Laurel Park Tips and Trips – Sunday, October 04, 2026

–        #3 EL DE LARRY sat a little too close to the hot pace (23.10, 46.50) that somewhat fell apart at Colonial last time; he’s possibly capable of a little more if rationing out his speed more efficiently.

–        Not saying that he didn’t run a big race or that he’s entitled to respect today, but after veering out badly from the inside gate, #6 MO REWARDS benefited from a great trip and even better pace setup last time – downgrade.

–        The chart comment notes how #8 THICK AS THIEVES was in tight at the start last out but that was hardly the case and seemingly not the reason he was essentially pulled up; has big questions to answer making debut for Robb.

–        Not sure it made any real difference to their respective finishing positions, but there was a speed bias present when #1 PRESIDENT CAMACHO and #6 NAPISONMYAGENDA last ran.

–        Admittedly aided by a good trip, #2 NANTUCKET LOVE stayed on and galloped out well enough on return going 6 1/2F last time to suggest he can take a meaningful step forward stretching out second back; contender.

–        Regarding #3 I AM PEPE’s two-back effort (his last against maiden claimers), ignore the chart comment “steadied 1/8” because that hardly happened and it was negligible.

–        #4 CUDDY’S LUCKY broke through the gate prior to the start of his last race and then found himself in an awkward pressing position tight between foes, providing a reason to believe he can step back in the right direction today.

–        The chart comment suggests that #5 LOVE YOURSELF checked at the ½ last time but that didn’t really happen at all (he was just a little keen in behind horses and the rider grabbed a fresh hold, but he didn’t lose and ground, position or momentum); still he ran a huge race off the layoff and stayed on late in a manner to suggest today’s stretch out second back could be to his benefit (provided he settles); big player.

–        There was chaos at the start of #2 BROWN SUGAR BETTY’s last race when the starter let the field go with a horse still behind the gate (!); this led to the a number of handlers and jockeys (BSB’s included) not being prepared for the gates to open and getting away slower than may have otherwise been the case; she then ran a perfectly fine race for 2nd, although she was aided by a good trip and setup thereafter, and the fact that the track was leaning towards closers was also to her advantage (possible downgrade). (#1 HAPPY ENCOUNTER debuted in this race and was also off slowly).

–        Visibly green, #4 THICK BUT QUICK lugged in hard metering the turn at Timonium on debut and actually hit the rail which knocked her back; from there, she failed to recover; seems she can only improve second out.

–        There was a speed bias present at Laurel when #5 SHESAREALPROBLEM made her debut; after a slow start, the bias worked against her; she also had to very lightly tap on the brakes mid-turn as a rival backed up in front of her, though this was largely negligible.

–        We should be very forgiving of #2 TACTIC VALUE’s (MTO) last start because the saddle slipped early and the rider had little control (ended up setting a faster than ideal pace in front); she ran well under the circumstances.

–        There was a speed bias present when #3 BLO BY THE FIELD ran a career best Beyer last out – maybe take that number with a pinch of salt; switches to turf today.

–        #4 HOT BOSS did not stay when stretched out to a route for the first time last out; she should be more comfortable and more elective back sprinting today.

–        #6 BRIKELI was arguably a little better than the winning margin last time considering he’d set fast fractions in front on the ‘good’ listed turf track; feel he could have more to offer again if rationing out his speed a little more efficiently.

–        There’s no denying that #8 LADY ENSIGN ran a huge race at Colonial last out and she’s deserving of respect right back; it should be noted, however, that she was afforded a very easy time of things on the front-end which, over that speedy turf course, likely aided her.

–        #3 SIN PERMISO was in a little tight at the start and then raced very wide around the first turn last time, neither of which would have helped is chances; he galloped out well.

–        #5 NEW PLEX is a horse whose best efforts have come when he’s been on the lead or at least prominent; after finding himself in tight at the start last time, he ended up last and taking plenty of kickback – not what he wants; that possibly explains why he performed so far below par and if breaking sharper today, it wouldn’t surprise to see him bounce back.

–        #8 NORFIRE has been outpaced in most of his recent starts sprinting and should be more comfortable in the early stages stretched out in trip today; he also lost plenty of ground racing very wide on the turn last out (small upgrade), and he lugged in through the stretch.

Note: his two-back effort was a troubled one.

This effort is deserving of a pace upgrade as she did best of the speed in this fast run race over a ‘good’ listed turf course that set up well for closers; possibly capable of more if rationing out speed more efficiently and entitled to respect if drawing in.

–        #7 PAYNTED BY NANCY pulled through some solid fractions on front before fading when stretched out to a mile last time; she should be suited by today’s cut back in trip.

–        #9 BROADWAY MUSICAL sat a slightly wider-than-ideal trip after breaking from the outside post last time; player right back.

–        Not saying he wasn’t best, but there was a speed bias present when #4 PEDIATRICIAN won in wire fashion last time.

–        #5 FIGHTERTOWN didn’t do enough to earn an upgrade when returning off a freshening on the grass last time; however, he was set an impossible task after dueling through closer-friendly fractions of 23.63, 46.26 and so we can be somewhat forgiving of his late fade.

–        Racing off just 6-days rest, #6 COLLECTION DAY won very easily with gas left in the tank last time, making it two wins in a week; he’s clearly deserving of respect today and so maybe this is a moot point: but he did take advantage of a pace collapse two-back, and the track was slightly favoring closers last time – possible small downgrades for both efforts, still a big player.

–        Not saying that she wasn’t a mile the best, but we should note there was a speed bias at Delaware when #3 YES PICNIC won in wire fashion last time; maybe take the speed fig with a small pinch of salt.

–        The rider on #4 NOTHINGLESSWILLDO dropped the rein in the stretch last out, but it didn’t have any real negative effect.

–        #6 HAPPY THIS DAY had no excuse last time after setting a slow, uncontested pace in front; she needs to bounce back.

–        Although she was never far away and the trip she sat was fine, we still might see more from #8 SET ABLAZE today because her last race was not run to suit her style at all (fractions of 26.20, 51.20 were set; she’s done best running late at solid paces); player.

–        #1 WHOSE NOTION won with very good late energy at Timonium last time and galloped out strongly too, offering hope she’ll handle today’s extra yardage.

–        #3 ALMAS GONE GAMBLIN was involved in a strong, closer-friendly pace at Delaware two-back, then she was not helped by the track slightly leaning towards closers last time; she could well be capable of improving on both those efforts back down in class today, although she does still need to prove her ability to stay further then 4 1/2F.

–        Not saying that she wasn’t best at odds of 1/5 and the fact that she won by as far as she did without coming out of second gear was impressive, but it should still be noted that there was a very strong speed bias present at Colonial when #6 GO NEW YORK GO won on the mud last time; returns off a freshening, respected.

She met significant stretch trouble in this race and was also attempting to close into a slow pace (23.17, 46.04); she appeared to finish with plenty in reserve and we should not mistake this result as a drop off in her form; big player right back.

–        After dropping back a little off the home turn, #6 NAUGHTY FAVORS put in a creditable late kick at Colonial last time before galloping out well; she could be very well suited to today’s long stretch run; player.

–        There was a significant speed bias present when #7 HOCKEY won in wire fashion at Timonium two-back; cuts back today.

–        #10 WONDER GIRL broke a quarter step slow than usual last time which left her a fraction further back than she may have liked; player.