Laurel Park hosts Saturday’s 39th Jim McKay Maryland Million, a full-card celebration of the state’s best Thoroughbreds, and we’ve got your express preview and picks for the dozen coming attractions.
Be sure to register for the $7,500 Exacta-Thon promotion. 1/ST BET and Xpressbet customers who cash exactas ($2 base minimum) on six or more different Laurel races split $5,000 in bonus cash, while the customer(s) who make the most winning Laurel Exacta bets ($2 base minimum) win or split an additional $2,500 bonus.
Here goes (in chronological order):
1. Laurel Race 1, 11:30 am ET | #8 Mosler’s Image (12-1 morning line) was third in the Maryland Million distaff turf starter handicap 2 years ago and is the tepid pick in a capacity field of 12 for a bounce-back effort off a poor local prep last time.
2. Laurel Race 2, 12:00 pm ET | In the Maryland Million Nursery, sire Golden Lad looks for back-to-back winners in this race when key-race debut winner #3 Say Me True (5-2 ML) is the play to remain unbeaten despite giving away stakes experience to 4 of his 7 rivals.
3. Laurel Race 3, 12:36 pm ET | A hot pace is projected in the Maryland Million Ladies, including defending champ Precious Avary, setting things up late for #1 Downtown Katie (5-2 ML) to make amends for last year’s disappointing run as the beaten favorite in a paceless edition.
4. Laurel Race 4, 1:12 pm ET | #7 Bad Temper (15-1 ML) stunned the Maryland Million distaff dirt starter handicap at 35-1 last year, and was recently claimed back by trainer Gina Perri with a chance to rally again behind a hot pace.
5. Laurel Race 5, 1:48 pm ET | The full-field Maryland Million turf starter handicap looks like a softer spot for Find Stakes runner-up #11 Hunter Joe (8-5 ML) than he’s accustomed, even if a bit inconsistent.
6. Laurel Race 6, 2:25 pm ET | Several leading Maryland Million Lassie contenders have traded finishes and placings in Delaware, so the fresh face #12 Divine Works (6-1 ML) off a debut second as the favorite at Saratoga could be the right approach.
7. Laurel Race 7, 3:01 pm ET | Respected veteran trainer Ned Allard brings #8 Sports Editor (3-1 ML) from his Delaware base and could control the Maryland Million Turf from start to finish as he’s done in 2 previous Laurel raids.
8. Laurel Race 8, 3:36 pm ET | The 3-year-old #2 Celtic Contender (7-2 ML) has the look of a horse who could be a Maryland Million Sprint force for several years to come and should be tracking a contested pace.
9. Laurel Race 9, 4:10 pm ET | Expect Maryland Million Turf Sprint defending champ Witty to come with his typical flying finish, but #3 Whenigettoheaven (3-1 ML) has more tactical speed, a better post and is in raging good form right now.
10. Laurel Race 10, 4:40 pm ET | There looks to be an insurmountable amount of early speed in the 7-furlong Maryland Million Distaff, tilting in favor of a finisher like #1 Malibu Moonshine (8-1 ML), a winner in 3 of 4 Laurel attempts.
11. Laurel Race 11, 5:12 pm ET | Market Maven and Ain’t Da Beer Cold re-match after playing bumper cars late in last year’s Maryland Million Classic, but #4 Mosler Time (5-1 ML) rises into a stakes for the first time with a pair of stalk-and-pounce wins in both of his tries around 2 turns.
12. Laurel Race 12, 5:44 pm ET | The Maryland Million dirt starter handicap closes the curtain, but not before high-percentage sprint trainer Tim Kreiser brings a pair of live ones from his Penn National base in #6 Sassy Lad (12-1 ML) and #9 Alvy (8-1 ML).
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