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: 4-9-3
R2: 4-7-2
R3: 2-7-9
R4: 3-9-1
R5: 9-5-1
R6: 1-5-1A
R7: 11-9-2
R8: 3-6-2
R9: 7-6-2
R10: 4-8-6
Trip Notes – Recent performances that deserve an asterisk. All others: trust the past-performances.
| Race 1: Claiming 16k, 3YO+, 5 ½ Furlongs, Turf |
| Other notes:
– #1 STONE COLD JONES benefited from a perfect trip and setup when posting a career best effort here last time, possibly reducing the likelihood of him reproducing that exact level of form today; still, it was a solid debut for Geralis and he’s respected right back. – #5 LET FLY sat a wider-than-ideal trip at Colonial last out. – As inconvenient as it is that we don’t have any fractions for the race, #6 COPERNIUM still might deserve some extra credit for his win two-back (his last on turf) as he was the only horse to make up any ground at all from the back. – #8 SINTEC didn’t do enough to earn an upgrade last out; however, he was squeezed out of position mid-turn, which didn’t help his chances; lasix off today. – #9 WHENEVERUREMEMBER was very headstrong and essentially pulled his chance away when stretched out to a mile last time; he should benefit from returning to sprint trips; player getting class relief. – #10 BENNY HAVENS was unruly in the post parade and then became upset in the gate as well when last seen; an apparent off day for him, he may be more competitive dropping in class after a freshening today. – #11 ARCHIMEDES showed a very likable attitude to win last out: he vied 3W early; dropped back off duel while 3W turn; brushed with foe upper stretch, then rallied very gamely between foes to get up. Makes debut for Farrior today. |
| Race 2: Claiming 7.5k, 3YO+, 1 Mile, Dirt |
| Other notes:
– There are no visible reasons as to why #1 MAGNIFICENT RAGS has underperformed the last twice, but maybe he just doesn’t like the bullring? Returns to a conventional track today. – #2 VENETO didn’t quite do enough to earn an upgrade last out; however, he did rear at the break which resulted in him racing a little further back than in his prior two starts, and he was also a touch wide when the inside was the place to be; stretches out today. – #3 UNCLE GREY ran a nice 2nd at Timonium last out (four runner race) despite having been caught 3W on all three turns – small upgrade; respected. – Making his first start since a gelding operation, #4 PAYNTED LION hardly picked up the bridle at all in the first half of his most recent race going 5 1/2F at Delaware (he looked to possibly be resenting the muddy kickback); however, he then kicked in the afterburners at halfway and made up an eyecatching amount of ground to be beaten just 1 1/2L in 3rd behind the two favs who ran 1-2 throughout; even with it’s imperfections, it was a promising return to action and now stretching out to a mile second back, improvement seems likely; player. |
| Race 3: Claiming 16k, 3YO+, 1 1/16 Miles, Turf | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #2 OWHATANITE | Claiming 16k, CNL, 1M, Firm Turf, 08/20/26 – 3rd | Bumped 2x break, steadied, away slowly in last; chased honest pace from 8-9L back into the far turn, then began to creep a little closer on the rail; cut the corner into the lane, then rallied very willingly through traffic but had too much to do; nearest finish. | He’s a closer by trade, so maybe it didn’t make that much difference to the result; but based on his very strong finishing effort, one has to think that a cleaner break (and therefore more prominent early position) could have seen him go very close indeed; possible upgrade, definite player. |
| #9 SNEAKING SUSPICION | Claiming 16k, CNL, 1M, Firm Turf, 08/20/26 – 7th | Lacked speed; 3W first turn; chased honest pace from ~9L back into far turn; crept slightly closer under a hand ride but remained behind racing to the top of the lane, then began to run on well but had a rival back up in front of him ~1/8 pole, forcing him to steady and losing him momentum at a pivotal moment; didn’t recover. | Not picked up in the chart comment and only really visible on the head-on replay, he endured a slightly troubled stretch run here when staying on nicely and he was certainly a little better than his finishing result/speed fig suggests. |
| Other notes:
– #1 ITALIANO KID sat a notably wide trip last time and may be capable of more today drawn low. – While accepting that he had a favorable pace to run at and the bug weight off his back, it should be noted that #11 KEEN TALENT (AE) lost more ground with his wide trip than the neck margin he was beaten in his most recent try on turf; he then made up an impressive amount of ground in just an evenly paced affair on the slop at CT prior to taking advantage of a good setup and determined ride back there last time. |
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| Race 4: Maiden Claiming 16k, 3-6YO, 1 1/16 Miles, Turf | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #4 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. | A troubled trip he can likely improve on back in at the same level; contender. |
