Laurel Park 2025 Stakes Plays
Saturday’s (4-12-25) stakes picks from Laurel Park (Races 5, 6, 7, 8).
LRL 5 (Native Dancer, 9f)
Primary – #4 SPEEDYNESS, #5 Film Star
Secondary – #6 Cataleya Strike
Wagers: #4 to win, Exacta 4-5, Trifecta 4-5/4-5/6
Comments: #4 Speedyness (7-5) stretches back out in distance and should impact the pace. The 7-time local winner captured the Miracle Wood last year and scored as my top choice in the John B. Campbell Feb 15 (muddy track). Last time, he turned back and missed by a half-length in a close show finish as the beaten favorite in the Not for Love March 8 (runner-up S S Sinatra next-out winner). He ran well in both starts at 9f (2 1-1-0). #5 Film Star (3-2) shipped from NY to MD and beat Speedyness by a head in the Robert T. Manfuso in December. He returned to NY and finished a clear 3rd of 5 Jan. 25, and clear runner-up finisher Phileas Fogg returned to win the Excelsior April 5. He figures to chase the pace and will try to reel in Speedyness. #6 Cataleya Strike (7-2) is probably better suited to allowance company but might be good for a share. He was 3rd, 5th, and 4th in his last three stakes attempts.
LRL 6 (Heavenly Cause, 8f)
Primary – #8 ROYAL SPA, #11 Sea Dancer
Secondary – #2 Catherine Wheel, #7 Takethemoneyhoney
Wagers: #8 to win, Exacta box 8-11, Trifecta 8-11/2-7-8-11/2-7-8-11
Comments: #8 Royal Spa (4-1) shipped to LRL, stalked wide, and landed the place behind strong favorite Irish Maxima in the Barbara Fritchie Feb. 15, and the latter clicked right back as the chalk in the G3 Distaff at AQU April 5. Her lone try at this distance resulted in a runner-up finish in the G3 Chilukki at CD last fall. She was my top choice last time and I will give her another chance to score at a hint of a price. #11 Sea Dancer (5-2) moved to the Brittany Russell barn and rallied to win back-to-back local stakes races in the Carousel (9f) and Nellie Morse (8.5) in December and February. She shipped to AQU and was a flat 4th of 5 in the G3 Distaff April 5 and that race did not set up for her. She is back quickly in her second start after a layoff, and she is 2-for-2 at LRL and Sheldon Russell is 2-for-2 with her. #2 Catherine Wheel (7-2) was part of the trifecta in all six starts for Chad Brown. She exits a nose victory at this distance at AQU and this is her third start after a long layoff. She is cross-entered in the Top Flight at AQU on April 12. #7 Takethemoneyhoney (5-1) romped by 13 lengths as the favorite in her extended sprint bow at PRX last summer, and returned from a layoff of 7+ months and won as the favorite at LRL Feb. 22. She finished a nose behind Catherine Wheel March 22. This is her third start after a long layoff and she should be forwardly placed. She is also entered in an OC-40k/2x flat mile dirt race at LRL April 13.
LRL 7 (Primonetta, 6f)
Primary – #4 FIRSTLADY ROSALYNN, #7 Tipple
Secondary – #6 Disco Ebo, #5 All Class
Wagers: #4 to win, Exacta box 4-7, Trifecta 4-7/4-5-6-7/4-5-6-7
Comments: #4 Firstady Rosalynn (5-2) won three of five dirt sprints for Brittany Russell. She exits a sharp OC-50k/2x win at this distance at CNL and the runner-up was a next-out winner. Toledo stays put and he is 6-for-8 with this outfit recently. She drilled a bullet for this April 2 and this is her third start after a layoff. #7 Tipple (7-2) was up the track in her turf sprint bow, and moved to dirt and missed by a nose at one mile second time out. She returned from a layoff of 5+ months and graduated at 7f Jan. 31 (runner-up next-out winner). Last time, she competed in a flat mile OC affair and won again from off the pace. Linda Rice’s filly ships in from NY and cuts back two furlongs. #6 Disco Ebo (4-1) is 12-for-31 overall but has not won a race since November 2024. Since that win, she landed the show in back-to-back stakes, lost the rider in the mud Feb. 6, and completed the trifecta in the Correction at AQU March 2. #5 All Class (7-2) was unplaced in her bow and fired trifecta shots in all seven starts since. Linda Rice claimed this one for $62.5k last fall and she hit the board in all three dirt sprints for this outfit.
LRL 8 (Frank V. Whiteley, 7f)
Primary – #3 WORCESTER, #5 Bartlett
Secondary – #4 New King, #2 Circle P
Wagers: Exacta 3-5, Trifecta key 3/2-4-5, Superfecta 3-5/3-5/2-4/2-4
Comments: #3 Worcester (7-5) was part of the exacta in his last six starts. He is 2-for-3 with a runner-up finish at LRL and 2-for-2 at this specialty distance. He rallied for the place in the Stymie at one mile March 1 and winner Bank Frenzy clicked right back in the Haynesfield April 6. #5 Bartlett (3-1) set the pace in his last six starts and he won four of those races. He is back on dirt in his first start since November 2024. He drilled a 5f bullet for this at PRX March 29. #4 New King (3-1) ships in from the West Coast and Brittany Russell is 30% with new additions to her barn. He won a fast dirt route at SA Feb. 2 and was up the track in the G1 SA Handicap March 1. #2 Circle P (5-1) won as my value top choice in the Not for Love March 8 and he excels at that six panel distance (4 3-0-1). He handles this trip (6 1-1-1) but is better at 6f. He will probably stalk the pace and might offer a hint of value.
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)
Please visit The Runaway Horse Shop to purchase my Santa Anita Park full cards.
