Gabby Gaudet's betting tips and best bets for Saturday's race card at Laurel Park:
Race 1, 12:30 p.m. post time
Selections: No. 2 La Parisienne, 3. Stormin Babe, 8. Tribal Transit
La Parisienne debuts for a barn that does well with first timers and is kin to stakes placed turf sprinter Sweet Cat who amassed $230k. Stormin Babe was widest of all in her debut but made a convincing late charge whereas Tribal Transit saved every inch of ground and still seemed a bit one-paced – look for both to improve, however.
Race 2, 1 p.m.
Selections: No. 3 Bronze Bull, No. 2 Thornton, No. 7 Sir Luca Richard
Bronze Bull is the most accomplished closer in a race with a lot of pace. Thorton has never tried the dirt, nor is he really bred for it but in Hall of Famer we trust – if he runs well, opens options for the winter. Sir Luca Richard is fresh off a win and fresh off the claim, and is a proven distance runner in a race where many sprinters are stretching out.
Race 3, 1:30 p.m.
Selections: No. 3 Charm City, No. 2 Dancing Lucy, No. 1 Trish's Wish
Charm City gets a major class relief from prior turf sprints where she faced stakes-caliber allowance fields and is a 3-time winner at the distance. Dancing Lucy is placed in the right spot after her allowance win rather than stepping into the two-other-than waters – she unfortunately faces a tough group for the level. If Trish's Wish can clear from the rail, she'll be dangerous. If not, she'll be in trouble.
Race 4, 2 p.m.
Selections: No. 5 Captain's Affair, No. 8 Unbridled Giant, No. 3 North Star Boy
Captain's Affair sits on a very discouraging performance and could very well be tailing off – the one glimmer of hope is that the winner of his last race went wire-to-wire in a slow pace and perhaps he was against the bias. Will give one more shot. Unbridled Giant has enough speed to stalk and could give him the tactical edge over Captain's Affair. North Star Boy has faced some talents in the past like Wise Dan and Ironicus but really has been out of form lately – can his form revive?
Race 5, 2:30 p.m.
Selections: No. 6 El Areeb, No. 5 Twin Valor, No. 4 Blackjack Buster
El Areeb was too far back to make an impact on the talented and short-priced favorite In Arrears last out – but he has a good bottom underneath for this spot and I like the consistency he's shown on two different track conditions. Twin Valor could improve on a dry track and has an early foot. Blackjack Buster will be the bet-against horse today. I don't think he "bounced" off his first effort – I just think the figure in his first race was an aberration – even the winner came back to run 11 points lower in his next start.
Race 6, 3 p.m.
Selections: No. 1 Tracy Island, No. 6 Cosmopolitan Girl, No. 14 Beaches N Bourbon
Tracy Island ran a credible race last out and doesn't meet that tough of a group here. Cibelli is 17 percent (5-29. $3.53 ROI) with maiden winners repeating going long on the turf. Cosmopolitan Girl gets a class relief but will hope for a hot pace and the right trip. Beaches N Bourbon is awaiting a scratch or two but finds the right level today.
Race 7, 3:30 p.m.
Selections: No. 7 Don't Poke the Cat, No. 9 Union Blues, No. 4 Barcraft
Don't Poke the Cat exits a race where he had to check badly during the turn and lose a significant amount of ground. He never gave up, however, and there really was no beating the winner that day either. Union Blues will be tough to beat making the surface change, and is out of a mare who won first time out on the lawn. Barcraft was rained off his preferred surface in debut but I thought he was intriguing that day at a price. Back to the well, hoping he gets the intended surface.
Race 8, 4 p.m.
Selections: No. 12 Dun Won, No. 1 Holy Scat, No. 8 Intrepid Alex
Dun Won ran too well to lose last out and has the back class for a similar effort against this field. Holy Scat will be able to stalk with a ground-saving trip from the rail post. Intrepid Alex looks like the lone speed, but sits on a confusing subpar performance last out.
Race 9, 4:30 p.m.
Selections: No. 7 Showalter, No. 3 Daily News, No. 6 Sir Orinocco
Showalter was extremely courageous in defeat last out, especially coming off of a 10-month layoff. Not to mention, he took pressure while drawing the rail then entire race and still was willing to the finish. Think that effort sets him up very nicely for today. Daily News is the main foe and looks for his third win in a row. At one time Sir Orinocco looked like he was going to have a serious campaign but he flattened out a bit in the winter/spring of this year. Perhaps this new gelding can turn things around.
Race 10, 5 p.m.
Selections: No. 11 Irish Handcuffs, No. 8 Supervisor, No. 3 Doubly Blue
Irish Handcuffs has room to improve on the slight drop and first opportunity to get to a dry track. Supervisor looked like he was weakening in the latter part of the stretch. Perhaps he needed one off the freshening. Looking to the new face Doubly Blue for exotics in a race where it's hard to have confidence with those who've already run a few times.
Best bet: Race 9, No. 7 Showalter
Price play: Race 10, No. 11 Irish Handcuffs