Laurel Park 2025 Stakes Plays
Saturday’s (3-22-25) stakes picks from Laurel Park (Races 7, 8).
LRL 7 (Beyond the Wire, 8f) – Post Time 3:17 PM ET
Primary – #7 MY CHARM, #8 Onyx Ten
Secondary – #3 Safe Trust, #1 Central Casting, #2 Ourdaydreaminggirl
Wagers: #7 to win, Exacta 7-8/3-7-8, Trifecta 1-2-7-8/1-2-7-8/3
Comments: #7 My Charm (4-1) was part of the exacta in her first five starts for Brittany Russell. She cut back a furlong and reunited with Sheldon Russell in the Gin Talking Dec. 28, and she sat behind a speed duel and was clearly second best behind winning favorite Caprice (20 cents on the dollar). She never got involved from off the pace in the Xtra Heat last time. She gets more ground to play with and can make some noise if the pace is honest. #8 Onyx Ten (5-2) is 3-for-10 with five minor awards. She hit the board in the Blue Hen and Maryland Juveniles Fillies, and won the Xtra Heat and Wide Country in her last pair. #3 Safe Trust (3-1) is consistent with 8 trifecta finishes from 9 starts. In four stakes tries, she was 3rd in the Keswick and Maryland Mlllion Lassie, and 2nd in the Maryland Juvenile Fillies and Wide Country. She dueled and beat race favorite Malibu Hooch in a local OC-62.5k/1x affair at 6f Feb. 7. #1 Central Casting (9-2) is a sharp New York shipper with trifecta finishes in her last four starts. She exits a romping front running win in a starter optional-claiming sprint and her numbers are on the rise. #2 Ourdaydreaminggirl (8-1) 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. She rallied mildly to split an 8-horse field in the Wide Country Feb. 22.
LRL 8 (Private Terms, 8.5f) – Post Time 3:47 PM ET
Primary – #8 PAY BILLY, #5 Tony Eclipse
Secondary – #1 Crab Daddy, #7 Sacred Thunder
Wagers: #8 to win, Exacta box 5-8, Trifecta 5-8/1-5-7-8/1-5-7-8
Comments: #8 Pay Billy (3-1) is on the upswing 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 stalked, led, and missed by a nose as my top choice in the Miracle Wood Feb. 22, and he was 3 3/4 lengths clear of beaten favorite Sacred Thunder that day. #5 Tony Eclipse (5-2) stalked and faded in his flat mile turf bow, and switched to dirt and easily went all the way at one mile second time out. He set the pace and was clearly second best behind It’s Hammertime in the Rocky Run Oct. 9, and set the pace and missed the place by a nose in the Nashua Nov. 2. He cut back a furlong in the Maryland Juvenile Dec. 7 and he pressed the pace and kicked clear by 3 3/4 lengths as the favorite. He was my top choice in the Spectacular Bid Jan. 25 and he was forward early, had an uncomfortable trip after that, and was nowhere late as the beaten favorite. I would not be surprised if the Maryland Juvenile Stakes hero attended the pace and bounced back for Team Russell. #1 Crab Daddy (8-1) was part of the exacta in his first four starts. He added blinkers and missed by a head in the Spectacular Bid Jan. 25. He was out of the trifecta for the first time when finishing 4th in the Miracle Wood, and was clearly second best of 4 as the beaten 1-2 favorite in an allowance sprint at CNL March 13. #7 Sacred Thunder (4-1) was part of the trifecta in 10 of 11 starts. He rallied to finish a close third in the Spectacular Bid at seven panels Jan. 25, and picked up the show in the Miracle Wood 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)
Feb. 22 – Race 8 – Barbadian Runner/Pay Billy/Sacred Thunder Trifecta ($62.20)
March 8 – Race 8 CIRCLE P ($12.40)
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