Gabby Gaudet's betting tips and best bets for Sunday's race card at Laurel Park:
Race 1, 1:10 p.m. post time
Selections: No. 5 Running Tide, No. 4 Northern Eclipse, No. 7 Zendreya
Running Tide drops from Maryland-bred restricted maiden special weight last out and gets the right kind of pace to complement his running style. Northern Eclipse will be forwardly placed but got away with slow fractions at Delaware on the turf. Will have other pressure today. Zendreya showed improved speed on the dirt last out and goes back to a surface she's bred well for.
Race 2, 1:40 p.m.
Selections: No. 2 Dixie Victory, No. 1 Girls Got Rhythum, No. 7 Color Me Sexy
Girls Got Rhythum is the horse to beat with speed from the rail, but she could get outside pressure from Color Me Sexy who will have the controlling position. I land on Dixie Victory for the upset for a barn that does well going from turf to dirt in claiming races (3-17, 18%, $4.25 ROI). Her last dirt race was against much tougher.
Race 3, 2:10 p.m.
Selections: No. 11 Goldies Tale, No. 1 Cowgirl Creed, No. 12 Sweethearted
Goldies Tale has been showing speed and flattening the last part going two turns on the turf. Looks like she'll relish the turn back in distance. Cowgirl Creed must "go" from the rail but will have to fend off the speed of Flame of My Heart and takes a questionable drop. Sweethearted chased a very hot pace in her lone turf attempt. Can she show a comfortable rating gear on the drop?
Race 4, 2:40 p.m.
Selections: No. 7 Cause She's Fast, No. 5 Follow No One, No. 4 Lady Lindsey
Cause She's Fast is a half-sister to 2012 Kentucky Oaks winner Believe You Can so it's strange that she found herself on turf for debut. She'll be fit off the last two-turn race and think she gets to a better surface. Follow No One is well-bred, by the hot sire Uncle Mo and out of a mare who was a stakes winner at two-years-old. Lady Lindsey is a kin to Desert Party who won the Sanford at two-years-old. Works are a bit on the slower side, making me wonder if she needs one.
Race 5, 3:10 p.m.
Selections: No. 10 Desert Princess, No. 2 Intrepid Alex, No. 12 Mademoiselle Belle
Desert Princess has recent races good enough to win this. I'll look past her last and to the two efforts at Pimlico – she gets the right pace. Intrepid Alex managed to wire the field clocking tepid fractions, but don't let that sway you – she's more versatile than it looks. Mademoiselle Belle got into early trouble last out and couldn't close into a slow pace set by a wire to wire winner. Willing to forgive.
Race 6, 3:40 p.m.
Selections: No. 10 Right Squall, No. 3 No Brakes, No. 4 Arrogant Officer
Right Squall is a two-time winner at this distance and given the amount of speed to his inside, he looks to get a great setup. No Brakes has been in good form in his past two races and is another that will benefit from the pace scenario. Arrogant Officer is 0-6 at this distance but most of those attempts have been laden with trouble and/or against tougher. Has a running style that should suit this distance.
Race 7, 4:10 p.m.
Selections: No. 1 Classydame, No. 7 Full of Zip, No. 4 Discreet Deceit
Classy Dame is a well-bred first timer for a barn that does great work with 2-year-olds. She's out of a mare that makes her a half-sister to Pretty N Cool who won both the G2 Matron and G2 Sorrento. Full of Zip has nice turf sprint pedigree by City Zip and out of a mare that has been a very successful producer (six foals surpassing the six-figure mark). Discreet Deceit has the experience edge and ran a very credible race in debut.
Race 8, 4:40 p.m.
Selections: No. 3 Good Luck Gus, No. 6 Pizmo Time, No. 8 I'm Mr. Blue
Good Luck Gus looks very tough here. He ran well in the Saginaw against a winner that loves one-turn distances and in the Evan Shipman last out, the one/two finishers went one/two around the track. Pizmo Time looked like he took a while to get going last out to get stakes placed – he's the most capable up setter. I'm Mr. Blue stretched out to a more preferred distance and has the back class to get a piece at a price.
Race 9, 5:10 p.m.
Selections: No. 8 Corvus, No. 6 Enjoy the Show, No. 2 Shinobi
Enjoy the Show looks to take money but he's just been a bit of a money burner lately and he also has the tendency to lag behind. I'll take Corvus as an alternative who could take advantage of the fat there's no a lot of early speed. Shinobi is another that could be pace compromised but I look for an improved effort and an easier field of allowance foes.
Race 10, 5:40 p.m.
Selections: No. 13 Sir Luca Richard, No. 10 Middle English, No. 12 Eastside Cat
Here's hoping that the outside is the place to be in this race as that's where I land for the top three. Sir Luca Richard gets a positive rider change after trouble in last. Middle English came from the clouds to pick up a check last out. Hoping he can show just a little more speed early. Eastside Cat has improved since the barn switch and looks to have an early foot from the outside.
Best Bet: Race 8, No. 3 Good Luck Gus
Price Play: Race 9, No. 8 Corvus