Top pick selections for all races at Laurel Park today, plus select trip notes and 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: 5-6-7
R2: 4-8-5
R3: 3-10-12
R4: 1-5-8
R5: 9-3-6
R6: 8-5-2
R7: 1-5-6
R8: 7-6-2
R9: 5-2-1
R10: 5-3-8
Trip Notes – Recent performances that deserve an asterisk. All others: trust the past-performances.
| Race 1: Maiden Claiming 35k, 3-6YO (F), 5 ½ Furlongs, Turf |
| Other notes:
– #6 MAD MISTY became worked up in the gate when last seen at Colonial (an often underrated negative and reason why horses can offer more on another day); she then stayed on well into just an even pace after a slow start (admittedly aided by a perfect rail trip); there appear to be obvious ways in which she can improve on that turf debut effort, and she should be suited to Laurel’s long stretch run. – In her last start on turf two-back, #7 MEADOWLARK DRIVE just tapped on the brakes slightly entering the far turn which just put her on the back foot and lost her a length or two; based on her good late finishing effort, this small steady – although seemingly insignificant – possibly cost her 2nd; cuts back and gets back to turf today; contender. |
| Race 2: Claiming 12.5k, 3YO+, 1 Mile, Dirt |
| Other notes:
– #5 TELL ‘EM I’M COMIN put forth a really nice effort to win here last week; he didn’t sit a bad trip per se, but we may still be able to expect more again from him as he was notably wide on the far turn, and the pace that he closed into after a slow start was just even (24.28, 49.21); a faster pace to run at and slightly more ground saving trip could help him step up again; player right back. – #8 WAR COMMANDER looked to win with gas left in the tank at Parx last out, possibly suggesting there is more to come; player if holding form. |
| Race 3: Allowance, 3YO+, 1 1/16 Miles, Turf | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #10 HANKSDIVININGROD | Lewis Stakes ®, DEL, 1M 70Y, Firm Turf, 09/11/26 – 5th | Settled in rear ~4-5L off the pace on the rail racing to the far turn; angled out 3W but still behind while building momentum racing to the top of the lane; muscled through horses, then stayed on well through traffic and tight spots in the lane; nearest finish. | This wasn’t a terrible trip; however, the race wasn’t run to suit him with the field being tightly bunched after a moderate half entering the far turn (he could have done with a faster pace); he also had to navigate traffic in the lane which wasn’t terrible, but did slightly hinder his ability to level off properly; he finished like he’d benefit from today’s extra yardage and he may now be capable of building on this solid recent effort. |
| Other notes:
– #1 SE THAR BARR sat a perfect trip and received an excellent pace setup when posting a career best Beyer at Colonial last time, possibly making it harder for him to reproduce that exact level of form today; respected, nevertheless. – #3 JOLLY BOSS sat close to the hot pace that #1 SE THAR BARR took advantage of last time; he did well under the circumstances and can likely offer more in a more evenly paced affair. – #5 MASTER SCHEMER (MTO) ran very gallantly here two weeks ago, losing by just a half length (to the gate-to-wire winner) despite having raced wider than that foe on the turn and having closed against the slight speed bias – small upgrade. – #11 LEX’S GAME was very game last out, recovering the lead after losing it inside the final furlong; he also lugged out a little on the turn. – Other than being a touch wide on the turn, there wasn’t any visible reason as to why #12 SUN ABOVE performed below par last out (maybe bounced); lasix on first time today. |
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| Race 4: Claiming 12.5k, 3YO+, 6 Furlongs, Dirt |
| Other notes:
– While true that #1 ONE TRUE DUDE rode a strong speed bias in front on his return at Timonium last time, it should also be noted that he had his hind end clipped significantly rounding the first turn by a lose horse, which could well have played a role in his defeat; big player second back. |
| Race 5: MSW, 2YO, 1 Mile, Turf | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #6 COURT NIGHT | MSW, CNL, 1M, Firm Turf, 09/06/26 – 6th | Slow into stride from inside post; chased modest pace from double digit lengths back to the far turn; gradually crept closer inside racing to upper stretch; cut the corner into the stretch, then navigated a little traffic before finishing well; nearest finish, galloped out well. | The traffic he encountered in the stretch was negligible, but we can still upgrade this effort because of the fact that he closed from way back into modest fractions of 24.41, 50.01; he galloped out with energy and could well take a meaningful step forward today with blinkers added. |
