Laurel Park 2025 Stakes Plays
Saturday’s (2-22-25) stakes picks from Laurel Park (Races 7, 8).
LRL 7 (Wide Country, 7f)
Primary – #7 SHKHARA FIRE, #2 Icona Mama
Secondary – #5 Onxy Ten, #8 Not Too Late, #4 Safe Trust, #3 Ourdaydreaminggirl
Wagers: #7 to win, Trifecta 2-7/2-3-4-5-7-8/3-4
Comments: #7 Shkhara Fire (4-1) won the Maryland Million Lassie last year and completed the exacta in her last pair. She stalked the pace and was second best in the Xtra Heat and is slowly getting faster. #2 Icona Mama (2-1) won her debut at Presque Isle last year, and was 2nd in the Bolton Landing, 3rd in the Pocahontas (G3), 5th in the Frizette (G1), and 1st in the Shamrock Rose. #5 Onyx Ten (5-2) is 2-for-9 with five minor awards. She hit the board in the Blue Hen and Maryland Juveniles Fillies, and exits a stalking victory as the favorite in the Xtra Heat. #8 Not Too Late (6-1) earned her diploma in an extended sprint at Parx, won an optional-claimer in September, and finished behind Caprice in her last four stakes starts including local show finishes in the Gin Talking and Xtra Heat. #4 Safe Trust (8-1) is consistent with 7 trifecta finishes from 8 starts. In three stakes tries, she was 3rd in the Keswick and Maryland Mlllion Lassie, and 2nd in the Maryland Juvenile Fillies. She dueled and beat race favorite Malibu Hooch in a local OC-62.5k/1x affair at 6f Feb. 7. #3 Ourdaydreaminggirl (10-1) rallied to graduate as the favorite at this distance at PRX Dec. 30, and she shipped to NY and rallied for the place behind romping wire job winner Volleyballprincess in the Ruthless Feb. 1.
LRL 8 (Miracle Wood, 8f)
Primary – #5 PAY BILLY, #4 Crab Daddy
Secondary – #1 Sacred Thunder, #2 Barbadian Runner, #3 Studlydoright
Wagers: #5 to win, Exacta 4-5/1-4-5, Trifecta 2-3-4-5/2-3-4-5/1
Comments: #5 Pay Billy (6-1) is getting faster for Michael Gorham. He turned back and graduated at six panels on Dec. 15, and easily defeated next-out winner All the Hardways as the favorite at this course/distance Jan. 25. He should be forwardly placed in his third start after a layoff, and he is fast enough to win this. #4 Crab Daddy (5-1) was part of the exacta in all four starts. He added blinkers and missed by a head in the Spectacular Bid Jan. 25. #1 Sacred Thunder (5-2) was part of the trifecta in 9 of 10 starts. He rallied to finish a close third in the Spectacular Bid at seven panels Jan. 25. He reconnects with Torrealba and he graduated in a flat mile race last year. #2 Barbadian Runner (7-2) is a relatively consistent gelding exiting a head victory in at 6-1 odds in the Spectacular Bid. #3 Studlydoright (8-5) finished 1-2 in four stakes starts last year. He added blinkers and won the Nashua in November, and was 4th in his last two Derby points races in the G2 Remsen and Jerome. He is cross-entered in the John Battaglia Memorial at TP Feb. 22.
Laurel Park 2025 Free Pick Stakes Winners
Feb. 15 Race 6 – Irish Maxima/Royal Spa Exacta ($4.80)
Feb. 15 Race 7 – SPEEDYNESS ($7.00), Exacta ($29.40), Trifecta ($83.20)
Feb. 15 Race 8 – Quint’s Brew/Celtic Contender Exacta ($13.00)
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