Laurel Park 2025 Stakes Plays
Saturday’s (6-21-25) stakes pick from Laurel Park is the Ben’s Cat (Race 6).
LRL 6 (Ben’s Cat, 6 furlongs turf) – Post Time 2:43 PM ET
Primary – #8 DETERMINED KINGDOM, #9 Whenigettoheaven
Secondary – #5 Tidewater, #6 Had to Have Him
Horse Comments:
#8 Determined Kingdom (3-1) captured four of six turf sprints last year and he loves to win races on turf (10-for-23). He chased wide and finished 6th of 9 as the beaten favorite in the King Leatherbury April 19 and that was his first start in more than five months. He was 7-1 in the Jim McKay Turf Sprint and ended up a solid third on the Preakness undercard. I like his running style versatility and he is fast enough to win this on his best day.
#9 Whenigettoheaven (5-2) won this race in 2024 and is 0-for-6 with a runner-up finish and three show finishes since. The 3-time local winner is back on turf after a show finish in an all-weather sprint.
#5 Tidewater (6-1) returned to turf and ran on for the show at Pimlico on May 16. This is his third start after a layoff and the consistent gelding usually runs his race on turf (13 3-4-4).
#7 Hunter Joe (12-1) finished last of 4 in his needed return on June 1 and that race was originally scheduled for turf and run at 5 1/2 furlongs on fast dirt. He likes this turf course (9 4-2-0) and might bounce back in his second start after a layoff.
#6 Had to Have Him (8-1) was 3-1 in his off the turf return on a good track May 31, and he rallied to win by 1 3/4 lengths in a sharp victory. That was his first start in half a year and he is a competent turf sprinter (9 2-1-3).
Wagers:
#8 to win
Exacta box 8-9
Trifecta 5-8-9/5-6-7-8-9/5-6-7-8-9
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)
Feb. 22 – Race 8 – Barbadian Runner/Pay Billy/Sacred Thunder Trifecta ($62.20)
March 8 – Race 8 – CIRCLE P ($12.40)
March 22 – Race 8 – PAY BILLY ($5.40)
April 12 – Race 6 – ROYAL SPA ($4.80)
April 12 – Race 8 – WORCESTER ($6.20)
April 19 – Race 11 – PAY BILLY ($6.60)
