Top pick selections for all races at Laurel Park today, plus select trip notes and horses to follow. Good luck!
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Race Selections
R1: 6-5-9
R2: 7-1-4
R3: 2-3-6
R4: 6-1-5
R5: 7-6-8
R6: 9-7-3
R7: 6-3-5
R8: 7-6-3
R9: 4-6-5
R10: 9-8-4
Trip Notes – Recent performances that deserve an asterisk. All others: trust the past-performances.
| Race 1: Claiming 16k, 3YO+ (F), 5 ½ Furlongs, Turf | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Notes |
| #9 LET HER PASS BY | Claiming 16k, CNL, 5 1/2F, Firm Turf, 08/23/26 – 6th | Chased fast pace from ~6L back on the rail racing into the turn; responded to pressure and advanced slightly on the run to the top of the lane, then ran up on heels ~1/4 pole and steadied hard, checking her momentum notably; continued without much racing room in upper stretch, then finished evenly but was never able to fully recover. | A troubled trip; she would absolutely have finished closer with a cleaner path through horses here and if in similar form today, a much-improved effort (more like her efforts two and three back) can be expected. |
| #15 BALLYKEEFE (AE) | Claiming 16k, CNL, 5 1/2F, Firm Turf, 07/19/26 – 5th | Chased honest pace from ~4L back on the rail to the ¼ pole, then ran out of room and had to hit the brakes when on heels in upper stretch (she really needed to be rolling at this point); was shuffled back while still on a hold racing to the 1/8 pole, then found room but was unable to recover. | Her two-back effort and last going 5 1/2F (which her latest start over a flat 5F appears her preferred trip):
She endured a troubled trip in this race, and the result/speed fig should not be taken as an accurate reflection of her ability. |
| Other notes:
– Following a very solid debut for Dowling off a freshening two back (in which she was caught in an unideal spot between horses early), #4 HOLY BRICK was shuffled back along the rail approaching the far turn at Timonium last time and then appeared uncomfortable racing in behind kickback; feel we should draw a line through that effort and expect more returning to turf third back. – #11 BELLE OF LIBERTY simply failed to stay a mile against tough foes at Colonial two-back, then didn’t fire on the dirt last time where the surface can be used as a legitimate excuse; best to be forgiving of both those recent efforts and expect her to show something more like her prior turf sprint tries returning to the discipline today. – #12 YAMMY YAMMY BELLA sat a notably wide trip going two turns at Colonial last out; cuts back and drops in class today. – #13 LADY LENA ran on well late going a flat 5F at Colonial last time and should be better suited by today’s 5 1/2F trip with the long stretch to help. |
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| Race 2: Claiming 7.5k, 3YO+, 1 1/16 Miles, Dirt |
| Other notes:
– #1 MAUPANSANT didn’t have a bad trip last time; however, he did become very worked up pre-race and then lost his balance a little when lightly bumped in the lane, both of which are factors that potentially contributed to his half length defeat; he could have won on another day and is deserving of respect right back. – #5 TELL ‘EM I’M COMIN deserves a little extra credit for both his efforts at Delaware in August owing to the fact that he had little pace to run at on both occasions; respected returned to a conventional track. – Prior to a fine front running effort at Timonium last out, #6 GREY BEAST had received a good pace setup over a closer friendly track at Mountaineer two-back – possible downgrade. – Although he didn’t have any real excuse, #7 EDELWEISS could be seen as a slightly unlucky loser last out as he raced two paths wider on the turn than the winner and twice brushed a rival in the stretch; player following brief freshening. |
| Race 3: Claiming 16k, 3YO+ (F), 1 1/16 Miles, Turf | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #8 MESA’S SPUNKY GIRL | Claiming 16k, CNL, 1 1/16M, Firm Turf, 08/15/26 – 6th | Raced prominently between horses; swung out 5W in upper stretch when coming under pressure, then finished evenly towards the center and stayed on well until checking hard ~1/8 pole; failed to recover thereafter. | Her last and only turf start, two-back:
