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

–        Although his overall trip was fine, #1 STICKTOTHESYSTEM did stumble out of the gate last time (5 1/2F, LRL, 03/20/26 -5th), which, as a front runner by trade, prevented him from adopting his preferred position and may have contributed to his regressive effort. Steps down in class and up in trip today. Note: his gallop out last time was decent enough to suggest he can handle today’s distance.

–        #2 TRIATHELON (stalked even pace inside, advanced rail far turn, took clear lead upper stretch, drew off driving hard) sat a great trip last time (1M, LRL, 02/27/26 – 1st) and was fully extended to the wire.

–        #3 HOPPETUSE’s last effort (6F, LRL, 03/08/26 -3rd) is borderline upgradable as he sat relatively close to a fast, closer friendly pace while 3-4W, then ran on well through the lane to hold 4th. He has the potential to improve notably on this try second off the bench today. Note: his gallop out wasn’t great, indicating he A) may have needed the run (fitness wise); or B) might not stay today’s mile distance.

–        Although beaten as the 4/5 fav, #4 TACTICS ran perfectly well last out (1 1/16M, LRL, 03/06/26 – 2nd) after getting away a little slower than ideal and not having had the required pace to close into (25.69, 51.28). He finished well through the lane for 2nd, galloped out in front of the re-opposing winner (#7 BOSS MODE – who established an uncontested lead early and might need his effort downgrading a little); he might be able to step forward and improve past that re-opposing rival now making his debut for Farrior today.

–        #5 IN HONOR OF JEFF had to very slightly take up ~1/16 pole last out (6F, LRL, 03/08/26 – 6th), but it wasn’t significant interference and didn’t make a huge amount of difference; he had sat a good ground saving trip closing into a fast pace up to that point.

–        #6 SIN SIN spent the entirety of his last race (1 1/16M, LRL, 03/06/26 – 4th) racing on the “dead” inside rail which potentially contributed to his tiring late on. Wouldn’t be a shock if he were to step back in the right direction on a fair track at one turn today.

–        #1 REGENCY TALE actually ran fine when last seen (7F, CNL, 08/01/26 – 6th): in a tough MSW, he was caught wide and between foes (not always ideal) when tracking the even pace between foes to ~1/4, then dropped back as the classier horses went on, but he continued to try willingly to the wire regardless and was not disgraced at 37/1. Returns off layoff and drops in class today.

–        Although beaten as the 4/5 fav, one can argue that #4 LANNISTER ran just as well as the winner last out (7F, LRL, 03/07/26 – 1st); he was out-broken from the rail by the winner and quickly settled ~2L off that foe in the 2P, then ran near identical fractions to the winner throughout, but owning to the extreme speed bias, was unable to make up any ground. Had he broken on level terms, he may well have been able to score. Whatever the case, he ran a fine race and will be a major player today. Note: he was not hard ridden through the final 1/16 last out either.

–        Exiting the same race as #4 LANNISTER, #5 DIVINE SWAGGER was also racing against the bias last out (7F, LRL, 03/07/26 – 4th), but the bias does not explain why he ran so poorly: he tracked the leading pair into the turn, then lugged out badly and stopped. Maybe he disliked the muddy surface? Whatever the case, he’ll need much more today.

–        #2 FREE COSTS TO MUCH (speed on rail, stopped 5/16; needs more today); and #3 KITTY’S SON (four-runner race; prominent to slow early pace outside winner, weakened from 3/8; drops in trip off short rest today), both sat perfectly fine trips in their respective last starts and were ridden through the line – their results/speed figs seem fair.

–        With lasix removed, #3 MODERNIS SILVER ran an improved race to finish 4th after setting a hot early pace in front (which often would warrant an upgrade); however, there was a speed bias present this day which likely helped her stick around late on, and her extreme lugging out on the turn (which cost her both ground and momentum) was far from desirable. She’s entitled to further natural improvement in start number three, but she still has plenty to prove.  Exiting the same race, #5 NAOMI AND RUTH lost ground when floated out on the turn by the drifting #3 MODERNIS SILVER, which could entitle her to a small upgrade; however, she too was positioned close to the pace throughout on the speed bias track which may well have helped her stick around for longer than she otherwise would have done.

