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: 5-1-3
R2: 1-4-5
R3: 12-6-7
R4: 5-6-9
R5: 5-2-6
R6: 8-11-3
R7: 6-1-4
R8: 2-6-1
R9: 3-4-5
Trip Notes – Recent performances that deserve an asterisk. All others: trust the past-performances.
| Race 1: Claiming 30K, 3YO+, 5 ½ Furlongs, Turf | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Notes |
| #1 BUCARO | Allowance, LRL, 5 1/2F, Firm Turf, 11/15/25 – 5th | Broke cleanly from rail, then got shuffled back to last as the field moved over racing into the far turn; entered the turn under a tight hold in last; waited (when he’d ideally have been advancing) on the rail racing to into the lane, then found daylight just before the 1/8 pole and stayed on well to the wire but had far too much to do. | His early steady left him pace compromised in this slowly run race, and the fact that he then couldn’t build momentum/advance when boxed in on the far turn only made things worse. He’s better than this and may be able to prove that now making his first start as a gelding. |
| #5 ELVIS HIMSELF | Allowance, LRL, 5 1/2F, Firm Turf, 04/12/26 – 6th | Sent early; set fast pace on uncontested lead into lane; came under pressure when advantage reduced approaching 1/8; lost lead finals furlong and faded grudgingly; rider stood up final ~50Y. | This effort is deserving of a notable pace upgrade as was only beaten 1 3/4L, despite having set fractions of 21.61, 44.09 (!) in front, setting things up well for closers (winner was 8L back at 1st call). If rationing out his speed a little better with match fitness now on his side (and if his rider rides through the line), he could well improves on this result. |
| Other notes:
– None. |
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| Race 2: Starter Allowance, 3YO+, 6 Furlongs, Dirt |
| Other notes:
– #1 NEVERWORKEDADAY gave his rivals a head start when throwing his head and hopping at the break last time. While it didn’t cost him the race (never involved thereafter), it certainly didn’t help his chances. Drops in class and returns to 6F off the layoff today. – It was disappointing that #3 TETHERED SOUL was unable to hold 3rd last out considering that he’d sat a ground saving trip close to a modest pace while racing over a heavily speed biased track (possible downgrade?). – #4 ZIO LINO lost ground racing unnecessarily wide into the lane and then drifting out through the stretch last time – tiny upgrade. – #6 EXPRESSO BAY stumbled slightly at the start, but we cannot in any way attribute his poor effort to that – he recovered quickly and it was only a minor stumble. Needs more off the layoff today. Makes debut for Kravets. |
| Race 3: Maiden Claiming 16K, 3-6YO, 5 ½ Furlongs, Turf | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #14 ROYAL RENEGADE (AE) | Maiden Claiming 16K, LRL, 1 1/16M, Good Turf, 11/27/25 – 7th | Took strong hold contesting fast pace between horses 2W to far turn; dismissed of pace rivals and briefly took lead on the run to the top of the lane; lost lead to winner upper stretch but continued battling hard for 2nd until inside the final 1/8, then faded. | Racing on a ‘good’ listed turf course, he formed part of a fast pace (23.61, 47.60) that eventually collapsed and actually did well to still be there battling for a share inside the final furlong (he did by far the best of the three speeds). Being sandwiched between horses for the first ½ of the contest didn’t help his chances either. He’s deserving of a small PACE UPGRADE for this effort and if ready off the bench, could prove that turf sprinting is his best game. |
| Other notes:
– Although well beaten by the much-the-best winner, #6 TIZ THE GREAT continued to give game chase through the lane last out, maintaining strong strides to post the fastest closing sectionals. That late sustained pace should come in handy with the long stretch run to the second wire switching to turf today. – #7 GOODLUCK ROAD stayed on with credit through the lane when last seen in November despite not having much room to work with at all racing tight to the rail. Wonder whether, with lasix now added, he can improve on that effort given a less intimidating spot to race in. – The chart comment makes #8 DAD JOKE’s trip in his last turf start (06/08/25) sound worse than it was and we should not in any way upgrade his effort. Returns off lengthy layoff today. – #12 STAR ATLAS was chasing a slow pace over a speed biased racetrack when last seen, but we cannot use that as an excuse for his 28L defeat. Still, there is a case to be made for him switching back to the grass third off the bench today. |
