Check out my Saturday (12-28-24) Laurel Park Races 7-8 analysis below.
LRL 7 (Gin Talking, 7f) – Post Time 3:26 PM ET
Primary – #4 CAPRICE
Secondary – #2 My Charm, #5 Beyond Belief, #6 Not Too Late
Horse Comments:
#4 CAPRICE (4-5) is 5-for-6 with a runner-up finish. She easily won her first three starts at Delaware, and stretched out and landed the place behind a runaway winner as the beaten favorite at that venue Oct. 9. She shipped to Laurel and won the Smart Halo and Maryland Juvenile Fillies in her last pair. The versatile filly can be placed anywhere.
#2 My Charm (6-1) was part of the exacta in all four starts for Brittany Russell. She cuts back a furlong and reunites with Sheldon Russell, and she will try to get involved from a bit off the pace.
#5 Beyond Belief (5-2) is also entered in the Future Stars Fillies at Parx Dec. 30. She dueled, opened up, and held on by a nose in her debut, and stalked and finished a solid third in the Smart Halo Nov. 9. The Goldencents filly would not have to run much faster to compete for the win.
#6 Not Too Late (4-1) earned her diploma at this distance at Parx, and she finished behind Caprice in her last two stakes starts. She is also entered in the Future Stars Fillies at Parx Dec. 30.
Wagers:
Exacta 4-2
Stakes Daily Double (races 7-8): 4-6
Stakes Daily Double (races 7-8): 4/3-4-5-6
Stakes Daily Double (races 7-8): 2-4-5-6/6
LRL 8 (Heft, 7f) – Post Time 3:55 PM ET
Primary – #6 YARA’S QUEST, #3 One Man Team
Secondary – #4 Saxton, #5 Sacred Thunder
Horse Comments:
#6 Yara’s Quest (8-1) was 4-1 in his local 6f bow Nov. 16 and he battled on the pace and scored by a length. They paid $300k for the Liam’s Map colt and Duarte Jr. shows a +ROI in non-graded races (20% wins) and is a profitable 24% with his recent grads trying winners for the first time. Karamanos stays put and he is 4-for-5 with this outfit recently. His dam Yara won the G2 Davona Dale in 2012 and she has produced six winners from as many starters (1 stakes winner).
#3 One Man Team (2-1) was the favorite in his local sprint bow and he broke on top, briefly dueled, got clear, and widened in the stretch to graduate by 6 lengths for Brittany Russell. The $285k Nyquist colt is bred to handle longer distances and can win this if he runs slightly faster under Sheldon Russell.
#4 Saxton (9-2) won his first two starts (turf sprint, off the turf), and ended up third in the James F. Lewis and second in the Maryland Juvenile. He improved his speed ratings in all four starts and handled this trip last time.
#5 Sacred Thunder (7-2) is the most experienced runner in this field with eight starts (8 3-3-1). He earned quality numbers in the Maryland Million Nursery (3rd) and James F. Lewis (1st), and his speed rating dropped off a bit when finishing 4th of 7 in the Maryland Juvenile Dec. 7.
Wagers:
#6 to win
Exacta box 3-6
Trifecta 3-6/3-4-5-6/3-4-5-6
Recent 2024 Bettor Bet$ Free Pick Winners
Dec. 1 – Scotland ($12.92), Exacta ($78.94)
Dec. 6 – Kale’s Angel ($9.20), Exacta ($17.00)
Dec. 7 – Tony Eclipse ($6.20)
Dec. 10 – Lansdowne/Meant for Me Exacta ($14.20)
Dec. 11 – Ejtimaa ($5.20)
Dec. 12 – Ashima ($9.00), Exacta ($15.20)
Dec. 13 – Flashy Lass ($2.20)
Dec. 14 – Corningstone ($6.80), Exacta ($15.60)
Dec. 18 – Pass the Baton/Shot of Courage/Trusty Rusty Trifecta ($146.60)
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