Laurel Park Tips and Trips – Sunday, March 29, 2026

–        #4 HAPPY JAUNT did fairly well to finish 2nd (later promoted to 1st) last time (1M, LRL, 01/17/26 – 2nd) having been a little too keen and unsettled when caught between horses racing down the back stretch and then having lost a little ground racing into the lane (not enough to warrant a proper upgrade, but enough to earn him a little extra credit). Suspect today’s cut back to 7F will see him to good effect.

–        When last seen on the turf (5 1/2F, LRL, Good Turf, 04/26/25 – 8th), #6 SILVERBULLETTWENTY sat a wide enough trip (~5W turn) when closing from rear to entitle him to an UPGRADE. Returns from layoff back on dirt today. Note: in his last completed dirt start )5 1/2F, LRL, 02/23/25 – 1st), he sat a good trip.

–        #1A CANDYCRUMBS didn’t have much pace to close into last time (5 1/2F, LRL, 03/06/26 – 6th) and was a little wide on the turn, but neither factor fully explain why he was quite so far below his best and he’ll need more today, period. Maybe he just didn’t appreciate the muddy going last out?

–        #2 CATAHOULA MOON (stalked modest pace 3W to mid turn, then gradually weakened; might benefit from a stronger pace today); and #3 LIKEBELIVINGNMAGIC (lunged, away slowly, rushed up into modest pace 4W and raced prominently towards center into the turn, then stopped), both sat perfectly fine trips in their respective last starts and were ridden through the line – their results/speed figs seem fair.

–        #1 HIGHER SENSE stumbled a little at the start last out (1M, LRL, 02/21/26 – 5th), but it made no difference to his trip or result – he recovered quickly, stalked the even pace and was done on the far turn. Lasix back on today.

–        #3 PAYNTED LION (off just 7-days rest; tracked even pace 3W into lane, then weakened) sat a fine trip last out – result/fig fair.

–        #5 POINT AVEN might have been best last out regardless (1M, LRL, 03/08/26 – 1st); however, he was able to sustainable fractions while saving ground on the rail throughout, and speed held very well in the contest – the running order never once changing throughout, with 30/1 runner-up positioned in 2nd for the entirety of the contest and the 1/9 fav unable to land a blow racing in 3rd all the way around. While PA is deserving of respect today, you do have to question the validity of that form somewhat.

–        #1 TWIN LAKES (close up inside early, weakened from turn) and #7 MARGIE’S LAST (at 30/1; pressed modest pace set by winner 2W into turn, lost contact with that foe ~5/16 but stayed on gamely to hold place) both exit the same race in which the early pace was slow and the running order never changed throughout. While both runners visually appeared to display true efforts, you have to wonder how much we should trust that form.

–        #2 CALL ME VICTORIOUS sat a slightly wide trip (small UPGRADE) when running another very likable race in defeat last time (7F, LRL, 03/15/26 – 2nd). He again ran in a manner to suggest he could be suited by today’s trip as he makes debut for Capuano with blinkers on.

–        Following a promising debut, #4 CAPITAINE sat a wide trip (small UPGRADE) when again running well in defeat last time (5 1/2F, LRL, 02/27/26 – 3rd). His effort left mixed feelings about his ability to handle today’s distance.

–        #3 SIR GEORGE (stalked pace setting winner into turn, under pressure to hold place into lane, lost contact with romping winner top of stretch but continued fighting hard to the wire, only to be nailed for 2nd on the line); and #6 GO GREY (slow start, outrun and never a factor), both sat perfectly fine trips in their respective last starts and were ridden through the line – their results/speed figs seem fair.

–        Making his debut for Epley in fairly treacherous conditions, #2 RADAUTI overcame a 4-5W wide trip (small UPGRADE) to break his maiden in smart fashion last out (1M, CNL, 03/12/26 – 1st). He was strong through the wire and left the impression that there may be more to come from him.

–        He was the 1/5 fav and only facing two rivals, so maybe this is a moot point, but #5 WYOMING CLASS did close into a slow pace when winning last time (1M, LRL, 12/27/26 – 1st); if ready off the bench and the pace is hot today, he should be capable of improving on that effort (speed fig).

–        #3 AMAZING BERNIE (saved ground tracking honest pace set by runner-up, stayed on evenly); #4 JOE THE JET (sent from inside, dueled with winner through fast fractions into back stretch, ceded lead 5/8 and switched out, then made a brief rebid entering and around the far turn before gamely chasing winner to wire; 2nd best); #1A DERBYNESS (off layoff in the fog; pressed even pace 2W into lane, then weakened; could strip fitter today); and #6 JAMES P SULLIVAN (broke inwards and bumped hard, then was outrun), all sat perfectly fine trips in their respective last starts and were ridden through the line – their results/speed figs seem fair.

–        As much as #2 KERNESS K was much the best at odds of 2/5 last out (6F, LRL, 03/13/26 – 1st), it should be noted that he was able to set fairly controlled fractions in front (speed held well) and the track was speed favoring. Everything was in his favor and therefore, although he could reproduce that level of form making his debut for Ness today, he’s not guaranteed to.

