Laurel Park presents a trio of stakes races Saturday and players on 1/ST BET and Xpressbet can take advantage of a $10 money-back special on those features. Get up to $10 back if your win bet finishes second or third in the Dave’s Friend, Richard W. Small and Willa On the Move Stakes.
Let’s take a look at each.
Laurel Park: Race 4 (1:58 pm ET) | $100,000 Willa On the Move Stakes
Logical players in this 6-1/2 furlong distaff sprint are #5 Simply Stated and #6 Ms. Bucchero. Trainer Brittany Russell has been flirting with 40% at the Laurel meet and she got this one to run a big allowance comebacker last out after 6 months on the sideline. She could get locked in the pace with Ms. Bucchero, wire-to-wire winner of the same-trip/track Alma North Stakes in July. She’s freshened 2 months and has an advantageous widest draw in a short field of 6. The logical one who could sit and pounce would be #1 Olivia Darling, though she’s cross-entered Sunday at Gulfstream and iffy to travel.
Laurel Park: Race 7 (3:31 pm ET) | $100,000 Dave’s Friend Stakes
I had the fortune of being trackside for #4 Dean Delivers’ DeFrancis Dash victory this summer at Laurel and he returns to the same scene over the same 6-furlong trip as the horse to beat. He set the pace in the Grade 3 Vosburgh and finished a credible third vs. tougher while snapping a 4-race win streak. The pace doesn’t look overwhelmingly fast, so expect him to be 1-2 throughout. Trainer Ned Allard’s barn has been cold at Laurel since September, so late-running #3 Witty might be a shrewd play here with the money-back offer. He’s 5-for-5 in the exacta at Laurel, including a fast, 6-furlong win last out. Yes, his deep-closing style poses some risk, but that’s where the second or third-place insurance in the promo could provide safety.
Laurel Park: Race 8 (4:02 pm ET) | $100,000 Richard W. Small Stakes
Arguably the most competitively deep of the Laurel stakes on Saturday, this field of 8 includes Jamie Ness stablemates #5 Magic Michael and #6 Excellorator. While Excellorator has won 3 of 4 with a second since coming to the Ness barn, it’s Magic Michael that attracts the outfit’s A-rider in Jaime Rodriguez. Both have won over the 1-1/8 miles assignment. A bullet Parx workout November 16 might be the ‘tell’ for Rodriguez taking the call on Magic Michael. #3 Mosler Time had no excuse as controlling speed in the Maryland Million Classic and should have a no-excuse trip again from his draw and race shape. Late-running sophomore Copper Tax won the Federico Tesio over this track and trip in April and will be the late threat. While I don’t think he’s the most likely winner, the ease of trip, expected fair price and insurance to hold for second or third money-back makes #3 Mosler Time the most intriguing gamble.
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