–        Making her dirt debut, #4 LET HER PASS BY stumbled badly out of the gate last time (5 1/2F, LRL, 12/14/25 – 7th) and then lost ground racing wide on the turn having switched out and advanced into the modest pace; neither her stumble or ground loss explain why she was so weak through the lane, though – she really did just stop. The effort was followed by a layoff, so maybe something was amiss and we should draw a line through the effort? Visually, she looked fine on the dirt and behind kickback. Returns off bench today.

–        #1 RED DRAPES (pressed honest pace between foes into the turn, then gradually weakened; needs more second off the layoff today); and #6 ROSIE’S FORTUNE (close up between horses to turn, then weakened tamely), both sat perfectly fine trips in their respective last starts and were ridden through the line – their results/speed figs seem fair.

–        #1 KILO ROAD ran well to finish 3rd last out (7F, LRL, 03/15/26 – 3rd) considering she did not have enough pace to close into to be seen to best effect; she did well to finish as close as she did and may be capable of more if handling the stretch out to two-turns today (gallop out just okay). Note: she also failed to switch leads last time.

–        It’s near impossible to watch #2 LATE NITE CALL’s last race (1 1/16M, CNL, 03/12/26 – 5th) owing to the horrific weather conditions the race took place in. It doesn’t seem that she had much of an excuse trip wise, but the weather was bad enough that you have to strongly consider this sub-par effort from her could have simply come as a result of her despising the conditions. Exiting the same race, #5 NAVANI was caught ~4-5W on the turn before fading, possibly entitling her to a small upgrade.

–        #4 THE GODDESS FACTOR (relaxed 3W, stalked even pace outside from 5/8, bid 7/16, brief duel into lane, then kicked away and won well), sat a good trip on her way to victory last time, possibly winning with something in hand.

–        Exiting the same race as #1 KILO ROAD, #3 TOO MANY KISSES should put forth an improved effort today because in her last start (7F, LRL, 03/15/26 – 5th), she too did not have an adequate pace to run at and she was also making her first start off the layoff, which (as a result of a lack of race fitness), could have contributed to her weak finishing effort. While one would have still liked to have seen more from her last time, she shouldn’t be ruled out in a hurry now stretching back out to two-turns.

–        After taking a keen hold setting even fractions on the rail, #6 GIRVINIZED was ridden with supreme confidence into the lane last time (1M, LRL, 02/15/26 – 1st), and opened up a clear lead before coming under just a hand ride ~1/16 pole. She seemingly won with something in hand and could probably have won by further. Now returns to two turns making debut for Allen.

–        #5 MAD FOR MADDY had a very favorable trip last out (6F, LRL, 02/21/26 – 1st): she broke slowly from the outside post but with nobody outside her, was still able to work forward in the clear, take the lead and cross the field ~1/2; she then backed the pace down while retaining a clear lead (beneficial, potential downgrade) before driving on again to victory. Her gallop out was then poor, possibly indicating that she wasn’t at peak fitness off the bench and can improve today (for all that her trip today might not be so favorable), or indicating that she might struggle to replicate this exact level of form (career best 77 Beyer) back around two-turns and up in class. Clearly live, but maybe still has a few questions to answer.

–        #1 LORD’S LADY (four runner race; lagged off even pace inside, willingly at even pace past tired rivals); #2 STRESS RELIEVER (four runner race; alert break, set even fractions on uncontested lead into turn, extended advantage into lane, drew off driving despite drifting out a touch; solid); and #6 MOON CACHE (three-runner race; pressed even pace on speed biased track to far turn, then stopped; below best with no visible reason as to why – maybe bounced?), both sat perfectly fine trips in their respective last starts and were ridden through the line – their results/speed figs seem fair.

–        #2 BIGTONTEN was a length or so better than the PPs would suggest last out(1 1/8M, LRL, 02/28/26 – 4th) and is deserving of a tiny bit of extra credit: he pressed the honest pace between foes (unideal) into the far turn, then came under pressure and dropped back a touch but continued sticking to his task gamely though the lane, despite the winner carrying him out a couple of paths ~1/8 and running across him a little late on; his rider then stood up a few stride to early approaching the wire. It wasn’t a disastrous trip, but it wasn’t perfect either and he might improve a speed fig point or two today, especially back at 1 1/16M.

