Laurel Park 2025 Stakes Plays
Saturday’s (12-20-25) stakes picks from Laurel Park (Races 5, 6, 7, 8).
Scratches (Races 5, 6, 7, 8):
R5 – #3
R6 – #8, 11
R8 – #1, 6, 8
Updated Tickets After Scratches:
LRL 5 (Howard and Sondra Bender, 7f) – Post Time 2:05 PM ET
Primary – #5 BLUE KINGDOM, #1 Quint’s Brew
Secondary – #4 Slam Notion
Wagers: #5 to win, Exacta 5-1, Trifecta 1-5/1-4-5/1-4-5
Comments: #5 Blue Kingdom (5-2) is 4-for-5 this year and three of his scores were at seven panels. He set the pace and was best of the rest in third in the Maryland Million Classic at 9f Oct. 11, and he exits a strong front running win as the favorite at AQU (7f) Nov. 15. He is fast and sharp enough to make the lead and wire the field. #1 Quint’s Brew (6-5) was part of the exacta in all seven starts. He won four of his first five starts at LRL including the Jennings and General George earlier this year. He landed the place in his last two graded starts in NY (G2 Carter, G3 Westchester), and this is his first start since May. He won the Jennings off a similar layoff and he is a logical contender from the inside post. #4 Slam Notion (4-1) is 5-for-9 with two runner-up finishes and he exits a stalking victory at 5-1 odds in the Maryland Million Sprint.
LRL 6 (Carousel, 9f) – Post Time 2:34 PM ET – Updated Tickets
Primary – #1 SULTRY LASS, #4 Complexity Jane
Secondary – #9 Lute Warm, #2 The Sky Is Falling
Wagers: #1 to win, Exacta box 1-4, Trifecta 1-4/1-2-4-9/1-2-4-9
Comments: #1 Sultry Lass (5-1) ran well in two of his last three dirt sprints and Amoss claimed him for $80k Oct. 5. She won two races at 8.5f last year and is 0-for-6 with three runner-up finishes and a show finish at 9f. #4 Complexity Jane (7-2) is 4-for-4 at LRL. She wired the field in the local Weber City Miss at 8.5f in April and was up the track in her next two stakes starts at DEL and CNL. She returned from a layoff and chased from the outside post and kicked away to win the local Thirty Eight Go Go at 8.5f (wet fast) on Nov. 9 (blinkers on). She drilled a local bullet for this Dec. 12 and should make her presence felt from the outset for Team Russell. #9 Lute Warm (5-2) is 5-for-9 with a second and a third. She is 4-for-7 on turf and 1-for-2 with a third on dirt. She graduated in the mud at PIM and won four of her last six turf routes. Saturday’s rider Toledo rode her once and she won that turf route at CNL last year. #2 The Sky Is Falling (9-2) is a sharp CT shipper and she proved that she could handle this distance in a good looking WV-bred stakes victory Nov. 8.
LRL 7 (Politely, 6f) – Post Time 3:04 PM ET
Primary – #2 ONYX TEN, #3 Takethemoneyhoney
Secondary – #1 Miss Harriett, #5 Grayson’s Girl, #6 Conquerthosewecan
Wagers: #2 to win, Exacta 2-3/1-2-3, Trifecta 2-3-5-6/2-3-5-6/1
Comments: #2 Onyx Ten (9-2) captured four of her six starts this year including the Maryland Million Distaff Oct. 11 (show finisher Foxy Junior next-out winner). The 3-time local winner dueled and was best of the rest in third as the beaten favorite in the Safely Kept at 7f Nov. 29. She could easily bounce back with a win for the productive Hazlewood/Capuano team. #3 Takethemoneyhoney (3-2) is a nose and a head away from a perfect 6-for-6 record. She is 2-for-3 with a head defeat at LRL. The Willa On the Move at 6.5f on Nov. 22 was her first start in more than half a year and she chased the pace and missed by a head, and she ended up 7 1/4 lengths in front of show finisher #1 Miss Harriett (10-1).The latter won half of her eight starts last year including the Wide Country and Miss Disco, and she hit the board in all three outings this year including back-to-back stakes placings (Rehoboth, Willa On the Move). #5 Grayson’s Girl (5-1) was part of the trifecta in all nine starts. She ran well in all six local starts (3 wins) including a 5-1 victory in the Safely Kept at 7f Nov. 29. #6 Conquerthosewecan (5-1) fired trifecta shots in seven of eight starts. She won an OC race at CNL in August and landed the show in her last two starts in September (Weather Vane) and October (OC). She should be forwardly placed for Team Russell.
LRL 8 (Robert T. Manfuso, 8.5f) – Post Time 3:34 PM ET
Primary – #4 POST TIME, #2 Barbadian Runner
Secondary – #7 Pay Billy, #5 Hittheroadjak
Wagers: #4 to win, Exacta box 2-4, Trifecta 2-4/2-4-5-7/2-4-5-7
Comments: #4 Post Time (2-1) is 10-for-11 at LRL and he lost a local race for the first time when coming up 3/4ths of a length short in a slow early/fast late renewal of the Maryland Million Classic on Oct. 11, and winner Barbadian Runner and show finisher Blue Kingdom were both next-out winners. He is 12-for-22 with four runner-up finishes and five show finishes. He hit the board in some big races last year including the G1 Met Mile (2nd), G1 Whitney (3rd), and G1 BC Dirt Mile (2nd). He added blinkers and lasix and aired as the overwhelming favorite in his LRL return May 3, and ran on for the show as the favorite in the G3 Blame at 9f on May 31. He returned to his Maryland base and easily won the Deputed Testimony at 10 cents on the dollar at this distance June 28. He was 6th in the G1 Whitney, 1st by 17 lengths in the local Polynesian at one mile in the mud Sept. 7, and was last of 3 in the G2 Woodward. The consistent closer will probably win this if the pace is honest. He is nearing the end of his career. He will stand at Northview Stallion Station in 2026. If he wins this impressively, it is possible that he runs one more time before retiring. #2 Barbadian Runner (4-1) fired trifecta shots in 10 of 11 starts this year (6 wins). He won the Jersey Derby in the slop in May (off the turf) and landed the place in his next three stakes starts. He picked up another stakes win at CT at 9-1 Aug. 24 and the show finisher was a next-out winner. He was 6-1 in the Maryland Million Classic on Oct. 11 and he upset Post Time by 3/4ths of a length (show finisher next-out winner), and he easily won the Richard W. Small as the strong favorite in the mud Nov. 22. The sharp, consistent sophomore gelding can stalk or close and is a logical top three contender. #7 Pay Billy (15-1) was 6th of 9 in the City of Laurel at 7f and that was his first start in more than half a year. He won the Private Terms and Federico Tesio at LRL earlier this year and the sophomore gelding projects a stalking trip at a price. #5 Hittheroadjak (15-1) misfired in back-to-back turf outings on Oct. 19 and Nov. 15, and he wheeled back in a week, set the pace, and was a clear show finish in the mud in the Richard W. Small at 9f Nov. 22.. Dirt is his preferred footing and he can land a share on his best day.
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)
