Gabby Gaudet's betting tips and best bets for Sunday's race card at Laurel Park:
Race 1, 12:30 p.m. post time
Selections: No. 4 Dixie Rose, No. 8 Lucky In Malibu, No. 3 No Picnic
Dixie Rose ran third the last time she was on the dirt behind an eventual Grade 1 winner and a maiden special weight winner at Keeneland – was unfortunate enough to catch some heavy-hitters in there. Lucky In Malibu has a nice pedigree to transition her form to the dirt and Gary Capuano is 38 percent (8-21, $4.29) with maidens going turf to dirt. No Picnic is bred to handle two-turns on the dirt – worthy of another look.
Race 2, 1 p.m.
Selections: No. 1 Rally With Class, No. 2 Dukin' With Dale, No. 4 Bird Call
Rally With Class has the back class to legitimize his recent efforts against lower-level claiming-company but must turn back the speed of Dukin' With Dale who too has early footing. Bird Call ran a hole in the wind last out but something about that last race seems fishy, and he'll have to contend with other speed-types today.
Race 3, 1:30 p.m.
Selections: No. 10 Sweet Peaches, No. 5 Convoyarie, No. 1 Bluegrass Lady
Sweet Peaches hasn't done much wrong when meeting the right competition. She has enough positional speed and a good, outside post to control. Convoyarie will be hoping for a pace meltdown. Did she like the off track that much or is her last race repeatable? Bluegrass Lady could potentially be the main speed with a clean break.
Race 4, 2 p.m.
Selections: No. 1 Fly Swift, No. 10 Deep Pockets, No. 7 A Great Time
Fly Swift will have to work out a trip from the rail post but the strength of her recent races gives her the advantage over this field. Note the filly she lost to in debut is Breeders' Cup bound. Deep Pockets is out of a 5-time turf winner going long, however the barn only hits at 6 percent with first timers at turf sprints. A Great Time is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Victor's Cry and is out of a 4-time turf winner but it looks like she may want a bit more distance.
Race 5, 2:30 p.m.
Selections: No. 6 Dattt Melody, No. 7 Charlie Bravo, No. 1 Markakis
Dattt Melody has been very consistent against allowance-company and has some natural footing whereas many of the main contenders here are recently stepping up in class or are closers. Charlie Bravo is one of the obscure horses in here. He clearly likes the turf but is this a good distance for him? Markakais should show speed from the rail – a tactic that surely worked last time out.
Race 6, 3 p.m.
Selections: No. 10 Bearcat Kitten, No. 2 Salsamatic, No. 3. Collateral Damage
Bearcat Kitten makes his first start for a barn that has had a great fall meet thus far. Not sure of the mishap last out but his first and second career starts are good enough to win here. Salsamatic drops and potentially gets a dry track but will have to show a willingness to close today. Collateral Damage followed the winner home last out but the barn does even better with maidens making their second start.
Race 7, 3:30 p.m.
Selections: No. 6 Alexandrite, No. 7 Voiced, No. 5 Luckfromabove
Alexandrite is out of a mare that's a half-sister to Raihna Da Bateria, and is out of Lemon Drop Kid, so I was surprised to see this horse debut on the dirt. More enticing pedigree for this surface today. Voiced is the proven turf sprinter and should improve after experienced significant trouble last out. Luckfromabove is by the Group 1 winning stallion Excellent Art and given the work tab, looks prepared for today's debut.
Race 8, 4 p.m.
Selections: No. 6 Ginger N Rye, No. 7 Rkaya (Ire), No. 9 Miss Atomic Bomb (GB)
Ginger N Rye has been right there against stakes company and she has a solid resume over the turf at Laurel for trainer Horacio DePaz. Trevor McCarthy has won on her before, so it's great to see him on her once again today. Rkaya was bet down to the favorite in her U.S.A. debut and should like the added ground she gets today. Miss Atomic Bomb needed a race last out and should improve today with Edgar Prado aboard.
Race 9, 4:30 p.m.
Selections: No. 1 Burning Mandate, No. 5 Rumblin Kyle, No. 3 Photogenic
Burning Mandate in an old class horse who loves this seven furlong distance. Trainer Keisy Cartagena gets top rider Victor Carrasco to take the call today. Rumblin Kyle won at this distance two back and was a decent second going one-mile last out. Photogenic had a bad inside trip last out, but is capable of better.
Race 10, 5 p.m.
Selections: No. 9 Grandiflora, No. 11 Struth, No. 8 Jrock
Grandiflora has run two huge races in his last two starts against stakes company for trainer Ann Merryman and jockey Horacio Karamanos. His last win came at this distance back in July here at Laurel.
Race 11, 5:30 p.m.
Selections: No. 5 Oyster Soup, No. 7 Loyalty Spirit, No. 1 Fletched
Oyster Soup met the right level last out but unfortunately had to break from an outside post position. Today draws a better post and should be able to stalk the pace comfortably. Loyalty Spirit is going to need some help in the pace department but I'm not sure he'll get it. Fletched gets leading jockey aboard and, chased and faded against a slow pace last out.
Best bet: Race 10, No. 9 Grandiflora
Price play: Race 7, No. 6 Alexandrite