–        While closing into the even pace from rear, #4 CATATUMBO lost a little ground angling 5-6W into the lane from ~5/16 pole last out (1 1/16M, LRL, 03/01/26 – 4th) – tiny upgrade.

–        #6 WALDRIP was facing an uphill battle last out (1M, PEN, 03/18/26 – 2nd) as he was tasked with ruining down a loose leader (who set slow fractions) on a speed favoring track. At the same time, though, he was much closer to the pace than the 3rd place finisher who was closing late – did the pace and track help WALDRIP hold 2nd late? Not entirely sure what to make of his effort. Returns off short rest today.

–        #7 MORE VINO was game in defeat last out (6F, LRL, 03/13/26 – 2nd); however, he was also saving ground throughout and forwardly placed in a moderately paced affair run over a speed favoring track, likely warranting a downgrade. He did not offer much of a gallop out either, raising questions about him staying today’s trip.

–        #1 WALK AWAY JOE (bumped start, tracked even pace 2W into far turn, steady rally but too much to do; returns off bench today); #3 MASAKADO (pressed honest pace between foes 3W to ½, dropped to rail and dueled into lane, then faded grudgingly final 1/8); #5 IT’S SIZZLING TIME (chased hot pace on rail to ~1/4, angled out and rallied through lane to win cozily, despite drifting in ~1/8; gallop out was okay, but there are still question marks about him getting back out to today’s trip without a recent run); and #8 STATES UNITED (away a beat slow, chased honest pace inside to far turn, advanced inside foes to ~5/16, then tipped out into clear 3W and rallied willingly between but did not quite have enough; solid in defeat), all sat perfectly fine trips in their respective last starts and were ridden through the line – their results/speed figs seem fair.

–        Although it hard not to have liked #1 CELTIC CONTENDER’s game effort in a tough stake when last seen (7F, CNL, 07/26/25 – 3rd), it can’t be ignored that he was forwardly positioned in a modestly run race over a heavily speed favoring track, and he saved ground throughout – downgrade. Still, he’s deserving of respect today regardless as lasix go back on for his return.

–        Considering the class level, #3 PETINGAS TWIN didn’t quite get enough pace to run at for him to factor last time (7F, LRL, 02/14/26 – 7th), and he was also a little wide off the turn; while he may have also been a little below his best anyway, a rebounding effort looks highly possible down in class and distance with lasix back on today.

–        #2 S S SINATRA (four-runner race on a heavily speed biased track; pressed even pace 3-4W into turn, then faded and was no match late (track maybe helped him stick around a little longer?); lasix stay off today); and #4 SUNNY BREEZE (set controlled fractions on uncontested lead into lane, then drew off driving, possibly winning with something in hand), all sat perfectly fine trips in their respective last starts and were ridden through the line – their results/speed figs seem fair.

–        Having vied through even fractions with the eventual winner last out (1M, LRL, 03/08//26 – 4th), #3 SKIP THRU DA FIRE failed to stay the mile distance in the stretch; she may be capable of stepping back in the right direction back at 6F today.

–        Although #4 ISABELLA’S GLORY lost a little ground swinging wide into the lane last out (7F, LRL, 02/13/26), she also received a great pace setup as a closer, potentially warranting a downgrade. She’ll need to have her skates on back at 6F today.

–        #1 LOST RIVER (sent, dueled through even fractions with winner on rail into lane, second best; just held place, potentially warranting concern about today’s extra 1/16); #2 LADY CHARLOTTE (chased leading duo 3W to top of lane, then gradually weakened); #5 ROYAL SEAMSTRESS (pressed pace outside winner in 2P, the tired on left lead; returns off short rest today); and #6 SO SWELL (chased even pace from a detached last, advanced slightly turn, then finished evenly without ever threatening; was later DQ’d and placed 5th for drifting in ~1/16; returns off short rest today), all sat perfectly fine trips in their respective last starts and were ridden through the line – their results/speed figs seem fair.