LAUREL OCTOBER 20

$18 bet
$14.20 returned.

1: Itchy Garrett if ML 5/1 holds. Eminently passable race for agonizingly slow 2 year olds.

2: *Max's Gal (113@86) has woken up to be almost unbeatable this year. 3/2.
*Young and Fabulous (114@82) is declining.
Max's Gal placed.

3: Longshot race on the turf with four contenders.
*Philly Gal, but Servis is 0/44 in prepping horses for their first turf.
*Fancy Footsteps, 113@82, 2/2 on the turf and fabulous turf jockey.
*Fareena 114@78, won maiden shortie, Folgesonger is a 9% turf jockey.
*Rivanna 112@78 ditto, Rodriguez wins 11% on the grass.
Fancy Footsteps has the right jock and is well advanced from his competitors, having won at a distance.
Fareena paid $3.40 big deal.

4: The ML picks Loose Star, a firster, at 2/1. The situation screams 7/1.
*Punchthemagistrate (111@85) is a nice horse in the hands of a miserable trainer.
He had no speed in two sprints, then led three turf routes in a row and faded. He comes from a line of sprinters, and today is entered for a mile. Certainly no bet at the ML of 5/2, but maybe if higher. Everybody else may be even worse.
Placed at 4-1.

5: Hot chalk: Cherna.
Clipped heels at back of pack.

6: Cruise Over Clover (112@74) is listed at 9/5, winning big for Scott Lake and then being bumped up one class. He looks like a 3/1 horse. It took him 23 races to get 2 wins, so why would he be 9/5 today?
*Annie O is not in form, but has a win far, far above this level. Could wake up at 4/1.
*Torneau (11@65) absolutely loves to place. 2/1 is a nutty ML.
*Clay's a Hero (114@73) returns to the exact circumstances where he last won. 5/1 would be a steal on a horse that's 3/8 at Laurel.
Annie O at 3/1.

7: Longshot turf scramble with at least 6 real contenders.
Post bias is severely inside, so we take Inside Lane (well named for this particular race) as the best horse with an advantaged post. 10/1
After further thought, no bet.

8: Maiden two year olds with 4 contenders.
*Walla Walla 114@80
*Gattopardo 114@80 but ran tougher.
*Frenchaman's Cove 114@82 and Graham means business at this meet.
*Hackensack 111@79 and cold chalk at 2/1
Gattapard paid $9.40


9: Hot chalk: Jeux De Danse was trucked down here from Elmont for the express purpose of finding a soft allowance. 3/2.
Jeux paid $4.80

10: THE SONNY HINE, three true contenders.
*On the Vineyard 119@98 7/2
*Ravallo 119@98 10/1 quite generous. Bettors have not learned to respect races at PID, but they soon will.
*Jacob's Run 119@99 2/1
All of the above are equals so:
-- Play the best odds
-- Trifecta box.
Ravalo finished last at 6/1.

11: 14 cheap maidens, cold chalk, virtually unplayable. Still, somebody's gotta win this. The race will most likely default to:
*Five Mill
*Falmouth
*Sequins of Events
*Fantastic Foe
Might make a good back end of a double wheel.
Five Mill at 2/1.