Laurel: Pick-five carryover of $3,213 for Friday's program
A Friday Laurel Park late-pick-five carryover is always a good way to ease into the weekend, and even though it is a modest $3,213, the 12 percent takeout still makes the wager worthwhile.
Also, the return of turf racing last week at Laurel has given field size a much-needed boost, opening the door for improved multiple-race payouts. There are four grass races on Friday’s nine-race card, all of which are part of a 20-cent Rainbow 6 that has a carryover of $6,640.
The rolling Super Hi 5 has a carryover of $7,053 after the $1 wager was not hit on Sunday’s nine-race card. A race needs to have at least seven starters to offer a Super Hi 5, which is exactly the number of entrants in each of the first three races. Check for scratches Friday morning on Laurel’s DRF.com entry page.
The four turf races are races 4, 6, 8, and 9. They could have 11, 9, 10, and 12 starters.
Here are a few thoughts on the late pick five:
◗ Race 5: Honor the Fleet will be favored in this first-level optional $50,000 claimer at a mile on the main track based on the 80 Beyer Speed Figure he earned in his maiden win, but there are others here with a chance.
Hamilton Smith claimed Coach Pat for $25,000 out of a 7 1/4-length debut win from New York owner Michael Dubb. Coach Pat has worked twice since then, and his potential is difficult to judge.
Gold Braid is in for the $50,000 optional tag after winning an allowance at Penn National for Hugh McMahon, who has won with five of his last nine starters through Tuesday.
◗ Race 6: This second-level optional claimer at a mile on turf could come down to likely favorite Freudie Ann and Janine Melnitz.
Freudie Ann, trained by Tom Morley, enters off two optional-claiming wins at Fair Grounds, where she was in for the $80,000 claiming tag. Janine Melnitz, who races for Tres Abbott, was a close second for $30,000 last time out at Gulfstream Park.
◗ Race 7: This first-level allowance for Maryland-bred or Maryland-sired runners could go a number of ways, but it should be noted that Minor Legend defeated The Pulse last time out, and that runner came back to win a first-level optional-claiming race with a Beyer Speed Figure of 82.
◗ Race 8: Zinger chased Mr. Misunderstood in two blowout wins at Fair Grounds. Mr. Misunderstood has won four of his last five starts dating to October. Zinger’s trainer, Larry Jones, is 6 for 12 in the Mid-Atlantic since shipping north from Fair Grounds.
◗ Race 9: If Rosie Ridge draws in from the also-eligibles, she should win this $16,000 maiden claimer for Mike Trombetta. If not, be prepared to spread wide.