Laurel Park Tips and Trips – Sunday, November 15, 2026

A troubled trip; his finishing effort (into a modest pace) suggested that, with a clean run, he could have certainly hit the board at least in this race; good gallop out.  

Note: she set a solid pace in front last time and the race was eventually dominated by closers; that effort can be given a PACE UPGRADE.

–        Having hit the front too soon in a fast-paced affair two-back, #5 DANCING DEANNA then came rolling too late for third in a modestly run race last time (24.63, 50.23); she’s putting things together and it seems only a matter of time before she finds the winners’ circle.

–        Both of #6 DREAMS TO SELL’s starts to date have pointed towards her possibly being more effective at a route of ground; blinkers on.

–        #11 BREE COLA (AE) endured a rough start two-back (her last start on grass) which resulted in her getting away slowly, and she then did not receive a good pace setup for a closer; seems capable of improving under better circumstances back on the turf today.

–        #3 CHRISTY MY LOVE looked good when winning at 45/1 two-weeks ago, pulling clear with good energy late on, and we shouldn’t knock her likable effort too much; however, she did sit a perfect ground saving trip and receive a very favorable pace setup as a closer following a bump at the break.

While we should acknowledge that he benefited from the hot pace (23.63, 46.26) collapsing, his lack of running room from the 5/16 pole to the 1/8 pole prevented him from advancing or building the necessary momentum, while also allowing the eventual winner to get the jump on him and build an unassailable advantage; with a decent pace possible again this afternoon, a smoother trip can see him improve on this effort.

–        Despite wearing a run-out blinker, #10 LUCA MACHINE lugged out on the turn last time.

–        #1 I’M WITH HER was no match for SILVER STRINGS last time but still did very well to finish 2nd having been aggressively ridden (rider was unnecessarily nudging on her the whole way and taking her out of her comfort zone) and raced wide on the turn; feel she has the ability to improve again on that effort.

–        #2 CARTRIDGE received a good setup when breaking her maiden at Belmont last time, closing from a detached last into fractions of 23.49, 46.82. Note: she jumped the shadows at the wire, but it didn’t make any difference to the result/her performace.

–        #4 CALL IT ran like he’d appreciate today’s stretch out to two-turns when last seen.

–        There was an extreme speed bias present when #6 BRANNHOG broke his maiden in wire fashion last time.

–        #7 WESTBOUND CAT sat a notably wide trip in the Rocky Run at Delaware last time; he can likely improve on that effort with a more ground saving trip back down in class today. Note: he steadied on the first turn last time too, but it was a negligible factor in his trip.

–        We should look past #8 ZENCAT’s latest start in an off-turf MSW as he was not only running on his lesser preferred surface, but he also stumbled terribly at the start which in itself ended all chance.

–        #9 HARD FREEZE was far too keen and aggressive to see out a mile last time and so it makes perfect sense that the blinkers are now coming off; expect that to make a positive impact.

–        #12 GET THEM ROSES (MTO) didn’t sit a bad trip at Keeneland last time; however, there was a speed bias present which may have made it more difficult for him to get past the eventual gate-to-wire winner; makes debut for Gaudet today.

–        #13 SOUPER CHA CHING endured a slightly rough beginning last time, but that was not the reason he failed to lift a hoof; seems more likely that he didn’t take kindly to the addition of blinkers, and we can likely expect more from him as they instantly come back off. Note: his debut effort is deserving of an upgrade as he closed into a slow pace.

This was a very nice effort in defeat considering he raced prominently in a fast-paced affair that favored closers and was still able to re-rally through the stretch; he remains unexposed on the grass and this effort left the impression that he hasn’t peaked just yet. 

–        Despite a very wide trip, #1 DERZ SMART once again finished well sprinting last time; he could be suited by today’s retry of a mile.

–        #5 DYNAFLAME didn’t do enough to earn an upgrade last out; however, he was very wide on the first turn and also pulled extremely hard which took something out of his finishing effort; he’s likely capable of more, but whether we see that before the blinkers come off is a question mark.

–        #8 MY CAPTAIN was caught wider-than-ideal on the far turn when making his first turf route start last time; he may be capable of offering more with a more ground saving trip now he’s got that extra route fitness behind him.

–        After blowing the break, #10 BAD BOY BLAZE essentially ran off with his rider down the back stretch last time, leaving nothing for the stretch run; taking the blinkers off could be a good move today.

–        #12 RED MILLER (MTO) was running a nice race and looked to be coming with something of a run on the turn at Belmont last time when he was then pinched between horses and forced to steady sharply ~3/8 pole; this cost him momentum and from there he failed to recover; the trouble provides a legitimate reason as to why he performed slightly below par.

