Laurel Park Tips and Trips – Sunday, April 19, 2026

–        Considering the pace she set for the class level (23.50, 47.26), #2 FANHEE actually did relatively well to finish sixth when last seen trying a mile on good ground in November. She wasn’t ever winning that contest though, and her natural speed points towards her being suited by today’s cut back. Note: she suffered a couple of troubled trips sprinting on the grass last year. Drops in class off layoff.

–        Cut back to 5 1/2F for the first time, #3 CHEESE ran home very nicely to finish 4th at 19/1 when last seen at Monmouth in September. She could be suited by Laurel’s long stretch run to the second wire over 5 1/2F. Blinkers on today.

–        #7 JULIE BELLE sat a very wide trip on the dirt last time, but it’s tough to say that that was the reason for her defeat. Switched to turf today. Note: her lone dirt win and career best effort came in wire-to-wire fashion (the only time she gained the early lead). That may suggest that she dislikes kickback and therefore, could improve for the surface switch. Maybe.

–        For the second time in as many starts, #6 UPSHOT ran in a manner to suggest he’d be suited by today’s 7F distance when performing well against open MSW company last time. He’ll demand respect today. Note: the short comment “steadied in tight quarters start, swung 5 wide upper” makes his trip sound worse than it was – his break wasn’t that bad, and he lost nothing angling out into the lane.

–        #7 PAID VACATION was floated notably wide off the turn before staying on gamely for 2nd when last seen over a mile in March (he deserves a little extra credit for that). He was forwardly placed throughout over the speed biased track that day too, but the pace was hot enough that the race played fairly. Cuts back in trip today (which isn’t guaranteed to suit).

–        #1 GONNA MAKE IT stayed on at an even pace when sprinting on the dirt last out and then galloped out pretty nicely. That effort suggests he should benefit from the return to two turns today. Note: he was forwardly placed in closer friendly (fast paced) races two and three back. Makes turf debut.

–        Regarding #3 OXFORD UNION’s last turf start (11/27/25), we can largely ignore the chart comment “brief wait upper” because it really was very, very brief (negligible). Overall, he sat a great trip closing into a pace that collapsed and played right into his hands, helping him run 3rd (potential downgrade). Returns off layoff today.

–        #7 VIGNON MANOR sweated up, then broke through the gate pre-race before underperforming against open MSW company when last seen in November. He seemed off-color that day and is probably best judged on his prior turf tries. Adds lasix for his return off the bench today.

–        #13 BABBLE’s (AE) two-back effort sprinting on the dirt is deserving of an upgrade as he rallied against a speed bias into a pace that held well. Makes turf debut today if drawing in.

–        #1 READY FOR MAGIC didn’t quite do enough running to earn an upgrade for his latest try at Charles Town, but an asterisk does need to be placed by that effort because the pace was slow and there was a significant speed bias present, making her task of closing from off the pace near impossible. She’s probably better judged on her prior efforts.

–        #3 MAP TO THE MOON endured a fairly rough beginning last out. It’s hard to say that, with a fast pace to close into and a good trip sat thereafter, it made that much difference to her result as a 99/1 shot.

–        Prior to a solid 2nd place finish last time, #5 SWEET HONEY BEE had raced on a dead rail over a distance that was simply too far for her on 03/06/26. We can toss that race.

–        #6 ELUSIVE SIONNA was quite keen in the early stages of her last race going a mile before showing a willing attitude to run 2nd. She has speed and cutting back to 6F shouldn’t hinder her chances too much.

–        #7 TASTY TIME failed to see out the mile distance in her last start; cutting back in trip today should be to her benefit.

–        #7 LONG LEGGED LUIS raced wider than ideal on the turn when facing winners for the first time last out – small upgrade. Note: he physically looks like he could be suited by the switch to turf (light frame).

–        Not sure what went wrong with #11 PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL last out, but his effort was simply too bad to be true and we may be wise to assume something was amiss – he stopped very quickly on the far turn and was eased in the lane, exacerbating the margin of defeat. Returns to turf today.

–        #2 PROM KNIGHT took a step back in the right direction last time (6F, LRL, 03/13/26 – 4th), though you do wonder whether him sitting relatively close to a modest early pace on a speed bias track helped him hold fourth late? Ideally need to see it again from him.

–        #5 KEEPING IT COUNTRY ran home very strongly to win well at Penn National last time and is deserving of respect again today. It should be noted, however, that the pace fell apart somewhat in that spot and the race set up very favorably for him – potential downgrade.

–        There was a strong speed bias present at Charles Town when #6 MAGIC SPIN last ran which, after a troubled beginning left him trailing the field early, made his task of getting involved much tougher. While he may have also underperformed somewhat, we can be forgiving of the defeat. Note: he was also running off just 5 days rest.

–        Similarly to above, there was a speed bias present at Laurel when #7 FIND FAITH last ran, making his life difficult as a closer in that particular spot. Given an honest pace (the pace was also slow last out) and a fair track, we can probably expect more today.

