Laurel Park Tips and Trips – Saturday, May 23, 2026

–        #3 IMAGINE IT ALL sat a wide trip in his return effort off the layoff last time. With a race under his belt and a more ground saving trip, he should be able to step forward this afternoon.

–        We can toss #8 GREEN BEANS last start before his recent layoff: running over a distance short of his best, he stumbled very badly at the gate and was left in a detached last early, facing an impossible task trying to close in to a pace that held incredibly well (top five finishers – including runner at odds of 36/1, 20/1 and 71/1 – were positioned 1,2,3,5,4, respectively, at first call). Provided he’s ready off the bench today, we should see more from him with a better break at two-turns today.

–        #3 ISLAND BANDIT looks the colt to take out of the MSW he, #1 PELICAN PIER and #4 REMEMBERTHEWORD exit on May 02: he stalked the pace setting eventual winner – who was being gently pressed by #4 REMEMBERTHEWORD through fractions that held well – on the rail into the turn, then crept closer under hand urging before having to briefly pause when absent of a clear path ~5/16 (momentum loss arguably cost him more than the head he was beaten); as the leader then began to kick away, he cut the corner into the lane and stayed on willingly while tight along the rail (often and intimidating spot, especially for a debuting 2YO), only just missing 2nd. The track had a slight speed lean this day and under different circumstances, it seems very possible that he can reverse form with REMEBERTHEWORD.

–        #1 FLYING TO WORK didn’t quite do enough to earn an upgrade last time; however, he was racing against the flow after a slow break (slow pace resulted in top 3 finishers filling those positions throughout), and he was also a touch wide on the turn. Easy enough to argue he was 2nd best in that spot. Makes turf debut today.

–        The chart comment correctly highlights how #2 FIERY DEBUT had to steady slightly entering the turn in his last race, but it wasn’t significant enough to suggest it cost him a position. Returns off layoff today.

–        #6 GOODLUCK ROAD ran a likable race off the layoff last month, finishing 3rd at odds of 20/1, and he’s deserving of respect today. Do note, though, that hardly any runner made up any ground in that race, and it was very difficult for closers to get involved, which likely aided him. Maybe just take that form with a pinch of salt.

–        Considering he’s often showed qualities of a runner who’d appreciate further, and connections are stretching him out to a mile today, we shouldn’t knock #2 PANAGIOTIS for finishing last at Aqueduct when last seen because a slow opening ¼ led to the field simply out-sprinting him in the latter half of the race; he ran evenly to the 1/16 pole until he was eased late and overall, ran just about as well as could have been expected under the circumstances. Feel he’ll offer more dropping in class and stretching out today.

–        #3 FREEDOM MAKER was promoted to first at Penn National last time after the first past the post floated him ~5W off the home turn, forcing him to cut back inside entering the lane before launching a rally. Whether the DQ of the winner was just or not (these eyes suggest it was harsh), the interference FM suffered was not significant enough to warrant a speed figure upgrade, and his 62 Beyer seems a fair reflection of his effort. His overall trip was fine.

–        #4 MORNING THOUGHTS was very wide on the turn last time, but that doesn’t fully explain why he was beaten so far in last, and his Beyer dropped 14 points. It seems more likely that it was due to him failing to get the lead/a prominent position early (like he usually does), and he was also running back just 16 days after a big win, so it’s possible that he bounced a little. Wouldn’t rule him out of a bounce back today.

–        #5 MISSION MIKE stayed on nicely through the lane going 7F at Tampa last time; he could be suited by today’s return to two-turns.

–        The chart comment correctly highlights how #7 FORREST CITY checked from between horses ~1/2 last time; while this did happen and lost him a length or two + a little momentum, he didn’t really do enough running through the lane at odds of 21/1 (14.57 final 1/8) for us to confidently say he’d have fared much better without the interference.

–        The chart comment mentions how #2 HUE steadied ~3/8 pole in her last race which did just about happen; however, it was a very minor and overall negligible steady, and we should not upgrade her effort as a result. What’s more notable about her effort in that race was that she was racing against the flow that saw speed hold very well with the rails set at 70 feet. Blinkers back on today.

–        After sitting a nice ground saving trip, #3 BRIGHTSHININGLIGHT tipped out and leveled off nicely in the final furlong to break his maiden on turf debut last time. He pricked his ears when hitting the front and didn’t do a lot close home (looked to be waiting on company), so there’s reason to believe that there’s more to come from him as he makes just his fourth lifetime start and third off the bench today. It’s also worth noting that he was fractious in the gate, which is often an undervalued reason as to why horses can improve (heart rate is already sky high before the race has begun which, among many other consequences of getting upset in the gate, typically leads to horses tiring much faster and earlier).

–        Not for the first time, #6 DYNAFLAME took a strong hold and over-raced before fading late at two turns last time. His aggressive running style suggests that turf sprinting (especially with laurel’s long stretch) could be his best game and see him improve.

–        #12 SCHRADER (MTO) was consistently caught in less-than-ideal spots when recently going two turns on the dirt: he became keen on the rail when taken on by a 21/1 shot rounding the first turn; dropped back and tipped outside into the 2P but then had a foe join him on the outside down the back stretch, placing him tightly between foes which prevented him from settling; after dismissing of that outside bid approaching the far turn, the eventual winner then quickly emerged and put him back in that awkward sandwich spot racing to the top of the lane; he finished admirably for 3rd but had no more to give late; a solid effort given the circumstances. Cuts back today.

–        Not sure quite what went wrong with #4 AND SUM last time: he bore in at the start and was away a little slower than usual, then looked to race awkwardly while a touch wide before fading tamely in the lane. He’d taken some kickback in his prior race and that didn’t seem the issue, and you can’t say that he was used too early either, for all the chart comment would indicate he was. Questions to answer now making his debut for Trombetta.

–        While we’d usually knock horses who were allowed to set slow fractions in front, it may have actually worked against #5 DANCING DENAE last out because, after setting fractions of 26.12, 50.78 for a mile, he’d allowed the eventual 2.10/1 winner – who was completely unproven at a route of ground and exiting sprints – to save energy stalking in behind and then out-kick DD in the latter part of the contest. While you could say he was always booked for 2nd, a different ride may have given him a better shot at obliging as the fav. Cuts back to 7F today.

–        Seemed like #6 EASY ACTION intentionally switched to rating tactics last time and he got beaten (still ran well though) as the short priced fav; expect him to be sent forward from the outside today.

–        Although the pace was hot, speed still held well with the rails at 52 feet when #3 LIEN ON HER closed to break her maiden last time; there was no fluke about her win.

–        After sitting a smooth trip, #4 GRIPEN finished up full of run to win comfortably and then galloped out very nicely last time, offering hope she’ll handle today’s stretch out in trip.

–        #5 BOYS GO TO JUPITER couldn’t have asked for a better trip when posting a career best 68 Beyer last time.

–        Similarly to #3 LIEN ON HER, although the pace was hot/honest in #7 MINARI’s last race, speed held well with the top two finishers running 1-2 throughout (at odds of 12/1 and 2/1); MINARI did by far best of the closers and if stripping fitter today, should be a major player with an extra 1/16 to work with.