| #16 PLENTY ON TAP (AE) | Maiden Claiming 16k, LRL, 1M, Good Turf, 09/11/26 – 3rd | Step slow start; chased honest pace from ~5-6L back 3W rounding the first turn, then took a strong hold and dragged his rider a little closer racing to the far turn; continued pulling while tight between foes rounding the far turn, then worked inside and cut the corner into the lane; lacked room shortly after straightening and had to steady on the leader’s heels; dropped back a couple of lengths ~1/16 pole, then found room again and ran on strongly but had too much to do. | The way he traveled into the race and then picked back up inside the final 1/16 to just miss 2nd left the impression that with a clean trip, he’d near enough have won this race; big player if drawing in. |
| Other notes:
– #1 FIERY DEBUT sat a slightly wider than ideal trip at Colonial last time. – #5 TEDDY P stayed on well enough in his turf debut last time (5 1/2F) to suggest today’s stretch out could be to his benefit. – After angling out wide at the top of the lane, #9 BIG BOY LUKA then lugged in violently (green) through the lane which cost him 2nd (once corrected by his jock, he ran on well); seems there’s more to come from him; contender. – #15 RED SEA (AE) appeared a little unsettled last out, throwing his head around rounding the first turn and racing down the back stretch; maybe something was amiss with him or his tack and that could have played a part in his disappointing result. |
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| Race 5: Maiden Claiming 25k, 2YO (F), 7 Furlongs, Dirt |
| Other notes:
– Not entirely sure how much difference it made to her finishing position, but #3 DOE’S LEMONADE steadied entering the turn when sprinting 4F at Timonium last time. – The chart comment highlights how #8 SENSE THE MOON met traffic on the far turn at Colonial last time; while true that this did happen, it was not that significant and definitely not the reason as to why he was beaten ~15L; returns do sprinting on dirt today. – #9 ASHLEY H made a promising second start at Timonium last out, staying on nicely after racing in mid-division; today’s trip could be more to her liking. |
| Race 6: OC40k/N2X Allowance, 3YO+, 5 ½ Furlongs, Turf | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #2 NORMANDY HERO | Allowance, DEL, 5F, Fast Dirt, 09/05/26 – 4th | Stumbled start; sent to recover but couldn’t get lead so chased from ~2L back instead; then found himself in tight between horses rounding the lane when he desperately needed to be maintaining/building forward momentum; turned for home ~2L down, then stayed on very willingly but was never doing better than 4th. | For a speed horse who does his best work on the front end, this was not a good trip, stumbling at the start and then finding traffic on the far turn; probably best to toss this race and assess him on his game runner-up finish on turf two-back instead. |
| #5 KNOCKANARA | Allowance, CNL, 5 1/2F, Firm Turf, 08/20/26 – 3rd | Chased pace from ~4L back into the turn; advanced while 4-6W racing to the top of the lane, then finished willingly despite brushing with a foe at the 3/16 and then bumping with another foe ~1/8 pole; just missed. | This wasn’t a terrible trip; however, the ground he lost racing wide on the turn and the bump he took in the stretch combined to cost him more than the neck margin he was beaten; seems capable of reversing form with FIRMANTOWN now racing of level weights with that rival. |
| #1A MIZNER | Allowance, CNL, 5 1/2F, Good Turf, 08/20/26 – 4th | Lacked speed under patient handling start and dropped right back; chased modest pace from ~8L back into turn, then advanced 2W on the run to the top of the lane; angled out into the 4P upon straightening, then ran on well but had too much to do. | Speed held very well in this modestly run race and he actually did well to finish as close as he did; a stronger gallop and Laurel’s long stretch can help him improve on this effort. |
| Other notes:
– #4 NEONATE benefited a perfect trip and setup when posting his career best figure last out, possibly reducing the likelihood he reproduces that exact level of form today. |
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| Race 7: N1X Allowance, 3YO+, 5 ½ Furlongs, Turf | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #11 BOASTFULLY IRISH | Allowance, DEL, 5F, Soft Turf, 08/29/26 – 3rd | Bumped both sides start and slowly into stride; chased even pace from ~6-7L back into the turn; advanced inside, then angled out 8W in upper stretch before finishing well down the center, only to come up a head short. | This wasn’t a horrendous trip; however, his finishing effort and narrow margin of defeat point to his troubled start (that prevented him from getting more forward early) and his wide move on the turn combining to cost him the race; a strong effort under the circumstances, he should be suited by today’s 5 1/2F trip with a long stretch.
