came under a strong ride & stayed on willingly past rivals to finish a strong 2nd but was never getting to the winner. This was a solid run from ‘CC’ whose effort can be upgraded somewhat due to the fact that he gave away many lengths racing ~5W on the turn & had to close into a modest pace that held up fairly well. Today’s field looks no tougher & if reproducing this type of effort, he should be in with a real chance. |
| CELTIC CONTENDER | MD Sprint S. (G3), Pim, 6F, Fast, 05/17/25 – 3rd | ‘CC’ broke cleanly from the two hole but was out sped for the lead & forced to ease back from between horses to settle at the rear of a tightly bunched quartet, ~2L off the pace in the 2P early. He traveled powerfully in this position to ~3/8 pole, then eased out into the clear 3W, received a shake of the reins from the rider & tried to go with the top two. He gamely tried to do so; however, largely owing to the fact that the front two were very talented & he was giving away ground in the 3P, he couldn’t match strides with them & dropped back ~3L ~3/16 pole before weakening further in the lane for a nonthreatening 3rd. The top two were very good & there was no disgrace in finishing 3rd to them; however, he wasn’t particularly strong through the lane & seemingly ran below par without an excuse (other than being caught slightly wide on the turn). He’s going to need to bounce back somewhat this afternoon. |
| FASTER GATOR | Chick Lang S., Pim, 6F, Fast, 05/17/25 – 7th | ‘FG’ broke alertly from gate seven & showed good early speed, working forward between horses to press the hot pace inside from ~1/4L back in 2nd racing to the 1/2M pole. He then eased ‘back out of there’ entering the far turn which slightly put him on the back foot before coming under a ride to stick with the strong travelling leader. Gamely, he responded to pressure & managed to stick within striking range of that foe, reaching the top of the stretch just 1L off the lead 3W. However, a number of closers then blew by him ~3/16 pole & from there, he had no more to offer, fading into 7th late. Sat a clean enough trip, though did have to ease back slightly entering the far turn which slightly put him on the back foot. He pressed/sat close to a fast pace that ultimately favored closers & understandably faded late. He could have been seen to better effect if the pace wasn’t so strong or he wasn’t quite so forwardly placed early & he shouldn’t be knocked too hard for this defeat. He remains lightly raced & could well bounce back with an improved effort this afternoon. Whether that will be good enough remains to be seen, but he’s not without a chance. |
| SUBORGATE | Mr. Prospector S., Mth, 6F, Fast, 05/26/25 – 2nd | SUBORGATE broke cleanly from the inside gate, then adopted a favorable tracking position in 4th, ~2L off the pace early. He traveled well in this position on the rail to the far turn, then he came under a ride as the leading duo quickened away & caught him a touch flat footed. He dropped ~3L back but responded gamely to pressure & remained with in striking range rounding into the lane, then cut the corner & offered a mild rally along the rail for 2nd, despite remaining on his left lead. He was ever reaching the winner. This was a decent effort off the layoff & with this comeback run behind him, he should strip fitter today & be a leading player again. However, he didn’t appear short of fitness here & having cut every corner/sat a perfect trip, how much more he’ll find is questionable. Others may have more upside. |
| SUPER CHOW | Get Serious S., Mth, 5F, Sloppy, 06/15/25 – 1st | (Off turf event). ‘SC’ broke sharply from gate three & led while being ridden along through the opening strides but was then out sped for the lead & left chasing in a share of 2nd, ~1L off the pace between horses racing to the far turn. He then came under a strong hand ride on the bend & responded nicely by making a forward bid in the 4P to draw level for the lead again ~1/4 pole. Front there, he gamely edged away in the 4P through the lane to score comfortably. Clean trip. He showed decent speed to adopt a favorable position early, then picked up when asked & ultimately drew off to win as a 6/5 favorite should. It’s hard to knock this effort & he’s entitled to plenty of respect today; however, this was only a four-runner race ‘off-tuff’ race and today’s competition looks a little tougher. Gets just 13-days rest. |
| DEAN DELIVERS | Mr. Prospector S., Mth, 6F, Fast, 05/26/25 – 3rd | ‘DD’ broke alertly from gate three, then settled into a favorable tracking position in a share of 3rd, ~2L off the leading duo 2W early. He traveled well in this position to the far turn, then came under pressure to stick with the quickening leaders on the far turn & responded nicely, despite giving away ground by racing wide. He reached the top of the lane ~2L down in the 4-5P, then stayed on admirably down the centre for 3rd but could not reach the winner & lost 2nd to a rival who had saved ground throughout. This was a very determined effort in defeat. Considering the amount of ground he gave away racing wide on the far turn, it’s easy to argue that he was better than the runner-up (SUBORGATE). With this comeback run behind him & a more ground saving ride today, he can easily take a step forward & should play a leading role again. |
| HAPPY IS A CHOICE | Aristides S. (G3), CD, 6F, Fast, 05/31/25 – 3rd | ‘HIAC’ broke cleanly but not overly fast from gate four, then had a rival cross in front of him just after the start which shuffled him back a touch & left him racing in a detached last, ~5L off the red-hot pace early. He was patiently handled in this position to the far turn, then came under pressure ~3/8 pole. He failed to pick up for pressure; however, he did maintain his stride well & having then reached the top of the lane still ~5L off the lead, he continued staying on into the collapsing pace to dead heat for a close 3rd. ‘HIAC’ was slightly bothered at the break but considering he’s a closer & the pace was so hot, he was always going to be trailing the field early & it didn’t make that much difference. This was a decent effort in defeat & his attitude was likable. However, he was significantly benefited by how ridiculously fast they went early which led to a pace collapse in the lane & having looked to have no chance until ~3/16 pole, he may have been somewhat flattered by the result. Nevertheless, this field was tougher than the one he meets today & if the pace is hot again, he should be staying on with interest once more. |
Horses to Follow
R10: WOLFIE’S DYNAGHOST (10/1 ML)
With scant speed signed on in today’s Prince George’s County Stakes, it may be worth taking a swing on WOLFIE’S DYNAGHOST to wire the field at a price. The multiple stakes-winning son of GHOSTZAPPER returned from a 435-day layoff in a 7 1/2-furlong allowance at Woodbine 27 days ago, posting an 81 Beyer that, on paper, falls well short of what’ll be needed to win here. But taking that run on face value would be a mistake. Trip notes show that ‘WOLFIE,’ a front-runner by trade, stumbled badly at the start, breaking in rear before his rider, Reylu Gutierrez, patiently allowed the leaders – who didn’t stop in front – to slip away down the back stretch. Trailing by 16 1/2 lengths after a half-mile, he closed to be beaten just 5 3/4 lengths at the wire which was, in fact, a notable effort under the circumstances. Gutierrez likely wishes he could have that race back.