A troubled stretch run, she should be capable of offering more than this result/speed fig suggests returning to the grass today. |
| Other notes:
– #2 HOP TO IT finished well in a modestly run mile event last time and could be capable of offering more going an extra 1/16 today with a strong pace quite possible. – Although later DQ’d for drifting out and impeding a foe in the lane, #5 ROBERTA still ran well at Penn National last out, crossing the wire in second despite having sat relatively close to the taxing early pace (22.50, 47.07) and having been three wide on the far turn. |
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| Race 4: OC25k/SAL20k, 3YO+, 6 Furlongs, Dirt | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #7 ONE LAST BULLET | Maiden Claiming 25k, TAM, 7F, Fast Dirt, 03/18/26 – 1st | Chased hot pace in close pursuit early; bumped as rival came across and made things tight inside ~5/8 pole; took a firm hold there and pulled his way forward to share the lead, then pressed on through a fast ½; extended away from rivals racing into the lane, then steadily continued widening to wire. | His last start on dirt and last sprinting, three-back:
Although the bump he received ~5/8 pole was relatively insignificant, we can still upgrade this effort owing to the fact that he formed part of a fast pace that collapsed, and the track was favoring closers. |
| Other notes:
– #6 BIKER BALEY didn’t appear entirely comfortable racing in behind horses and taking kickback at Colonial last time; he might be capable of more today with a wide post enabling him to keep clear. (Note: his best three efforts have all come in kickback-free situations, wiring a field on the dirt and twice racing on turf). |
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| Race 5: MSW, 2YO (F), 6 Furlongs, Dirt |
| Other notes:
– #2 BASEBALL CARD steadied slightly ~1/2 mile pole sprinting on turf on debut, but it was fairly insignificant interference, and we should not upgrade her effort as a result; switches surface today. – #7 WEEKEND STORM ran a nice race on debut over a SPEED BIASED track at Delaware, the track conditions possibly preventing her from closing more so on the always prominent winner than would otherwise have been the case. – #10 DREAMSMOVEON didn’t have a bad enough trip on debut to earn an upgrade; however, she was in behind horses and without a fully clear racing path through the stretch which possibly prevented her from finishing closer; a nice effort whatever the case and she’s respected second out. |
| Race 6: Ratings Optional Claiming (65-1), 3YO+, 1 1/16 Miles, Turf | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #6 SKY’S NOT FALLING | Claiming 25k, CNL, 1M, Firm Turf, 08/15/26 – 2nd | Settled off slow pace 3-4W early; crept closer racing to far turn, then made a 3W bid racing to the top of the lane; got to within 3/4L of the leader in upper stretch, then stayed on willingly but was repelled. | This wasn’t a bad trip; however, a case can be made that he was best in here as he was a little wide on both turns and also tasked with running down the 2/1 winner who had set a slow pace on the rail throughout; he did well to finish as close as he did considering the pace and ground loss, and might be capable of a little more today; respected. |
| Other notes:
– #3 MOHS wasted a little energy by pulling hard behind a slow pace at Monmouth last time; a more honest tempo could see him to better effect third back today. – There was no visible reason as to why #7 KING SIZE performed below par last time, but we know he’s better than that on his day. – #8 EL DE LARRY sat too close to a hot pace (23.10, 46.50) at Colonial last time and should be capable of offering more today if rationing out his speed more efficiently. – #10 TIMSHEL didn’t have a bad trip last time, but he did have to wait a fraction longer than ideal before making an effort when in behind horses racing into the lane. |
