Gabby Gaudet's analysis and betting tips for Sunday's race card at Laurel Park:
Race 1, 1:25 p.m. post time
Selections: No. 4 Tapinbirdie, No. 3 Ivy Pepper, No. 1 Kilt Chaser
The Smith barn sends out Tapinbirdie, who tries the dirt for the first time after three unsuccessful attempts on the turf. The barn is 29% (12-43, $2.02 ROI) with maiden claimers going from turf to dirt. Ivy Pepper is the one to beat on the class drop alone, but her biggest hindrance is her lack of early speed. Kilt Chaser's debut was a toss as she broke several lengths behind the field. Any bit of an improvement from that would put her into contention.
Race 2, 1:57 p.m.
Selections: No. 4 Little Miss Lupe, No. 7 Super Cassie Girl, No. 3 Clowns to the Left
Little Miss Lupe will have the speed to be on or near the lead at the distance. Usually we see Gonzalez runners continue to improve after a few starts in the barn. I thought Super Cassie Girl would be sharper on the cutback last out but she seemed to fall a little short. Seems like a tricky one to figure out in terms of what her best distance is. Clowns to the Left just needs a well-timed move and will be hoping for the pace to fall apart.
Race 3, 2:29 p.m.
Selections: No. 8 Doukas, No. 6 Awake the Day, No. 3 Barrel Roll
Doukas was extra sharp on the cutback last out, splitting horses while closing during the stretch. She may have been guided by the fact that two horses duked it out on the front-end and the pace collapsed, but she also fits this spot well in terms of class. Awake the Day takes a big drop from two-other-than allowance company and draws a better post today than last. Less speed in here than last couple will make her sit close to the pace. Barrel Roll is undefeated since cutting back on the turf. She has to step up in order to beat these but she's won with more left in the tank, which make me wonder if there's something more to her.
Race 4, 3:02 p.m.
Selections: No. 7 Ground Control, No. 1 Whiskey Sour, No. 5 Drop to Pop
Ground Control has enough versatility to close and win or be effective on the lead as he showed in April. The drop from open company to this beaten condition should do the trick. Whiskey Sour is claimed back into the Jamie Ness barn. Although he draws the tricky rail post at this distance, his lack of age speed will actually help him be able to make his one-run move. Drop to Pop is a multiple winner at 7 furlongs. He has some back class that could resurface on the cutback.
Race 5, 3:35 p.m.
Selections: No. 4 Snuck a Little Fun, No. 6 Champagne Time, No. 5 Icy Miss
Snuck a Little Fun exits a race where the winner came back to take an A1X at Penn National. She was slightly keen going into the first turn through the backstretch. That might've taken a little starch out of her but I do think the drop in class is needed here. Champagne Time is hoping for a mad scramble on the front end but the big question is if anyone will pressure Icy Miss, who at this point looks like controlling speed.
Race 6, 4:08 p.m.
Selections: No. 6 Brassy Ben, No. 3 Cue, No. 4 Boston Strong
The last time Brassy Ben was on the turf was in his 2-year-old season. He's gained experience since then and has also managed to keep good form on the dirt. The barn is also very strong with their turf sprinters. Cue seems like a bit of a quirky horse judging by his last replay. I like that there have been adjustments made to his equipment. He won in debut locally and I think he has some talent; he just needs to get over his quirks. Boston Strong drops here but has to overcome the long layoff and the fact that he doesn't have a lot of early speed.
Race 7, 4:41 p.m.
Selections: No. 4 Citation Star, No. 3 Pagan Power, No. 5 Loose Money
There's no sugar-coating the fact that Citation Star put in a clunker last out. He was hounded every step of the way but on the drop in class, I was expecting a bit better. However, we could see him use his speed to his advantage from the outside now stretching out to today's distance. Pagan Power couldn't catch the wire-to-wire winner last out but the pace dynamics look much different today. Loose Money is obviously a more proven turf runner, but his back numbers on the dirt and the class lines make him a major threat.
Race 8, 5:16 p.m.
Selections: No. 5 Eleusis, No. 4 Cowgirl Creed, No. 2 So Royal
Eleusis hasn't been able to carry her speed going two-turns recently and now cutback to sprints. She actually did find success across the pond sprinting and so I like the move here. Look for her to be able to stalk at this distance, and there's no doubt that she exits the toughest recent races. Cowgirl Creed seems like a legitimate turf sprinter and that could give her the advantage. Look for her to make even more of an improvement second start off the layoff. So Royal was entered in last week in a scheduled turf race that was taken off and run on the dirt. I liked her then, but this race seems to have come up much tougher. Still, she experienced serious trouble at the half-mile pole last out that cost her the race.
Race 9, 5:51 p.m.
Selections: No. 6 Takethattothebank, No. 2 Flaming Humor, No. 4 Brother Slick Nick
Takethattothebank exits a race that produced three next out winners. His race back in April was too good to overlook and with blinkers on, I'm hoping he sends and tries to dictate here. Flaming Humor has been knocking on the door at this level in the past two starts, and his consistency makes him a threat. Brother Slick Nick tried to send off the layoff in April but I think his best strategy is to close as he did last out.
Best bet: Race 3, No. 8 Doukas
Price play: Race 8, No. 5 Eleusis