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: 5-1-7
R2: 5-2-8
R3: 6-5-3
R4: 5-6-4
R5: 2-1-8
R6: 9-4-8
R7: 2-4-6
R8: 3-6-1
R9: 5-9-2
Trip Notes – Recent performances that deserve an asterisk. All others: trust the past-performances.
| Race 1: Maiden Claiming 16k, 3-6YO (F), 1 Mile, Turf | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Notes |
| #7 QUALITY SWAG | Maiden Claiming 16k, DEL, 1M, Soft Turf, 08/29/26 – 2nd | Slow into stride; chased slow pace from ~7L last in 2P to far turn, then made a bold move 3-4W far turn; turned for home ~4L back in a share of 3rd, then stayed on with credit for a clear 2nd. | A small upgrade can be awarded here as she closed into SLOW fractions (24.87, 50.25, 1:15.93) that favored front runners, and she was a little wide too; eligible to step forward back on a sound surface. |
| Other notes:
– #1 FEATHER WISH found herself in a little tight in upper stretch at Colonial last time and then was not hard ridden through the lane; she likely wouldn’t have hit the board with a cleaner trip/stronger ride, but she might be able to improve a touch on that run stretching out today. – Although a little wide on the turns, #2 WHISKEY BREW’s 3rd place finish at Timonium last month may flatter her a little as the 8/5 favorite unseated the rider at the start, and there was a strong SPEED BIAS present which maybe helped her hold her position. |
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| Race 2: Claiming 7.5k, 3YO+, 1 1/16 Miles, Dirt |
| Other notes:
– #2 CELESTIAL MOON put forth an odd effort last time in which he never took a hold of the bridle and almost ran like he was resisting the kickback (bizarre for a veteran); has questions to answer third back today. – #3 STRATEGIST’s two back effort needs downgrading as he benefited from being able to set slow, uncontested fractions (25.38, 49.76, 1:15; 34) in front early early. |
| Race 3: OC35k/SAL28k, 3YO+, 1 Mile, Turf | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #2 WALKING IN MEMPHIS | Allowance, GP, 1M, Firm Turf, 07/20/26 – 5th | Sent; dueled through fast fractions on the rail while taking pressure all the way to upper stretch, then faded grudgingly. | His lasts start around two-turns, two-back:
This effort is deserving of a small pace upgrade as he was beaten just over 4L, despite having set FAST, pressured fractions of 22.51, 45.32, 1:08.36; if he can ration out his speed more efficiently today, he may be tough to peg back. |
| #3 PROMISSIO | Starter Allowance, CNL, 1M, Firm Turf, 08/07/26 – 2nd | Patiently handled from outside gate; chased honest pace from ~5L back to the far turn; took slightly closer order while ~3W far turn, then tipped out ~5W in upper stretch and attempted to come with a run between foes but was shut off and forced to check ~1/8 pole; regrouped, then stayed on very willingly for 2nd. | His two-back effort when he beat the re-opposing #6 RECKLESS:
A troubled stretch run, we can mark this effort up slightly.
Note: he sat a notably wide trip last out (08/28/26) – small upgrade. |
| Other notes:
– For the second time in a row, #1 IN HONOR OF JEFF finished and galloped out very nicely sprinting 6F on the dirt last time; provided he takes to the turf today, the stretch out to a mile could help him move forward. – While accepting that he received a favorable pace setup, it should be noted that #5 FREEDOM GLIDER steadied a touch ~3/8 pole and brushed with a foe ~1/8 pole while on his way to a much the best victory at Delaware last out; neither of these factors were significant enough to earn him an upgrade, but they didn’t aid him either; still, he was full of run crossing the wire under a hand ride, and appeared to have plenty in reserve; expecting him to improve on that effort, player. |
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| Race 4: Ratings Optional Claiming, 3YO+, 6 Furlongs, Dirt | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #5 RAMPAIGUS | Allowance, LRL, 6F, Fast Dirt, 06/14/26 – 4th | Clean break; forward between horses early until shuffled right back approaching the far turn; entered the bend in last, ~5L off the slow pace; improved position steadily despite leaning out far turn, then stayed on gamely through the lane for 4th; galloped out strongly. | This effort can be upgraded in a big way as not only did he have a TROUBLED TRIP, but he also closed into a SLOW PACE while racing against the strong SPEED BIAS; big player following slight freshening. |
| Other notes:
– #3 PARTY AT SAM’S didn’t disgrace himself in a tough allowance off the bench at Delaware last out, especially as he spent the entire race on the rail, which often is a slower part of the track at Delaware (and was on this day); eligible to step forward. – #4 MEDAGOOCH (4th) and #8 TENEBRIS (2nd) both exit a race at Timonium that was run over a heavily SPEED BIASED track; the track arguably aided TENEBRIS (who was always froward) and negatively impacted MEDAGOOCH (mid-pack throughout, eligible to improve second back today). – #6 GORDIAN KNOT might have simply underperformed last out, period; however, he did also hesitate badly at the start which resulted in him using energy early to obtain a forward position by the time the field entered the far turn; this was possibly a factor in why he then faded through the lane; cuts back today. |
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| Race 5: Maiden Claiming 35k, 3-6YO, 6 Furlongs, Dirt |
