Two Carryovers for Return of Live Racing at Laurel

BALTIMORE – Three maiden special weights, two carryovers and a pair of competitive optional claiming allowance sprints, one each for the turf and dirt, are on the menu as Laurel Park serves up a nine-race program when live racing resumes Friday.

Post time is 12:25 p.m. for the opener, a seven-furlong maiden special weight for horses ages 3, 4 and 5. The group of eight includes 3-year-old gelding Run Bucky Run, a full brother to multiple stakes winner Luna Belle that adds blinkers after two off-the-board finishes; 4-year-old Sheriff Ronnie, fourth last out in the May 20 Sir Barton to Arabian Lion, subsequent winner of the Woody Stephens (G1); and six-figure yearlings Dear Santa, 4, and Devilment, 3, both making their second career starts.

A trio of first-time starters are among seven 2-year-olds entered in Race 3, a 4 ½-furlong maiden special weight sprint – Speedyness, a Maryland-bred Great Notion colt bred, owned and trained by Jamie Ness; Justin Nixon-trained Passion, by Paynter; and Never Grew Up, a Maryland-bred son of Bourbon Courage that fetched $85,000 at the OBS sale in March. Captain Woodrow was beaten a head when second in a similar spot May 26 at historic Pimlico Race Course.

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 has a carryover jackpot of $1,580.56 from the last live program Sunday. The sequence spans Races 4-9 and kicks off with an optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds and up scheduled for 5 ½ furlongs on the Bowl Game turf course. Among the field are Cazadero, a graded-stakes winner on turf and dirt; 2022 Jacques Cartier (G3) winner Arzak; 2021 Maryland Million Turf Sprint winner Grateful Bred; and two-time Virginia-bred grass stakes winner Determined Kingdom.

A second maiden special weight for horses ages 3, 4 and 5 is scheduled for 1 1/8 miles on the Exceller turf course in Race 5 that drew 13 entries including Marty’s Magic and Occasional Moon for the main track. Phipps Stable homebred Now and Later, trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey; Runaway Storm, who adds blinkers after running fourth by 1 ½ lengths in debut May 11 at Horseshoe Indiana; Quality Art, racing first off the claim for trainer Kieron Magee; and Toofareastiswest, second in two starts this year to open his career, are among the contenders.

The $1 Jackpot Super High Five will have a carryover of $1,644 in Race 6, a 5 ½-furlong claiming sprint for 3-year-olds and up which have never won two races. The narrow 3-1 program favorite from outermost Post 10 is 4-year-old Fast Anna gelding Natagar, third or better in five of 12 starts unraced since Feb. 25.

Friday’s co-feature comes in Race 8, an optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds and up sprinting six furlongs. Beneath the Stars, stakes placed at 2 and 3 at Laurel racing first off the claim for trainer Lacey Gaudet; 2022 Penn Ladies Dash winner Deco Strong; three-time stakes placed Juror Number Four, making her debut for trainer Butch Reid; Intrepid Daydream, first or second in four of six starts including three wins; and 8-5 program favorite Self Isolation, who registered her seventh lifetime win May 26 at Monmouth Park, are among the entrants.

Jockey Victor Carrasco has gotten off to a fast start at the 33-day summer meet with three wins, one second and two thirds from just eight mounts over opening weekend. He is named in six races Friday and Saturday at Laurel, including two-time Maryland-bred champion Joe in Saturday’s turf feature, and three races on Sunday’s Father’s Day program.

Michael Trombetta leads trainers with three wins from 12 starters. He has two starters entered Friday, three Saturday and four Sunday.