Following that comeback effort, it’s tough to gauge how much of his past ability ‘WOLFIE’ retains after such a long layoff, but trainer Jonathan Thomas’s decision to enter him in a stakes race, rather than another allowance, signals confidence. And when you watch his recent workouts at Keeneland (viewable HERE and HERE) it’s easy to see why – he’s been training incredibly well. With $894k in earnings and multiple Beyer speed figures in the high 90s, including a 101 when he won the 2023 Kentucky Cup Classic, ‘WOLFIE’ has the back-class to outshine this field on his best day, and if he’s sharper now second off the layoff, breaks cleanly, and faces little pressure up front back racing over a more suitable distance, he could steal this race at a price. Note: over the last five years, Jonathan Thomas is 9-for-20 (45%) when shipping to Laurel Park, with a $3.14 ROI.
R11: DEAN DELIVERS (7/2 ML)
DEAN DELIVERS won last year’s Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash S. as the third leg of a four-race win streak, all in stakes races, that saw him run Beyer speed figures of 97, 96, 98 and 87, respectively. He hasn’t been seen to quite the same effect in his three subsequent starts, failing to hit the exacta each time, but that’s not to say he can’t retain his title this afternoon. The six time stake winning son CAJUN BREEZE was last seen returning from a 178-day winter break in the Mr Prospector S. at Monmouth Park, where he split today’s re-opposing morning-line favorites, SUBROGATE and SUPER CHOW. Only a length separated the three at the wire; however, as highlighted in the trip notes, ‘DEAN’ raced widest of all in that race, giving away many lengths out in the five-path, and on pure ability, one could easily argue that he was best. Additionally, coming off a lengthy layoff, he had only worked six times before that race and posted just one 5/8-mile drill, which, as is typical of Ned Allard trainees, strongly suggests he was in need of the run. Therefore, with a race now under his belt, he should be sharper today, and if granted a more ground saving trip, he should be able to improve significantly upon his 87 Beyer, likely reversing the form with SUBROGATE and making him the horse to beat. Leading rider Jamie Rodriguez, who boasts a record of three wins and two thirds from just five rides on ‘DEAN’, stays aboard for this afternoon, and from a favorable draw in gate seven, the pair should secure a perfect position pressing SUPER CHOW early. Furthermore, Allard’s record with horses making their second starts off 180+ day layoffs following a top three finish last time speaks volumes: 4-for-13 (31%) wins, 12-for-13 (95%) in-the-money finishes, and a positive $10.78 ROI. With stats like that behind him, a proven affinity for the track, and a favorable setup in store, ‘DEAN’ can take this race again.
R12: IMPERIAL SKY (6/1 ML)
$16k maiden claimers will go turns on the turf in today’s nightcap, where IMPERIAL SKY looks to have his best shot yet to finally get off the mark. Having been rained off the grass at Pimlico in May, trainer Derrick Parram finally got his chance to try the 3-year-old son of BLOFELD on the turf for the first time here at Laurel Park 22-days ago. In many ways, the move paid off, with the gelding posting a career best 57 Beyer, beaten just 1 3/4 lengths in fifth – a big step up on his prior dirt tries. Owing to the brutal stretch run he suffered in that race however, checking multiple times when trying to come with a winning run, it seems he’ll have more to offer again this afternoon, granted a smoother trip, which, seeing as his 57 Beyer speed figure already being one of the fastest on offer in today’s contest, makes his 6/1 morning-line look extremely attractive. With a ground saving rail post position in his locker too, plus the red-hot Villalobos in the irons, a chance can therefore be taken on him to cause a minor upset.
Good luck playing Laurel today!
Hi Will,
A tip of the hat on Wolfie’s Dynaghost, $14.20. Dead on accurate analysis! Thanks!
Wayne Miller
Hey Wayne,
Well done. That was a satisfying result, to say the least!
Will