1-5-2-3
#1 Spencer Tiara (9-2) improved a bit to 78 seconds after an eight-month break last. She finished behind Itsamonstamash in both of her starts at the current meet. She confirmed her form with a second place behind Takethemoneyhoney in the Politely Stakes last Saturday. This filly should benefit from the class exemption as third from the bench. #5 Meg (6-1) makes her first start since a seventh-place finish in the Maryland Million Distaff in early October. She hasn’t shown much early speed in her last few starts, but her only career win came at this distance, and she will be a serious late threat if she can keep even remotely close to the early pace. #2 Rina is fire (6-5) left last at the start, losing early position and finishing second behind gate-to-wire winner She’s a Gem. This was an impressive maiden winner two starts ago and has plenty of upside for the Gary Capuano/Yedsit Hazlewood dream team, but be wary of pricing too low.
Bet on our picks at AmWager!
RACE 5: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3 year olds and older, fillies and mares, 1 1/16 MILES
5-1-6-3
#5 Bells Beach (6-5)a $675,000 purchase as a yearling, makes her first start since mid-May and her first start for Brittany Russell after starting her career for Chad Brown. She consistently ran in the mid-80s against the better types at the first level in New York earlier this year, and Russell is very sharp first after long layoffs. Her usual race easily beats this one. We have another Jamie Ness-trained paired entry here, and both deserve serious consideration. I lean slightly towards #1 Pam Pam (7-5)after an impressive effort at this distance against a similar final out, but both are worthy of being my second choice. #6 Graceful rose (30-1) struggled last, but ran in the 80s in her previous two races, and will be a threat at a price with a rebound effort.
RACE 6: STARTER OPTIONAL WITH $16,000 CLAIM, 3 year olds and over, fillies and mares, 6 furlongs
1-9-8-3
#1 Krissi N (9-2) takes a major class drop after facing rivals in the first and second tier for most of the year. She stopped and completed the circuit in both starts since returning from a four-month break, but should improve with a class drop in third after the layoff. #9 Ticklers (6-1) rose to win last on grass at this level, for her second win in four career starts. She is unproven on this surface, but will be difficult if her form transfers. #8 Still a hope (5-1) steps up in his class after winning three times against conditioned claimers earlier this season. She closed well for third place last a mile behind Fitness and Ade, who again finished 1-2 yesterday.
RACE 7: GIN TALKING STAKES, 2 year olds, fillies, 7 furlongs
1-6-2-4
The road to the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes winds on with this race, named for the 1999 Maryland-bred champion 2-year-old filly and the 2000 Maryland-bred Horse of the Year. #1 Just filtered (6-5) made a big rebound effort in the final out of the Maryland Juvenile Filly Stakes, running away from the competition by 1 ¾ lengths for her third stakes win of the season. She has a very high ceiling; the only potential obstacle is a possible wet track. Her flat third in the Smart Halo Stakes two starts back was on a good track. #6 Slewperstitues (3-1) was runner-up to Just Philtored in stakes company twice over the summer before the tables were turned on her final out. She has great late speed, adds blinders and has every chance to wear out Just Philtored. #2 Dazzling lady (5-2) won a few stakes races at a mile this year. She captured the Sorority Stakes at Monmouth Park and the White Clay Creek Stakes at Delaware Park, the latter with an impressive 90. After leaving the work tab for a while, she has done two practices for Brittany Russell since mid-December. She has a lot of talent, and we’ll see how she does it first off the bench, at a closer distance than she might like.
RACE 8: LIFT STAKES, 2 year olds, 7 furlongs
8-2-7-9
#8 Electricity grid (6-1) impressively broke his first two starts ago with an 86, followed by an 88 in a final first-level win. He defeated the old leader Bala de Plata and rose to defeat him on the final jump. He has been well prepared for this race by Jerry Robb and should have a great ride off the pace on the open track. Gary Capuano has four entered here. #2 Probably dreaming (2-1) seems like the best of that group to me. He won a pair of stakes races in Delaware earlier this year and is making his first start after being scratched from the far outpost in the Remsen Stakes a few weeks ago. He regressed when he last finished second in the Nashua Stakes, but now returns to his home base, drops in his class and should deliver a better performance. #7 Very volatile (9-2) improved sharply and broke his second-place maiden with a 78. He defeated stablemate Awesome Andy that day; he returned last Saturday to break his girl. Yedsit Hazlewood has regularly ridden three of the four Capuano trainees in this race (Carlos Lopez has always ridden Probably Dreaming); he holds the mount on this one.
RACE 9: CLAIM $12,500 (CONDITIONED), 3 YEARS AND OVER, 1 1/16 MILES
7-4-6-2
#7 Hard work (2-1) has hit the exacta four times in his last five starts, and is the only one of these to have run at least a 76 in each of his last two races. He seems to be turning the tables #4 Bigtons (3-1)who last gained a lead of six lengths over him and defeated him against similar rivals. Work Hard gets a slight edge in my eyes, as he recently won about two turns and is racing for the Capuano/Hazlewood dream team. #6 Cheerful outing (4-1) stumbled last at the start, was rushed up and faded badly. He ran an 84 when third against better two starts ago, and is looking forward to a return to that form stretching from six furlongs.
#Laurel #Park #picks #musings #December #Racing #Biz