Laurel Park Tips and Trips – Sunday, June 28, 2026

–        #1 LET FLY received an excellent setup when winning off the layoff last time, closing into fractions of 22.19, 44.98 that set up nicely for off the pace types; while this type of setup would typically lead to a downgrade, we shouldn’t in this instance knock his effort much at all because not only was he likely short of peak fitness, but he also made up a tremendous amount of ground while blowing right on by the two favorites, who had also received the same setup as closers; what’s more, the shortest priced speed horse (who was 22/1) held on to finish 4th by 4 1/4L, and there have certainly been larger pace collapses than this one. Respected right back.

–        #3 CALL ME A CAB didn’t quite do enough to earn an upgrade last time, but he did sit a notably wide trip and closers struggled to really land a blow (speed held well – potential downgrade for #5 DANCING BEAR?), so maybe we can excuse his dull effort.

–        The chart comment notes how #4 TIK TOK DADDY steadied at the ½ last out, but it’s a real reach to call it a steady – his rider took a light pull racing into the turn but no more than that; he never lost position or momentum and overall sat a perfect stalking trip. Regardless, it was a nice effort and he’s respected today.

–        #2 MARKET WATCH was promoted to first at Charles Town last time but he himself was not affected by the interference the winner caused; his speed figure is fair.

–        #3 GIMME TWO SHOTS took well to the addition of blinkers last out, breaking his maiden by 7 3/4L; in his prior start, the following note had been made on his trip: “broke slowly and then rushed up to press a very hot pace in the 3P before tiring last out; wonder whether his early expenditure – rushing up into the fast pace – led to him tiring sooner than would otherwise have been the case?” Seems that was the case and he’s heading in the right direction.

–        Although #5 CAT FAST is one of the more logical players in this race now cutting back in trip and will demand respect, we should note that he got away with setting modest fractions (that aided him) in front when just holding on at BAQ two-back, then he rode a speed bias in front here at Laurel last time.

–        Making his first start against winner, #7 GALLO ran with credit last out having been pressed the aforementioned rapid pace set by #6 MANSEEYASWAY which led to a pace collapse; he’s deserving of respect with the bug weight off today.

–        Although both #1 RYLNNSLOOKINGLUCKY and #4 MEREDITHSLIGHTNING sat close to an honest pace last time, speed still held well, with the top five finishers filling those places throughout; both horses ran well and will require a second look today, but we should maybe just take that form line with a small pinch of salt. Note: #6 QUALITY SWAG raced off the pace in that race and was therefore against the ‘flow’; maybe we can forgive her of that defeat?

–        In a race that saw speed hold relatively well, #3 KELSEY HILL GIRL ran a nice race last time, rallying from 9 1/2L last to pick up 4th; she could be suited by today’s stretch out in trip.

–        #8 SUNDAY SENSE did not have a clean trip when making her turf/route debut last time: she vied between horses into the first turn, then chased/pressed the even fractions in the 2P racing to the far turn; came under pressure to hold her position between horses racing to the ¼, then checked when in tight and was eased through the stretch, exacerbating the margin of defeat. There is no doubt at all that with a clean trip, she can improve on that troubled first try on the grass; however, we should note that at the point of her interference, she wasn’t exactly filling anyone with confidence that she was about to go and win her race (looked to be coming onto the back foot), and one would ideally have liked to have seen more of a fight back after the trouble occurred to be confident in her chances today.

–        Although #1 LOOKS FIRST received a good pace setup when winning over 7F last time (closed into honest fractions of 23.31, 46.74 set by #5 SHE’S NOT A LAD, who ran a game race in defeat and might be capable of a little more if rationing out her speed a touch more efficiently), the speed did not collapse, with the pace setter holding on for 2nd and the 16/1 presser (#6 DIVINE WORKS) finishing 3rd – ‘LF’ won fair and square and will require a second look right back. Note: her two-back effort is deserving of an upgrade as she closed over a speed biased track.

–        #3 CROSS OF VALOR was able to get away with setting very sustainable fractions (25.05, 49.80) on an uncontested lead before going onto break her maiden last time; that effort might need downgrading and she’s going to find things tougher today.

–        Not sure it made any real difference to the result, but it might be worth noting that both #4 VANILLA (chased 2W, 4W ¼ pole, 2nd best) and #7 LA CHISMOSA (chased inside, evenly) exit a race run over a speed biased track. Note: #4 VANILLA’s two-back effort (a win over #5 SHE’S NOT A LAD) came over a speed favoring track too, but it’s hard to argue she wasn’t best.

–        #1 CROSSLAND did not have enough pace to run at for him to be seen to best effect last out and may be capable of playing a larger role if things heat up in front today. #4 INDY CHARGES ON was the pace setter in that last race and managed to establish an uncontested lead; he had no excuse but was just 2nd best to BARBADIAN RUNNER, to which there was no disgrace; he now makes his first start for Gaudet.

