Top pick selections for all races at Laurel Park today, plus select trip 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: 1-7-2
R2: 1-6-4
R3: 8-7-1
R4: 4-8-3
R5: 1A-1-7
R6: 4-5-1
R7: 10-11-9
R8: 6-2-4
R9: 4-6-1
Horses to Follow
R1: FAHNEE (5/1 ML)
A winner over today’s course and distance last year, FAHNEE returned from a layoff with a big effort last month despite encountering significant trouble—checking out of a forward position on the run into the turn before being shuffled back and denied a clear run until the 3/16 pole. Once in the clear, she rallied well to finish third, beaten just half a length, and can be marked up as an unlucky loser. With that run under her belt, a step forward looks likely this afternoon, and with a forward, ground-saving trip on offer in today’s opener, she should be very competitive.
R3: PLENTY ON TAP (12/1 ML)
A case was made in these lines on April 19 for PLENTY ON TAP, suggesting that a return to turf—now aided by both blinkers and Lasix, which were absent for his lone prior grass start—could see him find the winner’s circle now that he’s begun to put things together in the afternoon. Unfortunately, that angle turned into nothing more than an expensive horror show, as he lacked room entering the far turn and didn’t get clear until deep inside the final 1/8, by which point it was too late. A lack of racing room blunted the effectiveness of his likeable late rally, and after being beaten 1 1/4 lengths into fourth, he found his way onto the bet-back list rather than the winner’s circle. With a cleaner trip in today’s third, however, a much-improved showing looks likely, and although he meets a couple of tougher rivals here, it’s hard to leave him off tickets following that last try, getting 13 pounds from the favorite at a fair price.
R6: VIGNON MANOR (8/1 ML)
With blinkers retained, the free-going FREEDOM GLIDER looks likely to ensure an honest pace once again in today’s sixth, bringing a number of off-the-pace types into consideration, including the re-opposing VIGNON MANOR. This runner flashed ability with three near misses going long on the grass last year before offering more promise in his return last month than the PPs suggest. Aggressively ridden from the gate, he was taken out of his comfort zone chasing the fast pace set by FREEDOM GLIDER while racing four to five wide into the far turn, then briefly drew almost level for the lead in upper stretch before his early exertions, lost ground, and lack of a recent run understandably caught up with him late on. Although he’ll need to show more when lining up again in today’s sixth, that return effort should have brought him forward, and with leading rider Jevian Toledo now taking over and the blinkers coming off, a more patient trip could see him in a much better light. At a square price, he’s one worth keeping onside.
