Laurel Park Tips and Trips – Sunday, May 31, 2026

–        #3 SERENE SPIRIT lived up to her 4/5 odds in style last out, remaining on the bridle and traveling very powerfully (while her rivals were under heavy pressure) until the 1/8th pole before powering away to win by 3 lengths, seemingly with something in reserve. She may have more to offer again today.

–        After sitting a smooth trip, #6 GRIPEN finished up full of run to win comfortably and then galloped out very nicely last time; she could have more to offer again today and should be suited by the extra 1/16.

–        There was a strong speed bias present when #8 PROBABLE ANGLE finished 2nd of three, closing into a frenetic pace set by the gate to wire winner on the slop last week. Makes turf debut on short rest today.

–        There was a closer bias present at Oaklawn when #9 SHE CALLED last ran, but she was really done too early and beaten too far for us to use that as an excuse (other speed horses fared much better). She’ll need more today as she makes her turf but and first start for Ness.

–        #2 GIMME TWO SHOTS 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? Blinkers go on today.

–        #4 Q GOT HOPS hopped, stumbled and lost all chance at the start last out; we can toss that race and assess him on his prior starts instead. Note: there was a speed bias present when he finished 2nd courtesy of a forward trip two back.

–        #5 RIO DEL VALLE looked to be lugging in through the stretch when trying the turf last time. He’ll need to step forward switching back to the main track this afternoon.

–        #6 FLYING TO WORK’s runner-up effort on the slop last week isn’t quite deserving of an upgrade because he had a wicked pace to chase (set by the 1/5 fav who just held on), and he managed to save ground throughout. However, he did also have to tap on the brakes just a little in the opening furlong as the speed crossed to the rail, which maybe resulted in him racing further back than would have otherwise been the case, and he also spent the entirety of the race on the rail which can often be slower when it gets sloppy. Considering he was only beaten a neck, both of these factors might have made a difference. Player right back.

–        Not sure how much stock we should put into #5 NO MO MUFFINS last start at Penn National: she had to tap on the brakes very slight entering the turn when a rival began to back up in front of her; we can’t really use that as an excuse as it was only minor interference and she then didn’t do any running after, but it did shuffle her back a touch. There was also a strong closer bias present that day and the pace she was chasing early was very strong, factors that led to a couple of fancied runners paddling close home. It was a muddling race and she’s probably better assessed on her prior starts; switches to turf today.

–        Although she sat a wider than ideal trip, we should not upgrade #6 GRANUAILE’s win last time owing to the fact that she had a phenomenal pace setup, closing into fractions of 21.72, 44.24 which took a toll on the top two betting choices late on.

–        #7 BEYOND QUESTION only had four reported workouts leading into her return off the layoff last time, and she ran like a horse short of peak fitness – speed and fade. Look for her to step forward for that return effort. Note: her return effort last year was very similar to her return effort last month, and then she stepped forward to win next time.

–        #11 GASTOWN BABE sat a wide trip when returning from the layoff with an even effort last time. Another wide post today, blinkers on.

–        There were four sprint races run on the dirt at Tampa when #6 ESTILO MAGICO last ran, and all four were won by horses who were within a length of the lead throughout (three went gate to wire, including EM’s race, won by a 5/1 shot). Seems like he was slightly against the track flow that day. Cuts back to 6F returning to Casey’s barn today.

–        After racing a fraction wide over a wet dirt track last time, #7 ECUMENICAL wasn’t hard ridden through the final 1/16 last time, slightly exacerbating the margin of defeat. Player on the drop today.

–        The chart comment makes #2 FAHNEE’s trip last time sound much worse than it was – her steady around the ½ was fairly inconsequential and overall, she sat a fine trip closing into a red-hot pace (that favored her).

–        #3 NIECEY was promoted to 1st (and lost her maiden tag) due to a medication violation by the winner of her last race on the dirt at Tampa. She ran a nice race in defeat there having waited a few strides longer than ideal on the turn when absent of a clear path and swung wider than ideal into the lane – tiny upgrade. Cuts back in trip and switches back to turf today. Note: her lone try on the Laurel Park turf was troubled and upgradable; her running style suits the long stretch here.

–        There was a very strong speed bias present when #7 TIPMANEE posted her best Beyer and earned her lone victory in gate to wire fashion on the dirt last September. Makes turf debut off the layoff today.

–        Racing on a heavily speed biased track and making her first start on the slop (which she seemingly didn’t act on), #10 STAY IN TUNE was eased through the lane when clearly not going to finish better than 3rd of three last week, exacerbating the margin of defeat. Makes turf debut today.

–        There was no visible reason as to why #2 AZTEC ran so far below par last time.

