Gabby Gaudet's betting tips and best bets for Friday's race card at Laurel Park:
Race 1, 12:30 p.m. post time
Selections: No. 8 Cutty Shark, No. 3 Ground Control, No. 7 Money Tree
Cutty Shark drew the rail post and was taken up badly on the backstretch last time out. I'm willing to forgive him for the non-effort and focus on his races in Maryland against much tougher earlier this year/early summer. Ground Control looks like the speed and if no one goes with him, will be tough to beat. Money Tree has been just the opposite in his last two starts – fear that he'll be over bet like he was last out.
Race 2, 1 p.m.
Selections: No. 2 Startdwithawhisper, No. 3 Danish Pastry, No. 4 Northern Prancer
Startdwhitawhisper needs to be able to sit a bit closer than usual in order to win this race with little pace but is a viable alternative to Danish Pastry who has had zero excuses in her last three starts as the favorite. Northern Prancer could be the speed if aggressive early – may be her best hope.
Race 3, 1:30 p.m.
Selections: No. 4 Mo Fun Lady, No. 5 Porte Cochere, No. 2 Ms. Eileen
Mo Fun Lady gets a more manageable field today than last out and has the right post and right running style to stalk here. This is her best surface and distance and she'll be a nice price. Porte Cochere was compromised by the rail post in her most recent turf try. She only found room to run in deep stretch and by that time it was too late – respect. Ms. Eileen's second third start was a good one and she's very fast – was the last one a fluke? If not, she's live.
Race 4, 2 p.m.
Selections: No. 3 Jump Jive an Wail, No. 4 Hickory Hill, No. 1 Iredell
Jump Jive an Wail was unfortunate enough to get caught behind a winner that loved the track conditions last out. Curious to see what he's capable of sprinting on a dry track. Hickory Hill takes another step down the claiming ladder to try to get his second career win. He's a must-use in the Pick 6 but I'm still skeptical of him after that last one. Iredell draws a tough post – he was sent the last two times he drew the rail – once successful, the other not. Can he be the fastest early? It all depends on what the favorite shows today.
Race 5, 2:30 p.m.
Selections: No. 1 Spiced Commander, No. 2 Sisella, No. 3 Candycoated Dame
Spiced Commander checked significantly on the backstretch in her dirt debut but may a convincing late run to suggest she can handle the dirt just fine. Look for her to sit closer with a cleaner trip. Although Sisella's race last out was slow, I still think she can improve upon it. Thought it was savvy placement to drop her in immediately, making her eligible for this condition. Candycoated Dame is looking to duplicate what she did last out – the third place finisher in her last race came back to win at the same level by 4 lengths.
Race 6, 3 p.m.
Selections: No. 3 Skipalute, No. 5 Future Show, No. 2 Southern Equity
The main question for Skipalute last out was whether or not her turf number were inflated from the company she kept at Saratoga. As it turns out, that wasn't the case and it looks like she could have a decent future career on the surface. I'm on the fence with Future Show. Last year, she looked very talented but was extremely disappointing when she didn't fire in her last start on the year – however, you could argue that she didn't prefer the surface that late in the year. Southern Equity chased a wire to wire winner last out and did the majority of the dirty work – prefer her out of that race.
Race 7, 3:30 p.m.
Selections: No. 7 First Notion, No. 4 Feel Proud, No. 3 Fudge Proud
First Notion switches to dirt for his second start and is kin to a 5-time winner that sprinted on the dirt. Feel Proud is out of a mare that is stakes placed going long on the turf. We know he'll be heavily bet as Sagamore horses usually are and this race may be a prep for distance or a different surface in the future. Fudge Proud couldn't make up ground behind a wire to wire favorite. Could have the advantage in a race where many prefer turf.
Race 8, 4 p.m.
Selections: No. 1 Monsoon K S A, No. 8 Boomin Goose, No. 3 C B Bodemester
Monsoon K S A put in a huge performance in the Grade 2 With Anticipation considering the horse he dueled with finished last and the runner-up came back to win the Grade 3 Bourbon at Keeneland next out. He looks like the goods. Boomin Goose gets turf influence from his sire who was a three-time Grade 1 winner on the turf in his prime. Like that he's a closer in a race with a lot of speed. C B Bodemeister will have to fend off other speed-types in here but he looks best going longer.
Race 9, 4:30 p.m.
Selections: No. 9 Smart Power, No. 10 Boppin Anda Weavin, No. 6 Moonlight Party
Smart Power makes his third start off the layoff since November of last year and faces slightly easier than his past two. He can be a lot closer to the pace than he was last out, and I hope he can get back to the positional speed he used to have. Boppin Anda Weavin is the speed. Nobody went with him last time, will that be the case again today? Moonlight Party has been in form lately but this will be the first time facing open company – a tougher condition.
Best bet: Race 8, No. 1 Monsoon K S A
Price play: Race 9, No. 9 Smart Power