Laurel Park 2026 Stakes Plays
Wednesday’s (2-4-26) stakes picks from Laurel Park (Race 9).
LRL 9 (Spectacular Bid, 3yo, 7f) – Post Time 3:59 PM ET
Primary – #3 AWESOME ANDY, #8 Close the Gate
Secondary – #4 Hollywood Import, #7 Trendsetter, #1 Code of Silence
Horse Comments:
#3 Awesome Andy (3-1) exits back-to-back local wins. He was even money in a MSW affair at this course and distance Dec. 20 and he rallied to win by 2 1/2 lengths. Last time, he stalked and scored by less than a length at 5.5f and runner-up Sculcos Folly returned to romp by 9 3/4 lengths in a $50k starter optional-claiming dirt sprint at AQU on Jan. 22.
#8 Close the Gate (9-2) rallied from far back to finish second in his local 5.5f bow, and he stalked from an outer post and ran away by 9+ lengths in a local MSW affair at 5.5f Jan. 10. He figures to stalk the pace from the outside post.
#4 Hollywood Import (9-2) is sharp and versatile. He rallied from off the pace to graduate at DEL in October (Awesome Andy third), and he rallied from far back to land the place behind Balboa in the James F. Lewis III in the mud on Nov. 9. He was fourth as the even money favorite at one mile on good dirt Nov. 23, and he set the pace and wired the field as a 9-1 longshot in the Heft at seven panels on Dec. 27.
#7 Trendsetter (5-1) exits a runner-up finish in the Turfway Prevue on all-weather ground. He won both dirt sprint attempts at Colonial Downs last year including a stakes score in the Hickory Tree.
#1 Code of Silence (6-1) rallied for the place in his MSW bow at 10-1 odds. He rallied to finish a clear third in a stakes sprint at DEL second time out and winner Probably Dreaming clicked right back in the Rocky Run. This one had early trouble and ended up 6th of 13 in the Maryland Million Nursery on Oct. 11, and he added blinkers, returned to the maiden ranks, and went last-to-first as the favorite Nov. 16 (runner-up next-out winner). He was my top choice in the Maryland Juvenile at seven panels on Dec. 6 and he rallied to win by a neck as the favorite. He rallied for the show when last seen at one mile in the slop Jan. 10.
Wagers:
#3 to win
Exacta box 3-8
Trifecta 3-8/1-3-4-7-8/1-3-4-7-8
Laurel Park 2026 Free Pick Stakes Winners
Jan. 17 (Geisha) – TAKETHEMONEYHONEY ($2.20)
