We canvass the 1/ST BET statistical database each week to bring you up to speed with racing at Laurel Park. Check back weekly for statistical trends and tidbits for premier racing in Maryland. And be sure to support Laurel Park by betting with 1/ST BET, the official betting app of Maryland Jockey Club.

Headlines

Due to last Friday’s cancellation, Laurel Park adds Thursday racing to this coming week … Hibiscus Punch’s $85.60 return in Saturday’s Grade 3 Barbara Fritchie was the nation’s second-highest payout in a graded stakes so far in 2021. Only Captivating Moon ($89) paid more in the Grade 3 Fair Grounds Stakes … Laurel-based 2019 Remsen winner Shotski returns to his homebase to run for the first time since his maiden breaker when he battles Thursday in the Race 8 allowance co-feature … Grade 3 Vagrancy and local What a Summer Stakes winner Victim of Love makes her first start Friday in a Race 9 allowance since finishing third in Saratoga’s Grade 1 Ballerina … Nominations close Saturday for Laurel’s next major stakes day, a 5-event bonanza March 13 that includes the $100,000 Private Terms on the Preakness path.

Stronach 5

Last week’s Stronach 5 was cancelled due to weather issues at Laurel Park. Stronach 5 races this Friday, February 26, will be:

Leg A: Laurel Park Race 9 with a post time of 4:17 pm ET
Leg B: Santa Anita Race 3
Leg C: Gulfstream Race 8
Leg D: Laurel Race 10
Leg E: Golden Gate Fields Race 3

1/ST BET Top Factors Last Week:

Horseplayers using the 1/ST BET app saw the most success with these 3 of the 52 handicapping filters for Laurel, each posting at least 24% wins. The factor Trainer Current Meet posted 33% wins and a massive $108.80 profit if you bet $2 on every top choice in that factor to win.

Avg. Best 2 of 3 Speed
Trainer Current Meet
Last Race Class

Trends Last Week

Note: Laurel ran only 18 races last week (for the second straight week) due to weather-related cancellations.

-- Jockey Horacio Karamanos had an impressive 11: 3-1-3 record that included a massive $5.48 ROI for every $1 bet. He had $12, $22 and $85 winners.

-- Trainer Jerry Robb won the Wide Country Stakes with red-hot Street Lute and is now 13: 6-1-2 at Laurel since Jan. 30.

-- Trainer Justin Nixon won with both starters he sent out, netting $11 and $85 returns – the latter by Hibiscus Punch in the Grade 3 Barbara Fritchie. No other trainer won multiple races last week.

-- The jockey-trainer tandem of Angel Cruz and Claudio Gonzalez has a 5-for-11 record the past 3 weeks.

-- Favorites tallied 3 of the 6 Winter Sprintfest Stakes on Saturday.