Thirty Eight Go Go a handicapping puzzle
Laurel Park returns from its Christmas break Saturday with a challenging program that contains five stakes. Adding interest is a $91,337 carryover in the 10-cent Rainbow 6, which has not been hit in 25 cards since Oct. 24.
There are two open, $100,000 stakes, the one-mile Thirty Eight Go Go for fillies and mares and the six-furlong Dave’s Friend for 3-year-olds and up. There also are three $50,000 statebred stakes, the Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship, Maryland Juvenile Futurity, and Jennings Handicap.
The stakes are scattered throughout the card as races 2, 4, 6, 8, and 9. The Rainbow 6 starts on race 4, and the 12-percent-takeout pick five begins with the fifth race.
There could be a lot riding on the Thirty Eight Go Go, which is the final leg of both multirace bets. The field of 12 is evenly matched to the point that it is difficult to predict a favorite.
The best-known runner is Samantha Nicole, a 4-year-old full sister to Rachel Alexandra trained by Kiaran McLaughlin. Although not in the best of form, she will be going one turn for the first time since winning a 1 1/16-mile allowance race at Belmont Park in June.
Three of the entrants are on two-race win streaks. They are Athena, who has won first- and second-level races at Churchill Downs for trainer Helen Pitts; synthetic specialist Miss Mischief, who will be returning to dirt for Dale Capuano; and Bound, who has won a third-level race and a Pennsylvania-bred stakes at Parx for T. Bernard Houghton.
Two sleepers in the field are Stroke Play and Paulassilverlining, who were separated by a nose when second and third in the seven-furlong Safely Kept Stakes at Laurel on Nov. 14. The runaway winner of that race was Hot City Girl, who is in career form and has won three straight.
Paulassilverlining deserves special attention since the Safely Kept was her first start in more than six months. Trainer Michelle Nevin has worked her four times since, and the Grade 2 winner might be ready for a top effort.
Trainer Ramon Preciado said the distance of this race suits Stroke Play better than the seven-furlong Safely Kept.
“I think she’ll be tough,” Preciado said. “She is very consistent, and her best distance is a mile and up.”
The Dave’s Friend, which drew a field of 10, is race 4. The field will be reduced to at least nine, however, as Jake N Elwood will instead race in the $100,000 Gravesend at Aqueduct on Saturday, according to Preciado. Heaven’s Runway also is cross-entered in both six-furlong races.
Rainbow Heir might have the best early speed. He seems to be back in form for trainer Benny Perkins and won his first race of the year last out. Two starts back, he finished second to the talented Pulling G’s at Belmont Park.
Majestic Hussar also has good speed on occasion. He rallied from off the pace to be second at 87-1 to Favorite Tale last out in the $200,000 Fabulous Strike at Penn National for trainer William Campbell.
The scratch of Jake N Elwood leaves Preciado with Beach Hut, who is coming off a second-level optional win at Parx.
“He is coming around really good,” Preciado said. “I figure we should take a shot and see how good he is.”