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| #12 BARBADOS BUZZ | MSW, CNL, 6F, Firm Turf, 07/31/26 – 1st | Patiently handled early, lacked speed; chased in last to the turn, then made steady headway on the rail before taking advantage of a huge inside opening at the top of the lane; kicked in the turbo and spurted forward and passed all to gamely secure the win. | While his trip was perfect, this visually appealing effort is still worth highlighting as he managed to close from last to first into fractions of just 23.24, 47.15 which, especially at Colonial, are not fast; a stronger pace should unlock more in this unexposed runner. |
| 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 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 be a more realistic excuse (he finished evenly but couldn’t get on terms). – #2 SPRING DECISION didn’t look to quite stay in either of his route attempts; he should be more effective back down in trip today; returns of layoff with blinkers on. – #3 LUCA MACHINE lost ground last time when he raced awkwardly on the turn and lugged out before being floated even wider again in upper stretch; a low draw could be to his advantage today. – There was a strong speed bias present at Timonium when #5 HOLY MOLY MITOLE broke his maiden in gate-to-wire fashion there last time. – Other than losing his footing slightly at the break and getting away a touch slow (which was actually a blessing in disguise), #7 FRYE ISLAND (IRE) could not have asked for a better pace setup or ground saving trip than he did when posting a career best last time, possibly making it more difficult for him to reproduce that exact level of form for his new barn. – #8 ALEXIS ZORBA (GB) was a little wider-than-ideal when running a gallant 2nd at Colonial last out; player. – #9 VIRTUOSITY lugged out a little on the turn last out and consequently lost a little ground going wide; gelded since. – #10 START TAPPIN received an exceptional pace setup when winning last time – possible downgrade? |
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| Race 8: MSW, 3-6YO (F), 7 Furlongs, Dirt |
| Other notes:
– After taking a bump at the start, #3 MO LAKE TIME was far too headstrong (and wide) to stay 1 1/16M on the turf last time; as her debut effort would also support, today’s cut back should be in her favor. |
| Race 9: OC55k/C Allowance, 3YO+ (F), 5 ½ Furlongs, Turf | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #11 COME TO MAMA | Sensible Lady Turf Dash, LRL, 6F, Firm Turf, 09/12/26 – 3rd | Slight bobble break, got away in mid-pack; rushed up between horses early to press the fast pace in the 2P; drew level for the lead rounding into the lane, going about best; came under ride ~3/16 and continued battling gamely but could not hold off eventual 1-2 finishers (who closed); held 3rd well. | A huge career best at a monster price; she did best of the speed in this fast paced, closer friendly race, and her effort is deserving of a PACE UPGRADE; if holding this level of form, she could play another huge role back at 5 1/2F. |
| Other notes:
– Although no match for JEAN VALJEAN (no disrespect in that), #2 FLAMINGO WAY still ran very well off the bench last time and could now be sitting on a big effort as she finally tries of 5 1/2F on turf with lasix on; throughout the last year, she’s consistently run in a manner to suggest this is going to be her best game; player. – #3 IN MY MEMORIES did herself no favors and ultimately had her lack of race fitness exposed when getting into a speed duel on her return off a layoff last time; expecting her to step forward for that run today. – #5 GIFT OF GAB ran a huge race in the Sensible Lady Turf Dash last time: tracked the hot pace from ~6L back on the rail into the lane; briefly waited in behind horses, then switched to the center mid stretch and rallied well. Although she did have to sit in traffic a little through the lane, we shouldn’t upgrade her effort because the pace setup was very much in her favor; still, the result and speed fig seem fair, and she’s obviously demanding respect right back. – Although no sectionals were officially recorded, it seemed as though speed held well in the Incredible Revenge Stakes at Monmouth on August 01, aiding #8 OBSTREPEROUS; lasix on. |
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| Race 10: Maiden Claiming 12.5k, 3-6YO, 1 Mile, Dirt | |||
| Horse | Race | Trip | Note |
| #4 MR SKINNY | Maiden Claiming 12k, CT, 7F, Fast Dirt, 08/21/26 – 2nd | Chased honest pace from ~5L back while 3W racing to the ½; chased hard in 3rd second turn, then stayed on well for 2nd late; galloped out in front. | In first time blinkers, he closed against the SPEED BIAS present this night at CT for 2nd, then galloped out in front, suggesting today’s added distance will be to his advantage. |
| Other notes:
– #6 DIVINE SWAGGER was ridden far too aggressively in a furiously run mile race (22.51, 45.02) at Colonial last time; a more efficient ride should see him to better effect with the bug weight off today. – #7 SENOR MONEY was DQ’d for interference in the lane when returning off the bench in a 5 1/2F sprint last time, and it’s not certain how that form translates to today’s mile dirt affair; however, he did actually run respectably to be beaten just 2 1/4L considering he probably wasn’t at full fitness and he raced close to the hot, closer friendly pace. |
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Horses to Follow
R3: OWHATANITE (7/2 ML)
OWHATANITE took a large step back in the right direction at Colonial last time, staying on strongly from the rear after a troubled break to earn the show in a tough claiming 16k. Now taking on what appears to be a marginally softer group, the setup he’s set to receive in today’s third looks equally as favorable as in his last, and his trainer’s strong recent form aids the case.
R7: BOASTFULLY IRISH (12/1 ML)
Following a recent gelding operation, BOASTFULLY IRISH returned over soft turf at Delaware last month with a narrow third-place finish that yielded his second-fastest lifetime BSF of 70. That figure was earned in spite of a troubled start, wide trip, and the flat 5-furlongs playing slightly on the short side for him, indicating that he’s stepped forward for his recent gelding operation. Now getting back to 5 1/2-furlongs at Laurel Park with the long stretch to suit, another move forward could make him very competitive at a price.