| Other notes:
– #2 STARS ON THE WATER sat a wider-than-ideal trip at Colonial on debut; seems he can only improve. – #5 MESHACH’s last effort can be upgraded slightly owing to his wide trip, although he was still 3rd best. – #7 BELOV became quite worked up in the inside gate on debut, then took a lot of kickback in the race which, for a first out 2yo, isn’t always ideal; he still showed a willing attitude in defeat and now switching to the turf, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him step forward. |
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| Race 6: The All Along Stakes, 3YO+ (F), 1 1/8 Miles, Turf | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #5 AWESOME CZECH | Yaddo Stakes ®, SAR, 1 1/16M, Firm Turf, 08/30/26 – 4th | Unhurried early; pulled while positioned ~10L off hot pace racing to the ½; took closer order racing into the far turn, then advanced some more under hand urging behind horses; turned for home under hand encouragement behind horses 2W, then lacked room shortly after straightening and was forced to angle out sharply; ran on again late but was still in tight and prevented from properly leveling off. | It’s tough to say that this trip cost her the race and, trip aside, she was making hard work of things as the 6/5 fav; however, she did lack room in the lane which prevented her from leveling off properly and with a cleaner stretch run today, there is a chance that she can improve on this back at 1 1/8 miles. |
| #8 GRAYOSH | Ballston Spa Stakes (G2), SAR, 1 1/16M, Firm Turf, 08/22/26 – 4th | Allowed to drop back early; settled ~6L off pace in last while riding the rail; took closer order approaching far turn, then angled out and made a big move while 3-7W racing to upper stretch; brushed with foe upon straightening, then finished well but had too much to do. | This wasn’t a terrible trip; however, she was only beaten a length despite having lost ground racing widest of all on the far turn (three who beat her saved much more ground); also, although the pace was honest, speed held well with the 6/1 winner wiring the field and 9/1 runner-up never worse than 3rd, 2L back, so the ‘flow’ was somewhat against her; massive player down in grade and back out to 1 1/8M. |
| Other notes:
– #2 NICK’S NOTION impressed again when winning at Colonial last time, rallying with good energy into just an even pace to win going away, despite having lost a little momentum when switching out from behind horses ~1/8 pole; she finished in a manner to suggest that she may be capable of more again with an extra 1/16 to work with today, especially is the pace is stronger. – #4 SHORE WAR benefited from being able to set a slow, uncontested pace when beating #2 NICK’S NOTION (who was pace compromised) two-back. |
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| Race 7: Allowance, 3YO+, 1 Mile, Dirt |
| Other Notes:
– Prior to losing the rider at the gate at Parx last week, #1 COMPATRIOT had run three races sprinting that suggested he’d benefit from today’s stretch out to a mile; contender. – Not sure it was the only reason he lost, but #4 NO MORE CALLS was racing against a speed bias here two weeks ago. |
| Race 8: The Selima Stakes, 2YO (F), 1 1/16 Miles, Turf | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #7 CHEROKEE PURPLE | MSW, KD, 1M, Firm Turf, 08/29/26 – 2nd | Slight bump start; outpaced and well back off the pace in 11th racing into the lane; under a drive, began building momentum racing to the 1/8 pole, then really kicked in the afterburners late, weaved through traffic and lunged but missed. | Speed held really well in this race with the winner, third and fourth place finishers (8/1, 3/1 and 26/1) positioned 1-2-3 for the vast majority of the contest; she was the only horse to make up ground from the back and was racing against the flow; UPGRADE this strong effort and expect more with plenty of pace signed on today, back on a conventional track. |
| Other notes:
– #2 SEA ISLE CITY stayed on well late going 6 1/2F at Kentucky Downs last time; a nice big filly, she could well improve again for today’s added distance. – While accepting that #5 MAYBE GOLD received a very favorable pace setup when winning on debut at Colonial, her effort was still full of promise as she looped the field with a 3W move on the turn and then stayed on strongly, despite not changing leads; still a little green, she’s entitled to step forward today now stretching out to a mile. – #6 HIDDEN OVERTURE hardly came out of second gear ad galloped out with her ears pricked when winning an off-turf MSW at Delaware; she seemingly has plenty more to offer. – #9 HOMEAWAYFROMHOME did really well to win at Ellis last out having done plenty of heavy lifting early and then fought back in the lane after bumping a foe ~1/8 pole (her own fault); contender. |
