The Maryland racing scene shifts back to Laurel Park, with the popular Late Pick 4 encompassing three route races and a 5-1/2F turf allowance this Friday, Sept. 30. Here’s a look at the action:

LRL 6th race (3:14 EST) -- BOSS LOGIC ‘surged clear in mid-stretch’ to put away the pesky 2-to-1 second favorite and win off the claim by Ness. He ran 1/5 of a second faster than a $15,000/nw3 claiming race on the same card. He met hard-hitting Silent Malice (9-39, $251k) and stablemate The King Cheek ($308k) in his prior two starts. CLOSER LOOK faded from up close to the pace in his last three starts, but he could be better suited to the off-the-pace tactics that produced an allowance runner-up finish at Laurel Park to start the year. In that race, he bid to a clear lead but settled for second behind Treasure Trove, who was embarking on a $111k season.

LRL 7th race (3:44 EST) -- MIT MAZEL is working steadily for her return from a six-month layoff. She has carried her speed to an 8/3-3-1 record at the distance, good for $101k in earnings. She could face front-end pressure, so use CHAMPAGNE TOAST as a backup if the pace collapses. She swung 5-wide entering the stretch and got up to finish second behind stakes winner Trolley Ride (10-37, $407k) in her last start on dirt.

LRL 8th race (4:15 EST) -- The eight Maryland-bred fillies and mares entered in this 5-1/2F turf allowance last won at six different venues – two on the Laurel Park and Colonial Downs lawn, two others in turf-to-dirt races at Pimlico and Delaware Park and the final two on the Laurel Park and Timonium main tracks. More than half the field finished first or second within their last two starts. It adds up to an ‘ALL’ punch in the Pick 4.

LRL 9th race (4:45 EST) – ABSENTEE made a last-to-first move in a route race dominated by closers at Park, but the 2-3-4 finishers in that race arrived in excellent form and are a combined 6-18 since March. BUMPERDOO rallied for three wins and a second in his last four starts, all going long distance, and is the one to beat in here. WALK AWAY JOE, in tight on the final turn, finished third after his rider claimed an objection against the winning favorite last out.

Suggested 50-cent Ticket

LRL 6th Race: 3, 5
LRL 7th Race: 1, 3
LRL 8th Race: ALL
LRL 9th Race: 2, 3, 5
COST: $48