–        #16 DAW SAMAA (AE) did well to hold 4th last out after setting some legit fractions in front that benefited closers; he may be capable of improving on that effort if rationing out his speed more efficiently.

–        Although #2 ARMED N DANGEROUS probably was best when winning at odds of 5/2 last time, the hot pace did collapse in that race which aided him greatly.

–        #4 PEA RIDGE finished very well when making his first start against winners at two-turns last time; he remains unexposed and could be really well suited to today’s long stretch run; player.

–        Think Toledo might want another go at that last race on #5 COMPATRIOT: the horse took a keen hold and worked forward to lead on the rail early through a 25.44 opening quarter, but Toledo then conceded the lead and settled him back in behind horses on the turn; the pair dropped 4-5L back rounding into the stretch (when they could have actually retained the lead) before running on well again late for a staying on 3rd; feel that if he’d held his forward position he could have gone even closer; blinkers on today could be a good move.

–        There was a small speed bias present at Delaware when #7 THE GREAT OSCAR finished 3rd courtesy of a forward trip last time.

–        #2 SPRING DECISION went a little too fast for his own good on the dirt last time, posting fractions of 22.90, 47.04 for the 1 1/16M contest; a more patient ride with blinkers off switching back to turf today should see him to better effect.

–        #3 CENTER showed a nice mix of speed and stamina in his debut at Presque Isle, laying up with fractions of 21.73, 44.23 before staying on strongly through the wire to win going away; he could be well suited by today’s stretch out in trip.

–        #5 GALATOWN GUY pricked his ears and looked to idle when in front through the stretch at Delaware last time, allowing the runner-up to get to within a 1/4L of him at the wire; the visual and his gallop out point towards him having had more left in reserve that the margin of victory suggests, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him step up again facing tougher foes today.

–        #7 SOUNDBITE really had no excuse last time when he set a slow, uncontested pace over a speed bias track at Delaware; he’ll likely need more getting back to the turf today.

–        #8 MERITORIOUS was ultra game to endure a good ¼ mile stretch battle and win off a 530-day layoff two-back; he could play another major role today getting back to the grass third back.

–        Racing off a 98-day layoff, #1 GO NEW YORK GO became fractious in the gate, then went far too fast for his own good last time, setting fractions of 22.98, 46.48 which led to a pace collapse; he can certainly offer more second back if rationing out his speed more efficiently over 6F.

–        #2 HIDDEN RHYTHM was very (too) headstrong at a mile last time and could be seen to better effect cut back in trip today.

–        There was no fluke about #3 SILVER STRING’s 31/1 win when making his debut for Ness last time: he comfortably set honest fractions in front, came under a ride in upper stretch and then powered away from his rivals with exceptional energy; he should have no problem with the cut back in trip today and is highly respected.

–        Although the pace was contested and fractions solid for the class level, speed actually held well in #4 MOMMA OMA’s debut race, with the first three positioned runners at first call (odds of 2/1, 22/1 and 28/1) eventually finishing 2-3-4 behind MOMMA, making her wide rally from over 10L back to score even more impressive; she’ll need to step forward today, but there were things to like about the debut win. Note: she lugged in through the lane on debut.

–        #5 KATZ ON FIRE was arguably a little better than the winning margin suggests when breaking her maiden in first time blinkers last out, as she dueled through some taxing fractions early; her effort is deserving of a pace upgrade.

–        #6 JUST GIA was a visually impressive winner last time and will demand respect today, period; however, it should be noted that there was slight speed bias at Delaware on October 15 which possibly aided her.

–        #7 SWEET BOURBON TEA took advantage of a pace collapse when finishing 2nd at 35/1 last time (downgrade), and while it’s true that she was slightly in narrow quarters ~3/16 pole, she didn’t have to check or halt her momentum, and it made no difference to her effort.

–        #8 FLOREANA overcame a slightly wider than ideal trip when gamely getting up late to break her maiden last time and should be capable of more second out with a more ground saving trip, especially if she switches leads (which she failed to do on debut).

–        Having been outpaced from the start, #2 LEGAL LIGHTNING then stayed on well enough at Parx last time to suggest today’s stretch back out in trip will see her to better effect.

–        There was a speed bias present when #3 EIMAR finished 3rd courtesy of a forward trip at Delaware last time.

–        There was a strong speed bias present when #4 VALEIRE STREET finished 3rd when last seen. #5 DANNI’S RHYTHM also exits that race, although she didn’t do enough to suggest the track impacted her effort in any way.