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| Race 4: Maiden Claiming 35K, 3YO (F), 5 ½ Furlongs, Dirt | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #5 CUPID’S CHOICE | Maiden Claiming 35K, LRL, 6F, Fast Dirt, 04/04/26 – 3rd | Sprinted clear early; traveled well setting fast fractions with 1L advantage into lane; came under pressure and held lead to just inside the 1/8 pole, then faded grudgingly. | She’s deserving of a small PACE UPGRADE for this effort as she set fast fractions in front (clocked the ½ just 0.5s slower than the Primonetta S. run later on the card) and did well to still be in front inside the 1/8 pole. She showed a likable attitude in defeat and should be suited by today’s cut back to 5 1/2F. |
| #6 MAGGIE’S MOON | Maiden Claiming 25K, LRL, 6F, Fast Dirt, 03/21/26 – 2nd | Slight bobble break; prompted even pace on rail racing into the turn, then eased back out of a tight spot to track the leaders; briefly waited in behind foes ~5/16, then cut the corner into the lane and tried to make a bid up the rail but was denied a clear path; eventually switched out into the clear 2W just before the 1/16 pole when ~1.5L down and then rallied strongly but simply had too much to do. Galloped out in front. | She had a troubled trip in this race and it’s easy to argue that she should have won/was best (UPGRADE). Look for her to improve on this effort third out the box today. |
| Other notes:
– #8 BELLE OF LIBERTY’s last start on dirt (01/25/26) is deserving of an UPGRADE as she was just touched off after setting a fast pace on a closer friendly racetrack. She’ll be very live if getting back to that level of form returning to the main track today. – #9 LIGHTEN had to slightly alter course in the lane at Turfway last time as a rival drifted across her. That maybe cost her 6th, but no more than that… after a tardy start, she was no factor. Makes dirt and barn debut for Ness today. |
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| Race 5: Allowance, 3YO+ ®, 5 ½ Furlongs, Turf |
| Other notes:
– Speed held well in #4 SINTEC’s last race at Colonial, with the top four finishers filling those positions throughout at odds of 2/1, 8/1, 9/5 and 12/1. SINTEC broke last and trailed early, so was racing against the flow and therefore, may be deserving of a pass for his defeat. Returns off lengthy layoff today. – Although the chart comment correctly highlights that #7 RYE DIGGITYDOG was 4W on the turn last out, switched leads a couple of times in the lane, and (inconsequentially and very lightly) bumped approaching the wire, he didn’t have any real excuse – the result and speed figure are accurate reflections of his performance. The comment “hung” does seem a little harsh however – he tried hard to the wire. Returns off layoff today. |
| Race 6: Claiming 16K, 3YO+, 1 Mile, Turf | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #11 BOURBON OUTLAW | Starter Allowance, LRL, 1 1/16M, Firm Turf, 11/16/25 – 7th | Unhurried; chased hot pace from ~12L back into far turn; remained under a hold when absent of a clear path racing to the top of the lane and then steadied off heels racing into the lane, still ~14L off the clear leader; from there, he largely remained under a hold while blocked racing to the wire. | His last start on flat turf. He hardly came off the bridle in this race and his effort can be marked up significantly (he’d probably have beaten #3 MAUPANSANT with a clean trip). Note: the winner won by 8 3/4L in this race and so, although he was beaten 11 1/4L, he was actually just 2 3/4L off 2nd. Also note: he had a troubled stretch run in his October 04 start too. |
| Other notes:
– Feel that we can be forgiving of #8 ELFUEGOMASBRILANTE’s last effort, which was clearly below his best: making his eleventh start off the year off just 11-days rest and facing tough allowance foes, he became worked up in the gate (an underrated negative) and then broke slowly in a race where speed held well (top four finishers filled those positions throughout). He was also not hard ridden in the lane when beaten, exacerbating the margin of defeat. We can look past that effort and judge him on his prior turf starts instead. Returns from layoff today. |