–        #8 SPOTTED BULL (tracked slow pace on rail to turn, then advanced on fence to take the lead while still at a comfortable tempo racing to the top of the lane before drifting off inside and drawing off late) could not have asked for a better trip or setup when beating inferior rivals last out (5 1/2F, LRL, 03/06/26 – 1st); the water will be much deeper for him this afternoon.

–        #1 JUST FOR THE MONEY (pressed honest pace 2W, took over ¼, edged away, fully extended); #3 PAY ZONE (at 1/5; broke sharp, set even fractions on uncontested lead, fully extended to wire); #4 FORREST CITY (tracked even pace inside, angled out gently ¼, then stayed on willingly at an even pace; cuts back (not certain to suit) off layoff today); #6 HELDISH (took strong hold in behind horses racing into the turn, then weakened); #7 LET’S HAVE A PARTY (outrun inside); and #9 MURRAY (four runner race; came out start; chased hot pace from a detached last into turn, angled out bend and stayed on evenly past tiring foes into a non-threatening 2nd), all sat perfectly fine trips in their respective last starts and were ridden through the line – their results/speed figs seem fair.

–        #1 AERONYX was bumped at the start last out (1M, LRL, 03/06/26 – 5th) and then steadied shortly after, but neither incident were really that significant, and both happened early enough in the race that they didn’t make any difference to her trip or the result – she recovered quickly and her trip thereafter was fine but she just failed to fire and will need more today. Saying that, however, she was stuck on the ”dead” inside rail throughout, which didn’t help her cause. Cuts back in distance today, which could suit.

–        Not helped by the fact that she was stuck on the “dead” inside rail throughout, #2 SWEET HONEY BEE looked unsuited by the mile distance last time (1M, LRL, 03/06/26 – 5th) and could easily step back in the right direction back down at 6F today.

–        Regarding #3 READY FOR MAGIC’s last start (5 1/2F, LRL, 03/08/26 – 8th), you can ignore the chart comment “taken up early” – what really happened was that, after breaking sharp from the rail, she failed to hold her position and was outrun after the first 1/16; she hardly had to check at all and the running line, result and speed fig are accurate reflections of her effort.

–        #4 OVER MY CENTS (brushed gate but away well, tracked even pace inside to 3/8, then eased out 2-3W and chased winner gamely to wire); #5 A P M NOTION (outrun inside; no visible reason for poor effort); #6 JULIE BELLE (sent from outside post, set honest pace on uncontested lead into lane, then held firm under a strong ride; solid); and #10 CHRISTY MY LOVE (saved ground chasing even pace from mid-pack, weakened far turn), all sat perfectly fine trips in their respective last starts and were ridden through the line – their results/speed figs seem fair.

–        Not sure it’s majorly significant in this case because they were a clear first and second best on paper leading into the race, and in the race itself, but it might just be worth noting that there was a significant speed bias present when #5 JUNIPER’S JUBILEE (pressed early, moved and dueled 2W to 3/8, then took command and drew off) and #1 RERUN TABLE (clear early, pressed into turn, dueled to 3/8, headed, chased, 2nd best) last ran (6F, LRL, 03/07/26) against each other. Hard to say whether the track impacted their results or speed figures, but it’s something to keep in mind.

–        With lasix on first time, #4 TACTIC VALUE ran well to finish 2nd behind two stakes winners last out (1 1/16M, LRL, 02/14/26 – 3rd), especially as she pulled hard without cover and was between foes for the majority of the back stretch. A borderline upgradable effort, she could be suited by today’s cut back in distance. Note: it’s impossible to tell for certain, but the saddle might have slipped a little on her last time too.

–        It wasn’t surprising to see #6 HONOR ROLL fade out of contention in the lane last time (6F, TP Synth, 02/21/26 – 5th) considering she’d set unsustainably fast fractions on a pressured lead and was facing a decent group or fillies. If rationing out her speed a little more efficiently, she can likely bounce back from that effort returning to dirt.

–        #8 OUR GOLDEN GATOR didn’t look ideally suited by two-turns last out (1 1/16M, PRX, 03/03/26) as she pulled hard early and then tired late (for all that she gamely stuck to her task); it would be a surprise if she were to bounce back into form with lasix on and a cut back to 6F today.

–        #2 SWEET SHENANIGANS (light bump start, tracked hot pace 2nd flight inside to ~5/16, then steadily faded; adds lasix first on class drop today); #3 KUAGA (set pressured pace while hugging rail to top of lane, then gamely pulled away, fully extended); #7 SLEWPERSTITUS (three-runner race; hopped start, pressed hot pace 3-deep to 5/16, then weakened grudgingly; returns off layoff today), all sat perfectly fine trips in their respective last starts and were ridden through the line – their results/speed figs seem fair.

–        #1 QUAIN (fractious gate, hopped start, outrun; returns following gelding op with lasix and blinkers added); #2 EL PAPACITO (tracked modest pace 2-3W to ~3/8, then weakened despite continuing to try; ran below expectations with no visible reason as to why; reruns off short rest today); #4 REBEL PRINCE (four-runner race; pressed winner through even fractions in the 2P into the lane, then continued to chase that foe willingly to the wire; a likable effort in defeat); and #5 FLATTER MY DAD (chased winner through honest fractions into the far turn, then stayed on willingly for a clear 2nd), all sat perfectly fine trips in their respective last starts and were ridden through the line – their results/speed figs seem fair.