–        #8 SILVERBULLETTWENTY lost his back end ~3/4 pole last time and was no factor thereafter. Something seemed amiss and we may be able to expect a little more second out today. He does have questions to answer, though.

–        #9 BEACH COWBOY showed a nice attitude in defeat last time, battling between foes (often unideal) around the turn and through the lane while a touch wide too.

–        #11 SAILOR’S RETURN didn’t do enough running last out to warrant an upgrade, but he was extremely wide on the turn and into the lane which entitles him to a little extra credit.

–        After a rough beginning, #2 CHILLY GIRL was able to set slow fractions in front while also riding a speed bias on her way to victory sprinting 6F on the dirt last time – although best, this is a possible downgrade. Makes turf debut going long today.

–        #3 KATARZYA was forwardly placed in a modestly run affair last time, which almost certainly helped her fend off the fast-closing 1/1 fav (who was tasked with closing from well off the pace) late on. It seems she was a little fortunate to have broken her maiden in that spot.

–        #4 GO MISCHIEVOUS didn’t do enough running late to earn an upgrade last time, but it should be noted that she spent the majority of that contest bottled up behind a slow pace on the rail which was not ideal. A stronger pace forecast, class drop and addition of blinkers could help her step forward today. Note: speed held very well in her two-back effort when she was forwardly positioned – downgrade that effort.

–        #5 PEGSTER was boxed in on the rail rounding the far turn and then briefly hemmed in when searching for room at the top of the lane last time. Her finishing effort wasn’t quite strong enough to confidently say she’d have fared better with a different trip (had plenty of time to hit the board when clear in the lane), but for a filly who seemingly lacks a solid late punch, lacking the ability to move closer to the pace earlier may have hindered her chances a little. Returns off bench today.

–        The wicked early pace (23.52, 46.68) that was set in #6 NICK’S NOTION’s last turf start (05/24/25) completely fell apart late and benefited him tremendously. Therefore, although he was wider than ideal on the turn, we should downgrade that effort somewhat. Returns off layoff today.

–        #7 DISNEY BELLE had to steady back out of a speed duel when things got a little tight ~1/2 pole last time which didn’t cost her the win, but did cost her 2nd (beaten a nose for that spot). Stretches out in trip for turf debut today.

–        #8 RUNSWEETLY finished evenly sprinting 6F on the dirt last time and then galloped out fairly well – the extra distance could be her friend today as she returns to turf.

–        Not quite sure how to assess #11 BINT MISCHIEF’s (AE) effort going two-turns at Gulfstream (03/05/26). The rails were out, the pace was slow and speed held very well (1-2-3 finishers filled those positions throughout) which, seeing as she was positioned in a stalking 3rd throughout, could warrant a downgrade. However, she was also boxed in of the far turn and unable to build momentum/pressure the leader, which ultimately made life easier for that foe to kick clear late and more difficult for BM to oblige as the fav.

–        Both #1 JAMES P SULLIVAN and #2 BRINDANO were well positioned in slowly run races last time which may have benefited them a little exiting sprint. Both still ran well, period, though. (JPS clearly improved for stretch out).

–        Following an UPGRADABLE effort two-back (against flow, wide), #5 MARCAN LOVE won by 8 1/2L here at Laurel last time under just a mild hand ride through the lane (also 4W turn). He seemingly has more to offer. Makes debut for Robb today.

–        #6 WHO’S THE KING hit the line with good energy at Parx last out and appeared to gallop out nicely too (video cuts short). It wouldn’t be a surprise if he was to move forward off his paired-up Beyer tops (88) today.

–        #8 MAJORCA established an uncontested lead and set slow fractions in front while also riding a strong speed bias on his way to victory last time. While he may have been best regardless and is entitled to strip fitter second off the layoff today, we do need so downgrade his return effort.

–        #10 REYNOLDS CHANNEL sat a wider than ideal trip (widest of all) when running well at Aqueduct last time – small UPGRADE.

–        #4 READY AS EVER raced on closer friendly tracks in all his last three start, possibly aiding him last time and three-back (he also had a good pace setup three-back). Makes turf and barn debut off lengthy layoff today.

–        After steadying at the start last time, #7 MODRANACH was left racing against a speed bias track when last seen; however, the pace was strong enough in that race that the contest played fairly (no upgrade). He also looked to be lugging out around the turn and through the lane. Makes turf (could suit) and barn debut today. Note: #8 ITS ALL GRAVY (set fast pace (too fast), gave way upper, eased late) and #10 RIVER CITY RUNNER (chased in mid-pack, dropped back rail turn, then stayed on evenly passed tried foes, decent effort) both also exit that race run over the speed bias track.

–        On tape, #11 DREAMSDOCOMETRUE looks quite a “leggy” and light frame individual who may well improve for the switch to turf (and class drop) today.