| Other notes:
– #1 SCRUTINATOR stayed on well at Colonial last month despite having made a premature lead change to his right lead mid-turn and then having flopped back to his left in the stretch. – #2 LOVE YOURSELF wasted energy by running far too enthusiastically around two-turns at Delaware when last seen and should be more comfortable back at 6F today. Note: he sat a troubled trip two-back (checked 3/8; short of room on heels racing into the lane, allowing the winner to get first run), and that run can be marginally upgraded. – #5 TOTAL MISCHIEF ran well sprinting on the turf at Colonial last month despite having been caught wider than ideal on the turn; contender switching surfaces today. |
| Race 6: Ratings Optional Claiming, 3YO+, 5 ½ Furlongs, Turf |
| Other notes:
– #1 FIERCE AND STRONG didn’t do enough to earn an upgrade last out, but he was pinched and shuffled back while wide ~3/8 pole, which didn’t help his chances. – #2 CALL ME ANDY stumbled a little at the start sprinting on the dirt last out, but it’s hard to say that that was the reason for his sub-par effort; seems more likely that he doesn’t enjoy Parx’s unique surface (considering his effort three back also); switches back to grass today. – #8 NOAH CHANCE ran well off a freshening last week despite a marginally wider than ideal trip; player right back. – #12 NOTHING BETTER (AE) was part of a ferocious pace that ultimately collapsed at Saratoga last out (21.87, 44.72); he can be given something of a pass for that effort. |
| Race 7: Maiden Claiming 35k, 2YO, 5 Furlongs, Dirt | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #2 DOLCE FAR NIENTE | Maiden Claiming 40k, CNL, 5 1/2F, Fast Dirt, 08/21/26 – 3rd | Lacked speed; chased from a detached last into the turn; angled out into the 5P approaching upper stretch, then found himself on a struggling rival’s heels entering the lane; spied a gap between horses shortly after but immediately had the door shut in his face and was forced to steady; ~5L down in 6th passing the 1/8 pole, then stayed on really nicely for 3rd but had too much to do. | A very troubled yet hugely likable debut effort; this run can be upgraded, and much more can be expected of this runner second out today. |
| #5 BARU | Maiden Claiming 40k, TIM, 4F, Fast Dirt, 09/08/26 – 4th | Broke alertly but was out-sped shortly after; climbed in kickback racing into turn, dropped back; angled out into the clear, then held position despite racing 5W on the turn; closed steadily lane. | We can potentially expect BARU to step forward from this run today owing to the fact he lost position when not handling the kickback early (detrimental in a 4F race), and he was notably wide on the turn too. |
| Other Notes:
– #6 HIS FRIESAN FIRE galloped out well after finishing 4th going 4F at Timonium last week; today’s extra distance combined with that debut experience can see him move forward today. |
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| Race 8: Allowance, 3YO+ ®, 1 1/16 Miles, Dirt |
| Other notes:
– DRF PPs incorrectly list #1 ROLL ON JESSE as being 13L off the lead at first call last out; that’s incorrect – he was never more than 3 1/2L back throughout. – #2 TUFF LUCK was caught wider than ideal on the turn at Colonial last time. |
| Race 9: Maiden Claiming 16k, 3-6YO (F), 1 Mile, Turf | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #6 COMMON SENSE | Maiden Claiming 40k, CNL, 5 1/2F, Firm Turf, 08/23/26 – 5th | Settled tight between foes 2W, ~4L off the modest pace early; slightly tight quarters entering turn; remained under patient handling to the ¼, then found himself wedged in a traffic pocket and was shuffled back under a tight hold entering the stretch; finally got clear ~1/8 pole, then stayed on willingly but had too much to do. | 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; gallop provided optimism about him staying today’s distance; respected. |
| #9 GOTTA BE DA SHOES | Maiden Claiming 16k, CNL, 1M, Firm Turf, 08/23/26 – 5th | Chased honest pace from ~4L back to far turn; angled out 3W and made smooth progress racing to the top of the lane; drew level for the lead 3/16 pole but then appeared to hang a little and couldn’t get by ~1/8 pole; a fresh pair of challengers then ranged up outside him in deep stretch, sandwiching him tight between horses and forcing him to steady hard. | While one would really have liked him to have put this race to bed in the lane (looked the winner in upper stretch but hung) and he wasn’t going to win when the interference occurred, he didn’t have a clean trip in this race and could have finished closer, so he does have the potential to offer a little more today. |
| Other notes:
– None. |
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Horses to Follow
R4: RAMPAIGUS (5/2 ML)
Freshened up since last seen running with credit against a speed bias and into a slow pace in June, RAMPAIGUS has the speed and class to outmatch his rivals in today’s fourth, with regular rider Carlos Lopez getting back in the plate.
R6: WHERE’S RAY (9/2 ML)
Seven-time winner WHERE’S RAY mightn’t have passed the post in front this year; however, the company he’s been keeping has been very strong, and excuses can be made for a couple of his defeats. He now gets a little class relief in today’s sixth and returns to his preferred course and distance, at which his form and figures dwarf his rivals’. At 9/2 on the morning line, he looks to be providing value.