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| Race 7: Allowance, 3YO+ (F), 1 Mile, Dirt | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #6 SCARLETT’S HALO | Allowance, MTH, 1 1/16M, Firm Turf, 08/16/26 – 4th | Pulled hard while inside and towards rear, ~3-4L off even pace racing into far turn; waited without a clear path when seemingly full of run racing to upper stretch, then threaded through a tight gap between rivals ~1/8 pole but wasn’t able to level off until too late; finished evenly and closed steadily with head high. | She was forced to wait much longer than ideal in this spot considering her even finish and lack of a turn-of-foot; she likely could have finished closer with a different ride and this mightn’t be a completely accurate reflection of her ability; running style indicates that a switch to dirt could be a good move; respected. |
| Other Notes:
– Toss #7 AUDIBLY’s last effort. |
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| Race 8: MSW, 2YO (F), 5 ½ Furlongs, Turf |
| Other notes:
– #1 AIR KISS finished and galloped out well on debut after breaking awkwardly and placing herself on the back foot early; seems the type who can take a meaningful step forward second out. – #7 VOLADORA finished really well over a flat 5F on debut at Colonial and could now offer much more second out with an extra 1/16 to work with. |
| Race 9: The Weather Vane Stakes, 3YO (F), 6 Furlongs, Dirt |
| Other notes:
– #2 JUST PHILTORED’s two-back effort when just a neck behind #6 SLEWPERSTITUS may flatter her a little as she was able to set a slow pace on an uncontested lead (SLEWPERSTITUS was tasked with closing into the slow pace and still beat her; UPGRADE ‘SLEW’s’ effort there). – #4 SNEAKY GOOD stumbled at the start of the G2 Victory Ride Stakes last time which resulted in her racing further off the pace than would otherwise have been the case and put her on the back foot early; respected. – #5 FOR THE LADIES’ two back effort (a gate to wire win) – prior to a gutsy third consecutive win at Timonium last out – is possibly deserving of a little extra credit as the track was favoring closers. |
| Race 10: Ratings Optional Claiming (65-1), 3YO+ (F), 5 ½ Furlongs, Turf |
| Other notes:
– Closers struggled to get involved in #4 RIVER TAY’s last start at Saratoga, meaning that he was against the ‘flow’; possible he offers more today with the long stretch to suit his late running style. – Not sure that #5 HONORABLE CHILL was ever going to win at Delaware last time, but she might have finished a little closer if she hadn’t been shuffled back along the rail entering the far turn; makes debut for Lawrence today. – #6 GOOD ACCELEBRATE didn’t quite do enough running to earn an upgrade last time, but she did put forth a respectable effort to finish as close as she did considering the slow pace that was working against her; may well improve today for having a better pace setup and long stretch run. – #10 SPENCER TIARA (MTO) was first to load at Delaware last time and became worked up in the gate. – A slow pace led to speed holding exceptionally well in #13 GRANUAILE’s last race which, combined with her wider than ideal trip, gave her little chance of offering her best; capable of more under better circumstances today. |
Horses to Follow
R7: SCARLETT’S HALO (3/1 ML)
As was evident again when she sat a less-than-ideal trip at Monmouth, SCARLETT’S HALO seems to lack the turn-of-foot required to excel on the turf; Chad Brown now makes the ship to Maryland and returns her to the dirt which, although she’s likely to be out-sprinted early, could see her to better effect. Her two prior tries over the surface were solid, and with a number of stretch-out sprinters in this lineup, she could receive a good setup. Anything at 3/1 or over would be a fair price.
R9: SNEAKY GOOD (2/1 ML)
SNEAKY GOOD has been campaigned aggressively this year by trainer Brad Cox, who now affords the three-year-old some class relief following a better-than-looks effort in the G2 Victory Ride Stakes at Saratoga last out, where she stumbled at the start and found herself on the back foot early before finishing well. The mix of speed and stamina she possesses, which has seemingly left Cox pondering what the daughter of INTO MISCHIEF’s best distance is, should play well in today’s Weather Vane Stakes, with plenty of front runners in the lineup. Provided she gets away from the gate cleaner, the class relief combined with the good setup could make her tough to stop.
