Maiden race complicates carryover pick five sequence

Lead-off victories by Dattt Melody ($29.80) and Tradfest ($15.80) knocked out a lot of tickets in the Laurel Park late pick five Sunday, resulting in a Friday carryover of $4,939.

The sequence begins with a first-level allowance and continues with a 2-year-old filly maiden race, a $25,000 starter allowance, and a pair of restricted $5,000 claiming races.

The allowance looks like a two-horse race between Speightsford and Flying the Flag.

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Trained by Ben Perkins Jr., Speightsford is overdue to win at this level, and was second to Rugbyman in his last start. Flying the Flag comes into this off a 5 1/4-length maiden win for Graham Motion.

The maiden race is not as straightforward. Two Sixteen, trained by Ferris Allen III, ran well in her debut to miss by a nose. But Gallinella, who finished third, 2 3/4 lengths farther back, has every right to improve second time out. A Jeff Runco trainee, Gallinella dropped very far back after breaking from post 2 and then finished well in a sneaky good effort.

The field also includes a number of first-time starters, including Ying Yue, who entered off a series of quick works for trainer Mark Reid.