Top pick selections for all races at Laurel Park today, plus select trip notes and horses to follow. Good luck!
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Race Selections
R1: 12-2
R2: 6-2
R3: 4-7
R4: 5-2
R5: 12-1
R6: 9-10
R7: 8-7
R8: 12-1
R9: 5-6
R10: 7-4
Trip Notes – Recent performances that deserve an asterisk. All others: trust the past-performances.
| Race 1: Maiden Claiming 16k, 3-6YO, 5 ½ Furlongs, Turf | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Notes |
| #12 HONORARY AMERICAN (IRE) | Maiden Claiming 16k, LRL, 5 1/2F, Good Turf, 10/02/26 – 4th | Chased honest pace from ~2-3L back early, then steadied slightly entering far turn; recovered quickly and travelled powerfully while waiting in traffic around the turn and into upper stretch; paused momentarily ~3/16, then found daylight and stayed on well, gaining steadily, but had too much to do. | This wasn’t a terrible trip; however, one does feel that if he’d been able to build momentum/advance a little earlier, he would have gone very close to – if not beaten – both DANNER and FORTUNE HILL; seems there’s a little more to come and he’s respected from a wide draw. |
| Other notes:
– #4 SHORT BURN didn’t quite do enough to earn an upgrade last time; however, he was caught 4W on the turn and also tasked with closing into a slow pace, neither of which helped his chances; he should be capable of offering more today. – #6 FORTUNE HILL has shown a want to lean in through the stretch in his last couple of starts; he also flopped leads in the lane last out; if running straighter and truer, he might be able to offer a fraction more; contender. – Although he was very keen early, #11 FAROOQ stayed on willingly for a nice second in his last turf race back in June; he could play a role getting back to the grass today, especially if he settles better. |
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| Race 2: Ratings Optional Claiming (65-1), 3YO+, 6 Furlongs, Dirt | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Notes |
| Other notes:
– #1 SPRINGHAWK was ridden far too agressively while also wide at Charles Town last time; he can offer more with a more effective ride. – Not saying he wasn’t much the best anyway, but we should note that #5 WOODLINE rode a strong speed bias at Timonium when winning two-back. – #6 PERFECT FORCE didn’t do enough to earn an upgrade last time; however, he was tasked with closing into a pace that held very well over a heavily speed biased racetrack, which certainly didn’t help his chances; today’s waters are calmer and he’s respected making his debut for Ness. |
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| Race 3: OC35k/SAL28k, 3YO+, 1 Mile, Turf | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #4 TIMSHEL | ROC, LRL, 1 1/16M, Firm Turf, 09/19/26 – 2nd | Bumped start; settled ~7L off hot pace inside racing to the far turn; crept closer while still under a hold between horses far turn; waited with in traffic 5/16 pole, then continued to find himself with little running room behind horses racing to the 1/8 pole; found space between horses late and then ran on well for a clear 2nd but was never catching the winner. | While we should acknowledge that he benefited from the hot pace (23.63, 46.26) collapsing in this race, his lack of running room from the 5/16 pole to the 1/8 pole prevented him from advancing or building the necessary momentum, whilst 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. |
| #11 BAND ON THE RUN (AE) | Starter Allowance, LRL, 1M, Good Turf, 09/20/26 – 5th | Slight bobble start; unhurried; took strong hold on rail while racing ~4-5L off slow pace to far turn; boxed in 3/8, then shuffled well back in traffic passing ¼; turned for home ~8L off the lead in 9th, then continued to lack room on heels until inside the final furlong; ran on again late under a mild hand ride but the game was up. | A troubled trip while also lacking a solid pace to close into (24.86, 50.05); he appeared to have plenty of gas left in the tank crossing the wire and can surely improve on this effort. |
| Other notes:
– The chart comment correctly highlights how #1 PARKES was bothered at the break last time; however, as a closing sprinter by trade, it’s hard to say that that was the reason he performed below par; horses seemed to struggle to make up much ground from the back in that race, though, and that seems to be a more realistic excuse (he finished evenly but couldn’t get on terms); stretches out today. – #2 WALL ART has recently been finishing his races in a manner to suggest that further could be better for him, although whether a mile is too far remains to be seen; switches to turf making debut for Stettinius today. Note: the rider dropped the crop ~1/8 pole in his last start, but it didn’t make much difference to the result. – #3 READY SET TWIRL was steadily closing in the stretch when he then found himself in tight and had to tap on the brakes ~1/8 pole last time; it