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| Race 7: Allowance, 3YO+ ®, 6 Furlongs, Dirt |
| Other Notes:
– #3 CHANGE MY WORLD’s latest effort might need to be downgraded slightly because he was able to get away with a slow opening ¼ on an uncontested lead, and the speed bias present could have aided him thereafter. – #4 LUNDI LOOT looked unsuited to the two-turn test he was presented with in the Private Terms S. last out. Suspect that cutting back to 6F today with lasix back on will help him get right back on track. – #5 LOST MY SHOE still looked a work in progress when making it 2-for-2 at Parx last time: after easing back from between foes approaching the turn, he then appeared to initially resent his first experience of kickback (took none on debut) and dropped back a little more than necessary on the bend; after a couple of reminders, however, he then settled back into a forward rhythm, split foes 3W upper stretch and drew off nicely. Recon there’s still more to come from him. – #6 CREED’S VISION drifted out a few paths under right-handed urging inside the final furlong at Colonial last time, possibly costing him 2nd. It was a gallant effort in defeat though, and he could be suited better by today’s 6F distance. |
| Race 8: Allowance, 3YO+ (F) ®, 1 Mile, Turf |
| Other notes:
– Although the pace was honest and she sat a good trip, #1 ALL GAS NO BRAKES might be entitled to some extra credit for her last effort as speed held very well with the top three finishers running 1-2-3 throughout, possibly compromising her chances as a closer. Returns off layoff today. – #6 DETERMINED PRINCESS ran as well as she could have done in her last turf start (10/24/25) but the 6F distance was just too short. Her prior turf route races are better reflections of her ability. Returns off layoff 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 her tremendously. Therefore, although she was wider than ideal on the turn, we should downgrade that effort somewhat. Returns off layoff today. – #9 WEEKEND WIFE (MTO) did not get enough pace to aim at and was racing against a speed bias last time out. Under the circumstances, she did well to match her prior Beyer (61) and could now be ready for a step forward. |
| Race 9: Maiden Claiming 12.5K, 3YO, 1 1/16 Miles, Dirt |
| Other notes:
– We might be able to draw a line through #1 CRUISETHEFOREST’s last effort as he unseated his rider when unruly pre-race and ran off a little before failing to lift a hoof in the actual contest (ran his race before the gates opened). Unsurprisingly gelded since, he now adds lasix for his return off the layoff. – Although there was a speed bias present when #3 BIGSHOT NESS last ran, his forward trip might actually have worked against him because the fast early pace nullified the effects of the bias and the race played fairly (winner was 9L last at first call, early leader faded to last). Getting back on fast dirt and dropping in class could help him rebound today. Note: #5 RIVER CITY RUNNER also contested that race and benefited from the hot early pace. – #6 BABBLE’s 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. He’s yet to prove himself at a route of ground, though. |
Horses to Follow
R7: CREED’S VISION (2/1 ML)
Whether it was the gelding operation, barn switch, removal of blinkers, or a combination of all three, CREED’S VISION has been razor sharp for Delacour this year, holding his own against very high-quality rivals and producing speed figures that make it hard to believe he was in for a tag last year. Back at his preferred six-furlong trip today with a tactical outside post, he looks well positioned to strike again against restricted foes in today’s seventh.
R8: JUNIPER JUICE (3/1 ML)
Despite failing to find the winner’s circle, JUNIPER JUICE held her own against some tough rivals last year and now looks to have found a likable spot to make her 2026 debut. Having proven her ability to fire fresh, she can get the jump on her main rivals under Boyce and use a forward, ground-saving trip to land a deserved win.