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| Race 9: The Laurel Futurity, 2YO, 1 1/16 Miles, Turf | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #3 BISHOP MOON | MSW, CNL, 1M, Firm Turf, 09/26/26 – 8th | Broke out and back from wide post; chased slow pace from ~5L back in 2P to far turn; crept slightly closer racing to the ¼ pole, then lacked room in upper stretch and was blocked; finally found room ~1/8 pole, then stayed on evenly under a mild drive. | He had no pace to run at, met traffic in the lane and was only given a half-hearted ride in the stretch; while he would still be a surprise winner today, it does seem he should be capable of more than this under the right conditions; blinks added. |
| Other notes:
– #1 HOWARD’S HOPE made a very promising debut that he can build on at Saratoga last month: after taking a bump and the break and getting away slowly, he then pulled very hard into the first turn before running in snatches, on and off the bridle to upper stretch; it was only then that he leveled off and he did so in style, winning with authority; he can improve for the experience. – There was a strong speed bias when #2 FULLCUP last ran at Saratoga; switches surfaces and stretches out today. – Although never that far away, it should be noted that #5 BROADCAST was a little wide off the turn at Saratoga on debut, and he was also trying to run by three horses who were slightly better positioned throughout in what was a very slowly run race; it is possible to argue he was at least as good as anyone in that spot and he’ll demand respect today. – #7 COAST HIGHWAY kicked clear nicely at Colonial last time, winning under just a hand ride; he seemingly has more to offer. |
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| Race 10: MSW, 2YO, 1 1/16 Miles, Dirt | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #5 DIVINER | MSW, MTH, 1M, Fast Dirt, 09/05/26 – 4th | Broke a step slow, then checked and gave the field a large head start; chased the pace from ~12L back while being nudged on to the far turn, then began building momentum and made a 5W advance approaching the top of the lane before staying on gamely for 4th. | He had his chance significantly hindered by the start here and actually did very well to sustain his advance all the way to the wire; with blinkers on today, he should be able to build on this effort. |
| Other notes:
– #3 MOLITOR dwelt badly at the start on debut, then used his run up getting back to somewhere near contention but failed to sustain his bid in the lane; a sharper start second out should help him step forward. |
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Horses to Follow
R6: GRAYOSH (2/1 ML)
Chad Brown’s MGSW GRAYOSH did well to finish as close as she did in the G2 Ballston Spa last time considering she was wide on the turn and racing against the ‘flow’ of the race, which saw speed hold. Now getting a little class relief and adding an extra 1/16 with plenty of speed in the lineup, things should set up well for her to oblige as the favorite in the first leg of the ‘Value Late Pick-5’.
R8: CHEROKEE PURPLE (5/1 ML)
Having not once in three starts had anything close to a good setup to suit her late run, it’s remarkable that CHEROKEE PURPLE has hit the board in all three attempts, highlighting that she possesses a deal of talent. Kelsey Danner now ships her in for today’s Selima Stakes as a maiden, possibly indicating the regard in which she’s held, and with plenty of stretch-out sprinters in opposition to finally give her some pace to run at, a big effort could be on the cards.
R9: BROADCAST (9/5 ML)
As highlighted in the above trip comments, it’s far from impossible to argue BROADCAST was equally as good as anyone on debut in a hot MSW at Saratoga last month, staying on strongly into the fast late pace despite a slightly wide trip. That experience should have done the son of INTO MISCHIEF plenty of good, and with a pedigree such as his—being out of Breeders’ Cup F&M Turf winner SHARED ACCOUNT and a half to Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner SHARING—it would be no surprise to see him run mightily well in this afternoon’s Laurel Futurity.
