by Frank Carulli
March 16, 2023
It’s Laurel Park’s version of March Madness. The action will be fast and furious with five consecutive stakes on the Saturday card. The $100,000 Harrison Johnson Memorial, Beyond the Wire and Private Terms lead off the 50-cent Late Pick 4. Here’s a closer look at the action with a $32 suggested ticket to follow:
LRL 7th race (3:31 EST) -- NIMITZ CLASS, seeking his third consecutive six-figure stakes victory in the Harrison Johnson Memorial, posted a career-best 101 Beyer and overpowered money burner OURNATIONONPARADE to win the Campbell Handicap at Laurel. Both are major players but neither has a one-mile victory on their resume. The remaining six entrants are a combined 11-for-31 at the distance. Play ‘ALL’ in the opening leg of the Pick 4.
LRL 8th race (4:02 EST) -- PHAROAHS BABY GYAL got Lasix, ran long for the first time and ‘eagerly opened up’ her stretch lead to win an entry-level allowance by 10 lengths. She fired a couple bullet workouts since then for a 28-percent barn with two-month layoff types. LADY LOWERY showed no speed in her 6-1/2F debut on Turfway Park’s synthetic track but closed with a wide rush to finish second. She chased a faster pace than a same-day allowance for older fillies and mares in her second start and edged clear to victory. Her damsire, Revolutionary, won the Grade III Pimlico Special in 2014.
LRL 9th race (4:33 EST) -- REGISTER seized the moment in his maiden-breaking victory at Aqueduct after the other two race favorites encountered trouble. But the son of Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver was resilient, nonetheless, winning a head-and-head stretch battle in his first route attempt. The longer FEELING WOOZY runs, the better he performs. He set a clear pace and finished third in his first stakes attempt last out, now tries two turns for the first time in the Private Terms.
LRL 9th race (5:05 EST) -- RAISE YOUR GAME rallied 4-wide to finish third in a 6F race two starts back that produced three next-out winners. She was no factor in a 7F follow-up try but merits a second look at a good price with ample pace flow to run at. QUEEN OF CLASS rallied into photo-finish view in her last four starts, catching the favorite to win by a neck despite drifting in her most recent start.
Suggested 50-cent Ticket
LRL 7th race: ALL
LRL 8th race: 1, 3
LRL 9th race: 2, 5
LRL 10th race: 3, 6
COST: $32