Gabby Gaudet's analysis for Friday's race card at Laurel Park:
Race 1, 1:10 p.m. post time
Selections: No. 4 Faze the Nation, No. 1 Next Street, No. 2 Anna's Bandit
Faze the Nation makes her debut for a barn that does very well with their 2yo's this time of year. This filly is out of a stakes-placed sprinter who won in her first start at 2yo, and has produced two other winners at that age. Next Street drew the rail in debut and unfortunately once again today. Of the others that raced, I liked her performance best but will need some racing luck. Anna's Bandit is by a sire whose progeny are often precocious, however the mare was un-raced and no other foals have been ready to run early.
Race 2, 1:43 p.m.
Selections: No. 6 Alwaysacontest, No. 8 Galadriel Lady, No. 7 Mothernaturespell
The 9-year-old mare Alwaysacontest may have the upper hand in this field considering how good she is at the tricky 7-furlong distance. I like in her past three starts, she's showed the ability to sit closer to the pace. This race doesn't have a lot of speed but that shouldn't faze her as she can be tactical. Galadriel Lady was the beaten favorite last out but that's forgivable considering the winner went uncontested gate to wire and was near impossible to catch. Will be closing late on the cutback. Mothernaturespell could be the fastest early here and perhaps the one to catch but can she carry that speed to 7-furlongs?
Race 3, 2:14 p.m.
Selections: No. 1A Cold Spice, No. 6 Zen's Land, No. 11 Greyscale
I like the sprint prep race that Cold Spice ran in immediately off the layoff last out. He didn't show any gate speed but he may rove to be more of a two-turn horse. He showed good late energy and a strong gallop-out, suggesting he's itching for more distance. Zen's Land drops in class after a respectable effort after being wide in the final turn last out. He surely has the pedigree for the turf. Maybe the blinkers will help him sit closer and not have so much to do at the top of the stretch. Greyscale gets to turf for the first time and is out of a mare that won at 1 1/4 miles on turf (she also produced another turf winner).
Race 4, 2:44 p.m.
Selections: No. 8 Topara, No. 3 Mr. Game Seven, No. 6 Tomo Chachi
Topara hasn't been seen since last July, but in the time being it looks like adjustments have been made and the barn can certainly get horses ready off a layoff (i.e.- 180+ day layoffs, dirt, sprint = 8-32, 25%, $3.11 ROI). Other than the heavily favored Mr. Game Seven, he's not necessarily meeting any heavy hitters in here. Mr. Game Seven is the horse to beat on class alone but what distance is he best? Can he close in time at 6-furlongs? Tomo Chachi cuts back to a better distance after not being able to make the lead against winners last out. He could face pressure from Breezed Bayou but I still think the best strategy for this runner would be to "go" from the gate.
Race 5, 3:14 p.m.
Selections: No. 13 Steve's Wonder, No. 1 Soup d'Coupe, No. 8 Annawon,
This race was one of the tougher ones to figure on the card. Who is going to be speed? Who can be ready to fire off time away? I went to Stevie's Wonder, thinking that he has been in good form on the dirt recently, he has never tried the turf (although bred for it), and he could have seed from the outside. The two fears with Soup d'coup are the fact that he doesn't always run his sharpest race off the layoff and his running style given the pace scenario and post position. I do respect him and think he's a must use in the Rainbow Pick 6. Annawon has the recency edge. He ran extremely well last out considering he doesn't like a good/soft turf. If he gets firmer conditions today, that'll only help.
Race 6, 3:53 p.m.
Selections: No. 9 Pirate's Cove, No. 2 Cruise More, No. 5 Guts and Glory
Pirate's Cove will need to run one of his best races in order to win this one but I'm not sure how much I trust the Cruise More race, thinking the pace might've come back to closers. He should improve with the additional real estate, and sit the trip behind the speed. Both Cruise More and Guts and Glory should be used protectively. One closed from off of the pace, and the latter chased and hung in there gamely. Depending on your opinion of how that last race set up, I think determines which of the two you think ran a stronger race.
Race 7, 4:24 p.m.
Selections: No. 3 Alex the Dude, No. 8 Great Smoke, No. 1A Twisted Earl
The extra distance to 7-furlongs will help remedy the lack of early speed issue that often hinders Alex the Dude at shorter distances. This will also be the first time going back to dirt in the new barn, recently claimed by Ramon Preciado and now taken over by assistance Chloe Bradley. Can Great Smoke turn the tables on Twisted Earl at this distance? It all depends if Hey Willie is sent from the rail or taken back like he was last out time out. If Twisted Earl is left to his own devices on the lead, it could be game over.
Race 8, 4:54 p.m.
Selections: No. 6 Guilty Twelve, No. 10 Trensita, No. 12 Last Resort
Guilty Twelve broke well with the rest of the pack in her Stateside debut last out, but quickly took a position towards the back of the field. She made an impressive closing bid on the inside but wasn't left with much room for a confidence and clear run. The stretch out to 9-furlongs could make all the difference. Trensita has had a few more chances than others in here to win, but this will be her second start after the layoff and she exits a very tough field where the winner came back to win impressively at Keeneland. Last Resort had trouble last out and fits with these, but is she worthy at a short price? We haven't sometimes seen the best of horses moving from Santa Anita to Laurel lately.
Race 9, 5:24 p.m.
Selections: No. 3 La Saldana, No. 11 Dun Won, No. 4 Tide Is High
La Saldana has the ability to track the leaders and save around going into the first turn, and I think she'll relish the cutback to the flat mile. She exits a good runner up effort behind Tapitry, who was 4th against Grade 2 company last Fall. Dun Won maybe hasn't faced similar competition class-wise lately but she's also ran very well, having to overcome several troubled trips. She'll b closing behind a potentially hot pace. Tide Is High was ready to fire off the layoff last out and she has the back credentials to repeat. However, it looks like she might find more company on the lead today.
Race 10, 5:53 p.m.
Selections: No. 10. Fair Shake, No. 7 Miss Glengar, No. 3 Nicki Flash
Fair Shake showed speed against open company back in February and it probably wasn't her strongest distance either. Now she turns back to a more appropriate distance where she can close. Miss Glengar and 7-time winner locally has been very lightly raced in the past year and a half. That's always a concern, but the old, class mare has showed in the past, frequent vacationing isn't often a hindrance. I always thought Nicki Flash was a bit one-dimensional, that she needed the lead or she couldn't win. She started showing last season that she could have a rating gear and still be effective. We could see that attribute help today.
Best bet: Race 9, No. 3 La Saldana
Price play: Race 7, No. 3 Alex the Dude