didn’t cost him much, however, combing that little bit of trouble with the way he was staying on and then galloped out in front suggests that he could take a step forward from that last run stretched out to a mile today; respected. – #6 DUCHESSA didn’t have a bad trip last time; however, he did have to wait on the rail for a fraction longer than ideal which allowed the winner to get the jump on him; seeing as he was only just beaten a neck, he probably could have won if he’d been able to build a little more momentum approaching the top of the lane. – #7 PROMISSIO was the only runner to do any serious running from the back in his last start behind RECKLESS that featured just an even pace; while his trip was perfect, he still might be able to offer a little more today given a stronger pace to run at. |
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| Race 4: Maiden Claiming 12.5k, 3-6YO, 7 Furlongs, Dirt | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #3 BEAUTIFUL QUALITY | Maiden Claiming 16k, CNL, 1 1/16M, Firm Turf, 09/06/26 – 8th | Showed speed, then settled into a stalking position 1-2L off the even pace; held position racing into and around the far turn until a rival backed up sharply in front of him ~1/4, forcing him to check and shuffling him right back; he failed to recover from there. | His two-back effort prior to a fine try on the slop last month:
A troubled trip he can likely improve on back in at the same level. |
| Other notes:
– #2 PRESIDENT CAMACHO failed to get home after stalking and then going on with honest enough fractions at a mile last time; today’s cut back to 7F could suit. – #6 PUTTER MAN went a fraction too fast in front when going a mile on the dirt time; following a better than looks effort on turf two-back, too, he could be seen to good effect at 7F today. – Although the chart comment correctly highlights how #6 DIVINE SWAGGER steadied slightly ~1/8 pole last time, it did not cost him the race at all; he revived a good setup, overall sat a fine trip, and had every opportunity to win in the lane if good enough. Note: he lugged out very badly on the turn and then drifted out in the lane (which was partly why he steadied). – #10 REGENCY TALE was very headstrong early and then failed to get home when last seen stretched out to a mile over a speed biased track at Colonial in June; today’s cut back in trip should see him to better effect off the bench, although it still might be a furlong too far. – #12 HAWKSBURY HUSTLER sat a slightly wider-than-ideal trip in a slowly run race at Delaware last time; blinkers on today. |
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| Race 5: Maiden Claiming 25k, 2YO (F), 1 1/16 Miles, Turf |
| Other notes:
– In both starts sprinting on the dirt, #6 POOR JAQUI (MTO) has run in a manner to suggest she’ll be better suited to route distances; blinkers on. – #8 VIRGINIA FAB was difficult to load, pressed the fast pace 4-5W, faded slightly, then wasn’t persevered with in the final furlong when last seen sprinting at Colonial; it’s highly likely that race didn’t see her to best effect; stretches out today. – #12 MARIA ELENA didn’t nearly do enough to earn an upgrade last time; however, she also didn’t have any pace to run at from the rear (24.98, 51.96); blinkers added dropping in class today. |
| Race 6: Claiming 16k, 3YO+, 1 1/16 Miles, Turf | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #10 GREY BIGGSY | Claiming 16k, LRL, 1 1/16M, Good Turf, 09/12/26 – 2nd | Unhurried; settled ~8L off hot pace early; advanced slightly racing into back stretch, then coasted past horses in the 4P and took the lead ~1/2 pole; crossed to the rail and opened up a 4L advantage while being nudged on racing to the top of the lane; came under a hefty ride in the stretch and then kept trying but was running on fumes and caught ~1/16 pole. | He was sent for home too early in this race that featured a hot pace (pace collapsed) and ultimately, he did well to hold 2nd over the ‘good’ listed turf; a slightly more patient ride (such as the one the winner received) could well have seen him hang on; his effort can be upgraded slightly; player again back under a different jock. |
| Other notes:
– #2 NILAMBAR didn’t do enough to earn an upgrade last time (he was 3rd best); however, he did find himself boxed in and shuffled/prevented from building momentum a little on the far turn which wasn’t ideal and there is a small chance that he can offer a little more today. – #3 DAW SAMAA sat too close to an electric pace that completely collapsed last time (22.17, 46.66) before not being persevered with in the lane; we can forgive him that defeat and use his prior starts as a better guide to his chances today. – #8 QUAIN was allowed to get away with setting very slow fractions in front before going onto score two-back – downgrade that effort; bled last time. – #11 DYNAFLAME did really well to finish as close as he did at Colonial last time considering how much energy he wasted pulling hard close to the hot pace early; if settling better, he may be able to improve on that run (might want blinkers off?). – #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. |
