A big-time Friday of racing coast-to-coast surrounds the opening day of the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar. Get your TGIF off to a flying start with a $10 Free Bet in the Laurel Park early pick four when you play on the 1/ST BET or Xpressbet platforms. That’s right, you’ll get up to a $10 refund in wagering credits – win, lose or draw.

LAUREL PARK // RACE 2 (1:04PM ET) // MAIDEN CLAIMING // 1 1/8 MILES (TURF)

Class-dropping Narmer should improve second off the layoff and taking on easier foes; that was no easy task going 1-1/8 miles vs. maiden special weights after a 12-month absence. Graham Motion trainees win 25% on the MSW to MCL class drop. At 7-2 morning line, this is the top pick. The 9-5 morning line favorite Surfing leaves restricted New Jersey-bred company for the red-hot jockey/trainer combo of Johan Rosado and Claudio Gonzalez. They teamed to win 3 of 4 tandem starts last week at Laurel.

INCLUDE: #4 Narmer, #8 Surfing
ALSO CONSIDER: Also-eligbles #12-#16 all are considerations if drawn in.

LAUREL PARK // RACE 3 (1:42PM ET) // CLAIMING // 7 FURLONGS (DIRT)

In a race for non-winners of 3 lifetime, 3-year-olds are eligible to run despite their level of prior success. Five-time winner Mi Cleopatra and I stands out while making her second start since coming to trainer Keiron Magee. She exits a fast 6-furlong race for the level, takes a class drop and should handle these. The only caveat is the 7-furlong distance, which she’s yet to try, but there’s nothing in her pedigree to think she can’t handle a bit more.

INCLUDE: #4 Mi Cleopatra and I
ALSO CONSIDER: #5 Supreme Blessing, #1 Walk It Out Nanny

LAUREL PARK // RACE 4 (2:16PM ET) // CLAIMING // 5 1/2 FURLONGS (DIRT)

Big Tall Dawg has been facing tougher in recent starts and knocking on the door. While it’s only 5-1/2 furlongs here, there’s a lot of cheap speed that will be fading and Big Tall Dawg consistently finishes stronger than these. Absent a troubled trip, which should not be a big deal with only 6 rivals, expect this one to finish the deal.

INCLUDE: #1 Big Tall Dawg
ALSO CONSIDER: #3 Belmullet, #4 Pepe and Heywood

LAUREL PARK // RACE 5 (2:48PM ET) // MAIDEN CLAIMING // 1 MILE (DIRT)

Big field of 11 has only one obvious toss-out. This will be the spread race to try and catch a bit of a price. For those looking to narrow, preference goes to Gulfstream transfer Power G (15-1 ML), who arrives in Maryland for a high-percentage barn. Axxetator makes plenty of sense off a Delaware third behind a horse who came back to win a Laurel maiden claiming $16,000-level race a notch below this one. Class dropper Natagar goes for a hot barn, Damon Dilodovico (7: 3-1-1 last week at Laurel), while Auction Kingdom makes the often advantageous move from maiden special weight to maiden claiming.

INCLUDE: All except #4 Made to Be Lucky (10 runners)
ALSO CONSIDER: None

PICK 4 TICKET

Race 2: 4, 8
Race 3: 4
Race 4: 1
Race 5: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

Ticket Cost: $10 for each 50-cent play

NOTE: Our weekly Stronach 5 handicapping blog from Frank Carulli returns next week upon his return from vacation.