The Lead:
It's a huge Saturday at Laurel Park with automatic berths up for grabs in the Preakness and Black-Eyed Susan Stakes. The Federico Tesio and Weber City Miss Stakes will fill those slots via the "Win Today & See You in May" conditions of those sophomore events. But it's the older sprinters I want to feature in Saturday's Whiteley, which goes as Race 8. Players at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet can enjoy up to a $10 money-back special on win bets in the 4 Laurel Saturday stakes if those horses finish second or third.
Field Depth:
EASTERN BAY and INFORMATIVE are Grade 3 winners, while FACTOR IT IN, YODEL E.A. WHO and BANKIT are all Grade 3-placed. INFORMATIVE has kept the strongest company lines and rates a class edge.
Pace:
AL LOVES JOSIE rarely relinquishes the initial lead and is a 6-furlong runner trying to extend to 7 furlongs. He'll battle with speedy HELLO HOT ROD and KENNY HAD A NOTION. This trio should set the table nicely for a first-over run from a horse sitting around the 3-4-5 slots going into the far turn.
Our Eyes:
Here are my horse-by-horse notes.
1-EASTERN BAY: Grade 3 General George winner in February returns to same distance and track as his signature score. Loves to win races, taking 19 of them (13 at Laurel). Last year's Vosburgh runner-up to eventual Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Elite Power will be best-suited if he stays a bit closer to the pace than he has in his last few.
2-KENNY HAD A NOTION: Maryland-bred did most of his damage early in his career and would be a big wake-up surprise to see this out on the front end. Did finish neck in front of EASTERN BAY last out at 6 furlongs, but this race is deeper, faster and longer.
3-FACTOR IT IN: Disappointing fourth in Grade 3 General George as the 6-5 favorite, but consider that was without Lasix. This 7-year-old is 6: 5-1-0 when racing on Lasix since October. Versasitle running style will come in handy in this race as he's won wire-to-wire and last-to-first in just his last 4 starts. The horse to beat in the lane from just off the leaders.
4-WITTY: Late runner won the Spectacular Bid over this track and distance 15 months ago and returns in solid form off an allowance prep at Parx. He ran a big race second-off-the-layoff in his form cycle last June and could be expected to make another leap forward. Cross-entered in Thursday Laurel allowance.
5-YODEL E.A. WHO: Deep closer will need the pace to come back to him even more so than it did when runner-up in the Fire Plug and Grade 3 General George when not able to threaten FACT IT IN and EASTERN BAY. Consistent performer just under 50% lifetime in the exacta from 52 starts, an admirable mark.
6-AL LOVES JOSIE: Need-the-lead sort stands a good chance to make the front, but the 7-furlong trip and additional pace pressure could unravel his chances. Wheels came off in the Fire Plug when unable to make the lead against some of these, so there's no margin for any error.
7-BANKIT: Seven-year-old continues to punch strongly in New York-bred stakes and we know he can handle the surface at Laurel, winning the 1-1/16 miles John B. Campbell in 2021 in his only local appearance. Has been closer to the pace in recent starts than once was his deep-closing style; that will help this Steve Asmussen trainee in this particular set-up.
8-ALWAYSINAHURRY: His 3-for-4 mark over 7 furlongs and determined finishing style should have him doing his best running at the end. That wasn't good enough in the Fire Plug vs. FACTOR IT IN and YODEL E.A. WHO when he was in raging-good form. He seems a bit off the mark of late.
9-INFORMATIVE: Monmouth specialist won the Grade 3 Salvator Mile and Grade 3 Iselin around 2 turns in Jersey, but hasn't been in a sprint like this in some time. He's 4: 0-0-1 over 7 furlongs and would be a surprise to be able to sprint with these ... even with a class edge. Prefer others.
10-HELLO HOT ROD: Enigmatic sort's best races are when he can control the pace and that's going to be difficult in this spot. The wide post draw does him know favors, though 31% winning jockey-trainer tandem Jevian Toledo-Brittany Russell are never an easy toss. Again, prefer others.
Most Certain Exotics Contender:
FACTOR IT IN has been a heat-seeking missile when able to compete with Lasix. He gets first run on the deeper closers.
Best Longshot Exotics Contender:
WITTY interests for minor awards if they opt to run here and skip the Thursday allowance.
Sending it in ($100 bankroll):
$50 exacta part-wheel FACTOR IT IN over EASTERN BAY and BANK IT ($100).
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