Gabby Gaudet's analysis for Saturday's race card at Laurel Park:
Race 1, 12:15 p.m. post time
Selections: No. 1A Love Rules All, No. 5 Because He Can, No. 3, Salsalito
Loves Rules All is winless at this distance but the last time he did go 7-furlongs he was caught in a hot, contested early pace. I think his preferred style is to take back. Because He Can is the one to beat on the drop but the barn is only 14 percent (4-28, Negative $0.78) with class droppers. Salsalito has the potential to pick up the pieces late. The pace could very well come back to him.
Race 2, 12:42 p.m.
Selections: No. 2 Table Top, No. 8 Fitzfarris, No. 7 Not for Fun
Fitzfarris is the fear on the class drop but one would always question why there would be such a drop after time away and after an OK race? Table Top may be the fastest early against these and I much prefer the cutback in distance. You have to admire the fact that Not for Fun is a constant check-getter. He may only be 1-24 but he's been consistent at this level, keeps the lightweight and has recency in form.
Race 3, 1:10 p.m.
Selections: No. 9 Neto, No. 3 Fantod, No. 10 The Pulse
The question remains for Neto … why has he lost all of his early speed lately? Could it be the tough-for-level competition in the past two, or is he beginning a downhill crawl in form? I'll give him one more try thinking he'll like a bit slower pace and a bit farther, too. Fantod broke well last out but showed absolutely no speed after that, even after encouragement. Maybe a forgivable effort as he is a 10-year-old and was coming off a four-month layoff. The Pulse makes his turf debut and out of a mare who did her best running on the turf. He could transition his speed to the turf nicely.
Race 4, 1:47 p.m.
Selections: No. 5 Dr. Toole, No. 3 Big House, No. 2 Squeegee
Dr. Toole looks like one that could close into a race that might have a suspect early pace. I'm willing to overlook his turf debut last out and think he'll be sitting on "go" today. Can Big House go the distance or does he use his speed better at shorter distances? I have my reservations at a short price. The longer the better for Squeegee. Today's two-turn race will be better than his last race at the one-turn mile and trying to close against a gate-to-wire winner.
Race 5, 2:15 p.m.
Selections: No. 8 Adams Note, No. 1 Thirteenth Avenue, No. 3 Boon Companion
Adams Note looks like a horse that needs the lead at sprinter distance or he'll show a tendency to be flat. He wasn't fast enough to make the lead at 6 furlongs last out but the stretch-out in distance could make all the difference today. Thirteenth Avenue holds the class against the field. His turf numbers are very consistent and he should be able to sit the stalking trip inside. I still think that Boon Companion is a better closing sprinter and that he was helped by a pace that fell apart last out. That said, he looks like a reliable one that did move up on the turf.
Race 6, 2:43 p.m.
Selections: No. 5 Nancy's Gone Wild, No. 3 Peace Prize, No. 1 Carta Regia
Nancy's Gone Wild put in a very strong effort in her lone turf try going long. She chased the likes of a sharp gate-to-wire winner that had back class. Looks like she'll get a fairer setup today. Peace Prize exits quality races overseas and clearly moved forward when moving from synthetic to turf. She's out of a two-time turf-winning mare. The concern is the layoff. Carta Regia doesn't have a lot of gate speed and that's oftentimes her biggest hindrance. There's not a lot of pace to help her case either.
Race 7, 3:16 p.m.
Selections: No. 14. Then and Now, No. 3 Sundaes Baby, No. 9 Quartet
Then and Now is obviously a longtime maiden and this'll be her floor to dance on today. She spent a while trying to compete against maiden special weight foes and even higher level maiden claimers. The drop and the cutback should hopefully do the trick. Can Sundaes Baby make the lead? I think that would be the best strategy. Blinkers stay on as she comes back to the Laurel oval and hopefully finds a dry main track. The cutback angle also applies to Quartet who chased and faltered at 7 furlongs. She could comfortably stalk here.
Race 8, 3:46 p.m.
Selections: No. 10 Channel Regatta, No. 8 Eleusis, No. 5 Pop Rocks Lady
Lightly raced Channel Regatta clearly has some talent as a 2-year-old. When she debuted, she was caught chasing on a very boggy course, but was geared up to roll her second start. She has every ability to improve as a 3-year-old but she will have to have her running shoes on as this isn't an easy spot. Eleusis almost stole the races last out at 24-1. She was pretty keen and pulled the rider to the lead mid-part of the race. I don't think that last effort was a fluke. Unfortunately you won't get anywhere near the price you got last time. Pop Rocks Lady's race at Tampa was forgivable off the layoff. She was very impressive last out finally getting to a dry course. Her local race back in November gives her even more credibility as the winner who went on to run third in the Florida Oaks.
Race 9, 4:16 p.m.
Selections: No. 10 Ousby, No. 8. Grandiflora, No. 7 Tapkee
Ousby impressed me with each and every race after the claim into the Vitali barn. He held his own against Graded stakes company in the Palm Beach, even after experiencing a lot of trouble. The outside post doesn't bother me and I respect him as a serious contender. The cool thing about Grandiflora is that he's been effective sprinting and going long on the turf. That kind of versatility gives him the thumbs up from me second off the layoff. Tapkee dropped to a competitive level last out and wired the field but his race before that proved to be very strong as it produced two next-out winners, one of them against Allowance company at Keeneland.
Race 10, 4:46 p.m.
Selections: No. 2 Solid Silver, No. 10 Saint Mistress, No. 7 Belle Allessandra
Solid Silver got up just in time at a shorter distance last out. She looks like a filly that fairs well with getting the apprentice allowance (a little less weight on her back) and should get a decent pace to run into. Saint Mistress has speed and drops from open company - she's the one to catch. Belle Allessandra could sit the trip stalking behind the aforementioned pacesetter. Her last race at Laurel was a bust but that too was against open company.
Race 11, 5:16 p.m.
Selections: No. 8 Broken Bridle, No. 1 Blavastki, No. 2 Jade with Envy
I liked Broken Bridle last out off the layoff, although I did have reservations about the distance. I thought it might've been used for a prep to stretch her out to a distance of ground and that's proved to be the case. If sprinting isn't her best game, then she's setting up for a strong performance today. Blavastki looks like inside speed. She does have to step against much tougher competition, but I do think the longer the better - she surely liked the two turns last out at Gulfstream. I have no qualms about Jade with Envy. I liked her last race closing against a heavily favored mare who has been in very good form lately.
Race 12, 5:46 p.m.
Selections: No. 10 High Above Georgia, No. 1 Shinobi, No. 12 Tempietto
If it wasn't for the troubled start last out for High Above Georgia, he could've been closer to the pace and not left with so much to do. That wasn't the case but hopefully with a cleaner break he can turn the tables. The drop from upper level maidens at Saratoga to the $16,000 asking price makes Shinobi very untrustworthy but must use protectively. Tempietto has been consistent at this level but I almost wonder if he'd be better going shorter?
Best bet: Race 11, No. 8 Broken Bridle
Price play: Race 8, No. 10 Channel Regatta