Something a little different this week… here are two horses to follow today’s card at Laurel Park. (Trip notes will return next week). Good luck!
Make sure to check out the fantastic daily handicapping guide put together by the MJC Team via THIS LINK.
R8: BIG EARN (8/1 ML)
When first handicapping today’s eighth, a 5 1/2-furlong starter allowance on the turf, SO DARN PRETTY stood out to me as a filly who could find her forte back sprinting on the grass, this time with lasix on. But her 7/2 morning line is far too short—especially as Brittany Russell has a five-year record of 0-for-13 when moving turf horses back down from routes to sprints. Instead, the 8/1 about BIG EARN is far more appealing.
This four-year-old daughter of WARRIOR’S REWARD has improved drastically since blinkers went on in September, winning three on the trot with improved speed figures each time (Beyers: 55, 68, 72), and it doesn’t look like she’s peaked yet either.
In both of her last two starts, she’s been hand-ridden to much-the-best victories, seemingly with more to offer, and she overcame a four-wide trip to do so last time as well. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that, if granted a more ground-saving trip and given a stronger ride in the lane, she can take another step forward from her recent 72 Beyer and give the favorites a real scare this afternoon. Ruiz has seemingly landed here over WAITTILMIDNITEHOUR (3/1 ML).
R9: WILD WARRIOR (4/1 ML)
Trainer Gary Capuano has an exceptional record with first-out 2-year-olds (13-for-48, 27%), but it’s not as good as his record with second-out 2-year-olds (15-for-33, 45%, $2.03 ROI). WILD WARRIOR therefore has to be respected in today’s ninth, an N1X allowance going 1 1/16 miles on the dirt.
This son of Improbable managed to justify 8/5 favoritism on debut at Delaware in October despite racing extremely wide and being forced to close into a slow pace on a heavily speed-biased track — factors that suggest he was much better than the winning margin and 52 Beyer figure imply. Now making his second career start in a race that looks loaded with speed, he should get a much more favorable setup and hold his own against winners, with natural progression, Hazlewood’s 5-pound allowance, and Capuano’s second-out juvenile stats all working in his favor.
‘HTF’ Results:
October 2025
Starters: 33
Wins: 8 (24%)
ITM: 17 (52%)
Average Odds: 4.72
ROI: $1.52
September 2025
Starters: 32
Wins: 10 (31%)
ITM: 22 (69%)
Average Odds: 5.60
ROI: $2.46
June 2025
Starters: 35
Wins: 11 (31%)
ITM: 23 (66%)
Average Odds: 5.40
ROI: $3.42
May 2025
Starters: 36
Wins: 12 (33%)
ITM: 20 (55%)
Average Odds: 4.40
ROI: $3.60
