Laurel Park 2025 Stakes Plays
Saturday’s (12-27-25) stakes picks from Laurel Park (Races 7, 8).
LRL 7 (Gin Talking, 2yo fillies, 7f dirt) – Post Time 3:01 PM ET
Primary – #6 SLEWPERSTITUS
Secondary – #1 Just Philtored, #4 Peach Tie
Horse Comments:
#6 Slewperstitus (3-1) followed up a romping dirt sprint debut with runner-up stakes finishes behind Just Philtored on dirt (neck back) and turf (4.5 lengths back). She returned to dirt and won the Maryland Million Lassie as the favorite Oct. 11 (show finisher next-out winner). A tooth abscess knocked her out of the Smart Halo and she was my top choice before scratching that day. She worked five times for the Maryland Juvenile Fillies and was clearly second best to her nemesis Just Philtored. She drew outside her main rival this time for this and she adds blinkers and figures to track the pace while out in the clear.
#1 Just Philtored (6-5) won her first three starts including a debut dirt sprint romp at LRL. She won back-to-back stakes races in August, and was an even 5th of 8 in the G3 Matron at 6T Oct. 2. I made her my top choice in the local Smart Halo at 6f Nov. 8 and she was a clear 3rd of 5 from the inside post as the beaten even money favorite. She landed the comfortable outside post in the Maryland Juvenile Fillies at 7f on Dec. 6 and she stalked the pace and bounced back with a win. She is down on the inside this time and should attend the pace.
#4 Peach Tie (6-1) is 3-for-4 with a show finish for Brittany Russell. She stalked and easily scored as the strong favorite in a local optional-claiming sprint on Nov. 14, and the show finisher was a next-out winner.
Wagers:
#6 to win
LRL 8 (Heft, 2yo, 7f dirt) – Post Time 3:30 PM ET
Primary – #8 POWER GRID, #5 Red Zone Runner
Secondary – #2 Probably Dreaming, #1 Gurney Halleck, #7 Very Volatile
Horse Comments:
#8 Power Grid (6-1) was 5th in his CNL debut and he finished 1-2 in all five starts since. He won his last two outings at LRL and his numbers are on the rise. He projects a tactical trip at a hint of a price.
#5 Red Zone Runner (5-1) won his bow at PRX and hit the board in his last pair including a show finish in the PA Nursery. He is getting faster.
#2 Probably Dreaming (2-1) won his first three starts and exits a clear runner-up finish in the Nashua at AQU. He won his debut at LRL.
#1 Gurney Halleck (7-2) is a WV-bred gelding. He was part of the exacta in his first three starts at CT and he shipped to LRL and rallied for the show in the James F. Lewis III on Nov. 8.
#7 Very Volatile (9-2) was 6th in his DEL debut and he moved forward and smartly graduated in a local 7f MSW affair for the productive Hazlewood/Capuano team Nov. 29.
Wagers:
#8 to win
Exacta box 5-8
Trifecta 2-5-7-8/2-5-7-8/1
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)
June 21 – Race 6 – Whenigettoheaven/Determined Kingdom Exacta ($27), Trifecta ($160.20)
June 28 – Race 11 – Subrogate/Celtic Contender/Caramel Chip Trifecta ($35.80)
Sept. 6 – Race 8 – FOXY JUNIOR ($7.00)
Sept. 13 – Race 6 – TOUPIE ($5.40), Exacta ($18.20), Trifecta ($59.40)
Sept. 13 – Race 7 – NO SHOW SAMMY JO ($2.80)
Sept. 20 – Race 8 – Maida/G W’s Girl Exacta ($11.60)
Sept. 27 – Race 9 – Proton/Jutland Exacta ($9.80)
Nov. 8 – Race 9 – Balboa/Hollywood Import Exacta ($20.60), Trifecta ($87.40)
Nov. 22 – Race 8 – Grammy Girl ($6.80), Exacta ($11.40)
Dec. 6 – Race 6 – CODE OF SILENCE ($5.80)
Dec. 6 – Race 8 – Just Philtored/Slewperstitus Exacta ($12.00), Trifecta ($17.00)
Dec. 20 – Race 8 – POST TIME ($3.00), Trifecta ($19.20)