–        Although he was already beaten at the time and seemingly below par, period, we should note that #8 BIGTONTEN was briefly short of room along the rail ~1/8th pole last time which hindered his momentum somewhat and possibly led to him being beaten further than would otherwise have been the case. Cuts back in trip with weight off today.

–        The track was leaning to speed when #9 WHITE SERIES was last seen winning in wire fashion around two turns – maybe take that form with a pinch of salt. Cuts back in trip making his debut for Capuano today.

–        Although #8 THE LAST SCIP got to within a 1/4L of stablemate #3 CLASS PHOTO and then galloped out past him when they finished 2nd and 1st, respectively, last out, it’s easy to argue that the latter – running as a gelding for the first time – was definitely best of the two, owing to the fact that he sat far closer to the hot, closer friendly pace (23.07, 46.86). Saying that, however, while both will demand serious respect today making their second starts back from the layoff, #8 THE LAST SCIP could be better suited to this distance.

–        #1 JUNIPER JUICE made a likable visual impression returning off the layoff last time; she could be suited by a strongly run 6F today with lasix off and blinkers on.

–        The way #4 CLAWLESS BRIT went about making her first start against winner a winning one last time was quite impressive and borderline pace upgradable (none given though because the other top finishers were positioned quite close to the pace as well): she battled on the lead through solid fractions (22.88, 44.87) before opening up in the lane and then gamely holding off a pair of late challengers at the wire. While she didn’t leave much room to take another huge step forward (laid it all down on the track), she’s clearly trending in the right direction.

–        #6 OVER MY CENTS sat much closer to the electric pace (21.72, 44.24) than the eventual winner who nipped him by a neck on the line last out; she could well have been best in there and will require a second look with the bug weight off today.

–        #7 BIG EARN brushed with both #5 LADY ENSIGN and the eventual winner of her last race in the stretch, but neither incident hindered her momentum or made much of a difference to the result at all. Overall, she sat a good trip and received an excellent setup.

–        #8 MEG possibly deserves some extra credit for her last start because, while accepting that she received a great setup as a closer, she managed to make up over 7L racing over a speed biased track. Returns to turf today.

–        Although he was wide into the stretch, we still might need to downgrade #1 NO MORE CALLS’ win last out as he took advantage of lethal fractions (23.61, 46.89) which led to a pace collapse and set things up perfectly for him closing from last.

–        Having been prominently positioned in his three prior starts, #4 HIXON ended up much further back than he was used to after breaking from the rail in the Frederico Tessio Stakes last time; he showed a very professional and likable attitude to handle these circumstances in just his fourth start, and then finished nicely. What’s more, he was also working against a speed bias in that race, for which he’s deserving of some extra credit. Seems a big player with upside potential intact and lasix going back on today.

–        Although #5 TUFF LUCK was DQ’d from 1st after drifting in through the lane and impeding with a rival last time, he still ran a solid race and his speed figure is fair. Player.

–        Similarly to #1 NO MORE CALLS, we might need to downgrade #7 MARCAN LOVE’s win last time as he sat a very nice trip while taking advantage of hot fractions (23.68, 46.95) which took their toll on the 8/5 fav and set things up well for him to score as a closer.

–        #8 DOLCE VITA was no match for the 1/9 fav BLUE KINGDOM last time – he was very much 2nd best; however, he still ran a very nice race in defeat despite having found himself in tight along the rail from the 9/16 into the turn. While this never forced him to check, it did slightly hinder his momentum and therefore, he might be capable of showing a fraction more today. Player.

–        #1 SILVER SABER finished evenly despite having wasted plenty of energy racing keenly and fighting his rider in behind horses when tracking a slow pace on his turf route debut off the layoff last time. Second out with a more honest pace signed on and fitness under his belt, he should be capable of stepping forward today.

–        #2 PAID VACATION and #5 SHAKIN MY HEAD finished 3rd and 4th, respectively – both having sat good, forward trips – when last seen; while both ran well (extra credit to SHAKIN MY HEAD who was returning from a layoff), we might be best served placing an asterisk by that form because the pace was slow and the rail was set at 87 feet, which led to speed holding very well – the top four finishers, including these two – filled those positions throughout, and no closer managed to get involved.

–        #6 REGENCY TALE received an excellent pace setup as a closer (22.35, 46.55) when producing a career best Beyer two back (ran Friday).

–        #7 MODRANACH lugged out badly on the turn when making his turf debut last time. Cuts right back in trip today.

–        Pinned tight along the rail through the stretch after setting the pace throughout, #9 FLAMELCO STAR ran a big race off the bench last time and will unquestionably demand respect second back today. We should note, however, that speed did seem to hold well in that return race, with the eventual 53/1 winner having sat a close second until turning in, and the 18/1 third place finisher always close up too.