Stanton Salter's betting tips and analysis for Friday's race card at Laurel Park:
Race 1, 3:40 post time
Selections: No. 7 Cracking Good Pins, No. 5 Race and Shine, No. 1 Issheit
Tough wide-open $15,000 claimer for Fillies & Mares going long kicks off our Early Pick 5 (Mandatory pay-out w/ Industry-low 12 percent takeout), and I'm going with Cracking Good Pins on top for trainer Kieron Magee. She's a five-time winner on the grass good for $186K in earnings and she's coming into today's race following a sharp second at Parx when she had to rally wide from far back. Alex Cintron was aboard her two back when she finished a decent third against $20,000 claimers at Delaware, and he takes the call again on her today. This will be her first start for Magee, who wins at 27 percent when getting new horses in his barn. Race and Shine won for fun three back and is trying to get back to her best form. Issheit is an eight-time winner on the grass and just got beat as the favorite at this level in her last start.
Race 2, 4:09 p.m.
Selections: No. 6 Almighty Storm, No. 5 My Magician, No. 2 Everlasting Secret
Almighty Storm's last three wins have come against second-level Allowance company at Penn National for trainer Scott Lake & jockey Josue Arce. In total, Arce has won on this mare five times, so it's encouraging Lake brings down this mare's favorite rider to pull off a mild upset in this spot today. I think they have the best post position in this spot today, and it looks like Arce should have the controlling speed from the outside, which is dangerous and tough to beat. My Magician runs today in her second start off a layoff and will most likely be trying to chase my top pick down in the final strides. Everlasting Secret came back off a long layoff to win her most recent start and she is stepping up today to face tougher company.
Race 3, 4:38 p.m.
Selections: No. 6 Dream Your Dreams, No. 4 Sazerac Girl, No. 1 Truly Bound
Dream Your Dreams is a 3-year-old daughter of Tapit and makes her debut today for trainer Rodney Jenkins. The work-tab here at Laurel Park shows four bullet-works, including her most recent five-furlong drill in 1:01, which was the fastest of 22 horses on the morning of July 16. Her dam is by Gone West and has been a solid producer, with the best of her offspring so far being Frost Giant, who earned $454. Leading rider Victor Carrasco should be able to benefit from an outside post for this well-bred filly's debut today. Sazerac Girl ran a strong second last time at this level and should be right there again today. Truly Bound gets blinkers today for the first time and is cutting back in distance.
Race 4, 5:09 p.m.
Selections: No. 2 Ghost Bay, No. 1 Sea Raven, No. 7 Jumpin Frac Flash
Ghost Bay is a well-bred son of Ghostzapper who has talent and has been getting close at this level. Since his last race when he finished third as the favorite against similar company at Delaware, trainer Larry Murray has put a couple of nice works in him and today he gets leading-rider Victor Carrasco. I think there is enough early speed in here to set it up nicely for this guy to make a late rally. Sea Raven has been putting up some respectable numbers up in New York and ships down here today to try Laurel Park for the first time. Jumpin Frac Flash won on the drop last time and runs today first off the claim for trainer Kieron Magee.
Race 5, 5:40 p.m.
Selections: No. 3 Cue, No. 12 Magician's Bullet, No. 1 Mr. Stream
Cue is a two-time winner on the grass here at Laurel Park including his last start, which was his first race off the claim by trainer Lacey Gaudet, who is having a nice summer meet so far. Yomar Ortiz has been up for both wins, so it's great to see him back up today. He has enough early speed to secure a good stalking position going into the far turn.His older brother Wire Funds made a bunch of money sprinting on the grass and I think Cue still has a lot of potential. Magician's Bullet came wide and got up for the win in his most recent start and is the main threat to run my top pick down today. Mr. Stream has a lot of early speed and he will have to use it early on to secure a good trip breaking from the rail.
Race 6, 6:11 p.m.
Selections: No. 4 Whiskey Sour, No. 7 Puget Sound, No. 8 American Blend
Whiskey Sour ran well in his start two back when he was claimed by trainer Jamie Ness. He had some bad luck first off the claim when the rider was unseated, but it's encouraging to see the horse right back in the entries today. He will be the deserved favorite today with Trevor McCarthy up and will be tough to beat at this level. Puget Sound has a solid resume to compete at this level and is a six-time winner here at Laurel Park. American Blend is a lightly raced 8-year-old with talent, who is making his first start today since last March.
Race 7, 6:42 p.m.
Selections: No. 6 Ballivor, No. 5 Kid Jeter, No. 9 Aqua Teen
It looks like the Rooney Family have a nice Maryland-bred in Ballivor, who will be the heavy favorite to graduate from the maiden ranks today for trainer George Weaver. His best effort so far was two back down at Gulfstream when he had to take pressure and duel, but still fought on to finish a game second. That race looked even better when the show horse came back to win his next start. He's been working up at Saratoga recently, but it's great to see Weaver make the trip to Laurel Park today to try and get some of that Maryland-bred bonus money for the Rooney's Shamrock Farm. Jockey Angel Cruz has been having a nice meet and takes the call on this son of Hard Spun today. Kid Jeter was a good third here at Laurel Park back in April, and will most likely be running late to get a piece of the action today. Aqua Teen has some early speed but the distance at this level still remains a question mark.
Race 8, 7:12 p.m.
Selections: No. 3 See What Happens, No. 11 Blake's Magic, No. 9 Leroys Jewel
The morning-line favorite in here, No. 1 Koala Queen, will have a tough assignment today cutting back in distance and trying to navigate a trip from the rail. So, that leaves this Allowance Feature of the day wide open and ripe for a nice price on top. I'll take See What Happens at 6-1 for the red-hot barn of trainer Tim Keefe. She just missed at this level in her most recent start with Feargal Lynch aboard, and Lynch is back on her today. Blake's Magic came off an 18-month layoff to win at Santa Anita back in May. Today, she runs for the first time at Laurel Park for new connections. Leroys Jewel has a ton of early speed and will most likely be playing 'catch me if you can' once again.
Race 9, 7:41 p.m.
Selections: No. 6 Jarvis, No. 7 Takethattothebank, No. 2 Flaming Humor
The last time we saw Jarvis here at Laurel Park, he was knocking heads against tough MSW company and he was holding his own. Trainer Cal Lynch puts his brother Feargal up today, and with the drop, this guy will be tough to beat. Takethattothebank was second last time at this level and figures to be right there again today. Flaming Humor has been consistent recently coming off the pace with a late rally and should be able to at least get a piece of it once again today.
Best bet: Race 5. No. 3 Cue (9-2)
Day maker: Race 8, No. 3 See what Happens (6-1)
Play of the day:
Race 1, Early Pick 5 starts here (Mandatory pay-out with a 12 percent takeout)
1st: 1, 5, 7
2nd: 2, 5, 6
3rd: 4, 6
4th: 1, 2, 6, 7
5th: 3
Cost: $36