Laurel Park features a Pick 6 Jackpot carryover pool of $5,756 on its nine-race card this Friday, March 22. But there remains an ongoing option for the more conservative bettors. The 1/ST “Bet $100, Get $20” promotion enters its third week, giving horseplayers the choice of making any wagers they want to become eligible for the bonus. Here’s my picks and wagering strategy for the Friday card:
LRL Race 2 (12:56 p.m. EST) -- WORKIN ON A DREAM, a lightly-raced 11-year-old with more than a quarter million in the bank, should go well in this bottom-level claimer. He made a middle move to a brief stretch lead at 1-1/8-miles two back, although the race came back weak with 0-for-8 follow-up performances. Then he shortened up to 6F, chased middle fractions that stacked up well with a $12,500 claimer on the same card and was unable to threaten the odds-on winner and others. STEELE MONEY rallied for two wins, two seconds and two thirds in his last seven starts at one mile and beyond, but could be compromised by a possible soft pace. EVENT PARTY prepped often at this distance before making his first two starts this season for a $16,000 tag. His jockey lost an iron in the first go-round at Penn National, then he was unable to mount a rally in a faster-paced follow-up dominated by the front-running favorites. He’s worth using on some daily double tickets at 15-1.
1/ST Bets on Race 2
$3 daily doubles on numbers 5, 8, 9 with 1, 5, 6, 7
LRL Race 3 (1:27 p.m. EST) -- THIELEN is working forwardly for his debut for Team Russell, no surprise considering his bloodlines. He is by six-time Grade 1 winning router Curlin and out of the dam Angela Renee (4-14, $578k), a Grade 1-winning router as a 2-year-old. INTREPID’S LEGACY finished a distant third in a well-bet debut sprint on a day when front-end types dominated. He hails from a hot barn, has two one-mile workouts to summon and his unraced dam’s siblings are a combined 18-for-39 with a 6-for-8 record in dirt routes. WITHOUT PRETENCE was well-backed in four sprint races, now steps up in class at an inflated morning-line price for trainer Bob Klesaris, who won with 2 of the last 3 runners he stretched out in distance off the claim since August 2022. He is the son of Bernardini ($3 million), who won the Grade 1 Preakness, Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup; his dam, Ponder Lea (13/3-3-5, $144k), was a stakes-winning sprinter.
1/ST Bets on Race 3
50-cent trifecta on numbers 1, 5 with 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 with 1, 2, 5, 6, 7
LRL Race 8 (4:04 p.m. EST) -- HAD TO HAVE HIM was in tight and steadied while under a snug hold on the backstretch run, then battled game inside of 2-to-5 favorite PRADO ROAD in the stretch when finishing third at this distance. He offers much better value of the duo while wearing blinkers for the second time. SQUARE SLICE rallied from last, but his repeat bid fell a length short for a $40,000 tag. He’s a new horse since adding Lasix and a tempting price. PLAY HARDER is firing bullets in the morning for his first start since a debut victory six months ago. He gets in light and gets Lasix for a sharp barn.
1/ST Bets on Race 8
$16 win on #2 HAD TO HAVE HIM
$3 exacta 2, 4, 5 with 2, 3, 4, 5, 7
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