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| Race 7: Maiden Claiming 35k, 2YO (F), 6 Furlongs, Dirt |
| Other Notes:
– There was lots to like about #7 PURELY ASSURED’s debut earlier in the month: she broke from the inside post yet took the kickback like a pro, dropped back a little behind horses on the turn, then stayed on willingly to the wire before galloping out nicely; she shaped like she’ll be winning races soon and today’s extra ground plus a wider post should help her move forward; contender. Note: there was a closer bias present the day she made her debut, too, but it didn’t appear to make much difference in that particular race. |
| Race 8: Ratings Optional Claiming (65-1), 3YO+, 5 1/2 Furlongs, Turf |
| Other notes:
– #1 INCINERATOR finished really well into just an even pace for 2nd two-weeks ago; he can likely offer more with a stronger pace to run at. Note: he was also a little wide off the turn and failed to switch leads. – Having run so well the time prior, you have wonder whether the wide trip combined with the yielding turf prevented #2 KISS THEM DEADLY from offering his best when last seen on the grass two-back? – Although the fast pace he pressed was strong (21.85), speed actually held quite well in #3 NORMANDY HERO’s last start, and it appeared that he simply underperformed without a major excuse; needs to bounce back. – #12 ALEXIS ZORBA (GB) was a little wider-than-ideal when running a gallant 2nd at Colonial last out; player. |
| Race 9: OC55k/C Allowance, 3YO+, 7 Furlongs, Dirt |
| Other notes:
– Although the chart comment correctly highlights how #1 POWER GRID took a bump at the 3/16 pole last time, he was already on the retreat at the time, and it made little difference to the result. – #5 ZERO BLITZ didn’t have a bad trip in the Polynesian Stakes last time; however, he can be awarded a little extra credit for the fact that he did best of the closers in despite having raced widest in the lane when there was a slight inside lean to the track; massive player back down in trip and class with lasix on. |
| Race 10: Maiden Claiming 35k, 3-6YO, 5 ½ Furlongs, Turf | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #1 STANZA | Maiden Claiming 45k, LRL, 6F, Firm Turf, 10/24/25 – 4th | Hustled into stride along the rail, then eased back to race ~8L off the even pace as rivals crossed in front of him early on; traveled powerfully (keen) in this position to the turn, then had to ease further back (shuffled back) entering the bend and dropped back to last; passed the ¼ pole ~10L off the lead in last, then swung out into the center, came under a ride and rallied well into 4th but ultimately had way too much to do. | His last start on turf, three-back, prior to the layoff:
He was significantly disadvantaged by his low draw in this race (big, long striding horse needs room to use his stride and found it tough to hold his position); he did well under the circumstances and seems capable of more if getting out/into stride earlier. |
| Other notes:
– #3 NOTION IN MOTION and #7 REPURPOSE (GB) were both somewhat aided by being forwardly placed in a slowly run race that saw speed hold well last time (23.35, 46.28); however, REPURPOSE can also be seen as a slightly unlucky loser as he was 3W on the turn and 2 1/2L back at first call, then just failed to get by the wire winner; whatever the case, he in particular ran well and should play a significant role again today. – #4 TOTAL MISCHIEF sat a wider-than-ideal trip on debut (his lone turf start); contender getting back to grass. – #8 LIFE BOAT has failed to stay 7F in both his starts to date and should be suited by today’s cut back. Note: as highlighted in the chart comment, he tapped on the brakes ~1/2 on debut, but it made no difference to his trip/the result. Makes debut for Joy. |
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Horses to Follow
R6: CITRINE
Motion and Vargas have gone 3-for-5 (60%) together over the last two months, yielding a very healthy $2.00 ROI of $7.68; they go to battle again in today’s sixth with CITRINE, who fared well when making his first start against winners last time and now gets some class relief. He looks a potential single to kick off the low-takeout late pick-5.
R8: ALEXIS ZORBA
A horse with some very strong back-class, ALEXIS ZORBA (GB) has unintentionally been freshened (off-turf scratch on numerous occasions) since he was last seen overcoming a wide trip to finish second at Colonial in early September. He’ll now make his second start for McMahon from a wide post, allowing jockey Marquez to use his tactical speed to its fullest in a race that features plenty of speed. It’s a competitive spot, but he certainly fits with this group, and the price should be fair.