–        #5 CRAB DADDY’s trip last time isn’t bad enough to earn him an upgrade, but he was a little wide rounding into the lane and he then brushed with a foe mid-stretch; these factors combined may well have cost him 2nd, given he was beaten just a neck and a nose for that position. Exiting the same race, #7 GOODBYE NOTE ran a very game race in defeat; he looms as a logical contender once more.

–        #7 NOTION IN MOTION had to wait in traffic from ~3/8 pole to upper stretch before going onto finish 2nd when returning from a layoff last time; while the traffic trouble and potential lack of match fitness could well result in him improving off that effort second back today, we shouldn’t upgrade his comeback run because he was very much 2nd best, and the hot pace (22.24, 44.73) collapsed, which seemingly aided him; still, he demands respect today. Exiting the same race, #4 FORGET THE RULES ran a solid race off the layoff having sat reasonably close to the hot fractions; he’s entitled to step forward off that run.

–        We might be best to take #1 LAYSEN’s win at 26/1 last time with a pinch of salt, seeing as he was able to set reasonable fractions on a largely uncontested lead while riding a speed bias and only carrying 110 pounds; suspect things will be tougher for him today. Exiting the same race, #4 POOR PEANUT bobbled a little at the break, then attempted to close into the modest pace that #1 LAYSEN set over the speedy track; there’s a chance he improves on that try today.

–        #2 MISTER ROSCOE ran a very solid race at Delaware last time considering he was a little wide and persistently taking pressure to his outside; respected right back.

–        When returning from a layoff in a four-runner stake at Parx last out, #3 CONNOR’S CREW was hemmed in behind the leader after the first 3/16 and then appeared to be uncomfortable taking kickback (climbed a little and dropped back); especially if remaining in the clear today, it seems highly likely that he will step forward from that comeback with lasix now added.

–        #5 RED SPITFIRE overcame a very wide move into the lane to gamely justify his 4/5 odds last out, even though he failed to change leads in the lane; while his ground loss off the turn could entitle him to a slight upgrade, we should hold off doing so because he also received an excellent, closer-friendly pace setup. Makes debut for Capuano today.

–        Despite being beaten at odds of 8/5, #6 SPIDEY MAN ran a solid race when last seen considering he’d set very honest, pressured fractions in front, and then endured a little argy-bargy with the winner through the stretch. Logical player making his debut for Ness off the bench today.

–        Although it appears impressive that #1 NICK’S NOTION made up so much ground in her last race, we should note that the pace completely fell apart, with the second-through-sixth place finishers (including 2x 15/1 shots and a 27/1 shot) all rallying from over 12 1/2L back at second call.

–        In stark contrast to above, #2 MINARI ran a very solid race off the bench last time, closing from 11 3/4L back into a pace that, although hot, did not fall apart, with the top two finishers (including the 12/1 winner) running 1-2 throughout. She should be suited by today’s extra 1/16. Note: although a little wide on the turns, staying in the clear actually helped her (more than if she’d gone inside, saved ground and waited for a run), because it allowed her to maintain her forward momentum.

–        There was plenty to like about #3 AMERICAN TAPIT’s very game maiden breaking win here last month in which she doggedly got the better of the longtime pace setter who had been afforded a notable breather (which AT didn’t get) down the back stretch; she should relish today’s extra 1/16 and is a logical win contender.

–        #4 IXCHEL sat a wider than ideal trip last time.

–        #5 MEG was never involved going 6F when returned to the turf last time: she lacked speed and then finished evenly; she did, however, then gallop out very strongly in front, suggesting that today’s stretch back out in trip might see her take a meaningful step forward at a price.

–        #7 SHORE WAR’s trip last out doesn’t quite entitle her to an upgrade; however, it was slightly rough as she found herself in tight amongst foes racing into the turn and then bumped with a rival when angling out into the clear in upper stretch before staying on nicely in tight between horses to the wire. She showed a likable attitude to run as well as she did and could be just as effective at two turns. Player.

–        Prior to justifying 6/5 odds last time, #2 ECUMENICAL had endured a slightly wide trip over a wet track two-back and not been hard ridden through the final 1/16, which exacerbated the margin of defeat. Player right back.

–        After an alert break, the rider on #3 PIT STOP MAN sensibly let the early speed (which was strong) go last out and rode a patient waiting race until the turn; however, the 8/5 winner (who formed part of the early speed) did not stop, and ‘PSM’ was then facing an uphill battle to reel him in while a little wide on the turn; he may have fared a little better if he’d actually stuck in range and saved more ground, but hind sight’s twenty-twenty; player making his debut for McKenzie, whatever the case.