by Frank Carulli
March 23, 2023
Short-priced winners dominated Laurel Park’s Late Pick 4 last Friday. History could repeat itself in the 50-cent wager this week, but here’s to hoping a couple price plays spoil the party and make our suggested $56 ticket below pay off:
LRL 6th race (3:00 EST) -- FREE ADMISSION is the one to beat on paper, class dropping for her seasonal debut, six-plus months removed from a pair of in-the-money finishes at 5F. But still going to use OUT OF LUCK after a well-bet but troubled debut and a couple first-time starters. WINDS OF FORTUNE, working forwardly and getting in light-weighted with Lasix, is the son of multiple graded stakes winner Hoppertunity and a dam who was 25/4-7-6 with $169k in earnings. WEST COAST WILDCAT’S dam was a first-out MSW winner and solid allowance sprinter.
LRL 7th race (3:31 EST) -- Here’s seven reasons to punch the ‘ALL’ button. BONDED caught THTWASTHENTHISISNW for his second photo-finish win in a row. Trainer Claudio Gonzalez sends out class dropper BLOWN SAVE and class-rising repeat candidate FUN LOVIN CRIMINAL. OROCOVIX earned the best last-race Beyer in the field. SPECTRIER enters a hot barn off the claim. HE’S ON FIRE broke his maiden at this level, now sheds 14 pound after a couple dull efforts.
LRL 8th race (4:02 EST) -- MOODY WOMAN rallied for third in the Grade III Barbara Fritchie at 7F, earning the top speed figure of her career. Her 59-1 odds belied the fact that in her prior start, she rallied 5-wide to run third in a 5-1/2F allowance, unable to reach two rivals who are a combined 17-47 with $754k in earnings but finishing ahead of an eight-time stakes winner and four-time stakes runner-up. BENEATH THE STARS shook clear of pressure on the turn, met two more challenges in mid-stretch and got caught by the late-running winner. She will face pressure again at an unproven distance but remains on the Pick 4 ticket off that game effort.
LRL 9th race (4:33 EST) -- YOUR ANALYSIS looms odds-on on the class drop and could live up to favoritism. He was unlucky to not win in his first one-mile test, then finished third last out, 6 lengths behind Crossland, who came back to win by 8-1/4 lengths. The winning time was 1-3/5 slower than a 3X $62,000 allowance and 1/5 off a triple ‘key’ Maryland-bred allowance. Look HERE AND NOFURTHER for a potential upsetter in the field. He has been heavily bet in every start but plagued by troubled trips sprinting. Now the son of Cigar Mile (G-I) winner Tonalist and Holiday Girl, whose offspring have finished first or second in 18 of 40 dirt routes, goes long for the first time.
Suggested 50-cent Ticket
LRL 6th race: 1, 2, 3, 9
LRL 7th race: ALL
LRL 8th race: 3, 5
LRL 9th race: 3, 4
COST: $56