The GQ Approach – Laurel August 10 – theracingbiz.com

Photo by Dottie Miller.

The GQ Approach features full-card selections from Laurel for the live summer racing meet, Post Time 1:10pm EDT including a daily Best Bet, Longshot Play, and multi-race wagers — including the 20 cent Rainbow Pick-6, 50 cent Early and Late Pick-5s, as well as Pick-4s and rolling Doubles, Pick-3s and the Super High-5.

Analysis

• Weather: Mostly Cloudy; highs in the 80s
• Scheduled turf races: 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th
• Projected track conditions: Main – FAST / Turf – YIELDING

First Race Post Time 1:10pm EDT

Race 1 is ON THE TURF

1. #4 – Baltimore Babe (3-1): Away since last October after showing promise in all 3 turf sprints against better; resurfaces for different trainer who could use a W (1 for 24 in ’19); nice quartet of works with most recent a bullet 
2. #8 – Tempted by Tito’s (7-2): Speedster might benefit from firmer ground breaking from the outside as the Laurel inner lawn has been yielding the past two days; 7 lb. bug A. Whisman has done well with turf runners   
3. #5 – Sweetbriar (15-1): Forgettable debut 3 weeks ago when $40kMCL came off the turf; drops a level for trainer J. Casey who has a +2.67 ROI with turf starters     

Race 2 

1. #5 – Higher Purpose (2-1): Runner-up in latest at this same level as he got leg weary in deep stretch going 6 furlongs; cuts back a 1/16th and appears he could get an easy lead and have enough left in the tank to hold off the Closers
2. #2 – Crazed (8-5): Logical choice saddled by A. Pecoraro who will give J. Rose a leg up; this duo has met back at the Winners Circle at a 44% clip over the past year; will need to pressure on top pick early because the others in here won’t be able to  
3. #7 – Cottonall (5-1): Invader from Prx gets much needed class relief as this gelding faced N4L a half dozen times while eligible for N3L; been a year since he’s finished better than fourth… today seems to be best shot      

Race 3 is ON THE TURF

1. #9 – Dixie Cannon (5-1): $$$ LONGSHOT $$$ Stretches out to one mile after getting going late sprinting on turf in debut to be fourth behind two next out maiden winners; has pedigree to handle distance and trainer K. Rubley scores at 20% clip with runners second start on grass 
2. #1 – Melissani (4-1): KY-bred FTS by Malibu Moon out of a Galileo mare should take to the turf like a duck to water; like the work pattern which features bullets on both dirt and Tapeta at Fair Hill; interesting that trainer M. Stidham also has #8 and gives leg up to jock he’s used more often than J. Toledo    
3. #5 – Lucky Jingle (2-1): Tonalist 2-year-old filly took to Sar turf in debut going two turns to the tune of a SHOW finish; the G. Motion trainee returns to home state hoping to face a softer group of gals

Race 4

1. #7 – Lonely Drifter (8-5): Seeks 8th consecutive victory, 12th overall in just 20th start!  Not bad for a SC-bred who wins going long, short and middle distances; gets nice pace setup in here as well    
2. #1 – Bring Me Answers (3-1): Fits this spot as she has been successful at this Starter level this year; reunited with journeyman K. Gomez who was aboard for last trip to Winners Circle  
3. #2 – Lil Mave (9-2): Has a string of 14 consecutive in-the-money finishes but the waters get deeper today as she gets first start in a Starter Allowance event; a bridesmaid in only two starts on the Lrl dirt oval   

Race 5 is ON THE TURF

1. #3 – Friesing Waters (5-2):  *** BEST BET *** Pace play here as she should duplicate her maiden win with a gate-to-wire score; her competition lacks early speed so jock J. Pimentel should be able to cruise to the lead without asking for her best until deep stretch 
2. #4 – Veil Dance (4-1): Lone win came on the turf but that was over 3 years ago! Missed by a nose in latest at this level in third race after layoff; speed figs have been climbing    
3. #1 – War Tweet (5-1): Can boast the best career Brisnet turf number (85) of this group but is still winless on the grass after thirteen attempts as is her trainer at Lrl the past year (0 for 24); change in rider today could end both droughts  

Race 6 is ON THE TURF

1. #1 – Speed Game (9-2): Trainer S. Davis has this runner moving in the right direction after claiming this 5-year-old gelding 4 races back for $12,500; look for jock V. Carrasco to get a nice stalking trip and get first run on the early speed
2. #4 – Sir Brahms (5-1): Has faced tougher company while being just a couple lengths behind the winner; likes the Lrl lawn (6:2-0-2) and may have bounced in latest following a huge effort where he earned a 90 Brisnet turf number
3. #8 – My Brothersledge (7-2): Hard fought victory in last outing against restricted MD sired/breds; following in big sisters path though she’s a MD Million stakes winner (My Sistersledge) who also won here last week; time for little brother to take another step forward     

Race 7 is ON THE TURF

1. #2 – Mai Ty One On (8-5): Decent effort on Mth turf in minor stakes when clear third; returns to Lrl lawn after a successful 4-race campaign here last summer (4:1-1-1); trainer J. Cibelli’s only entry on the card    
2. #3 – Eastern Bay (7-2): Reclaimed in last effort by trainer F. Allen III in which he won; only runner in here with a win at this 6 furlong distance on turf; gets hot riding 5 lb. bug J. Correa   
3. #6 – Fielder (8-1): Giving this outsider a shot over more likely ones as he seems to run better on a turf course with some “give” in it which should be the case at Lrl today; getting an extra 1/16th and J. Pimentel back in the irons are other reasons to like his chances 

Race 8 

1. #3 – Road to Oz (5-2): Should improve off that runner-up finish in first race after K. Magee $16k claim when dropped a level and was absent from races for 9 weeks; J. Correa picked this one to ride over #2 (12-1) and #5… Hmmm    
2. #5 – Hey Prez (4-1): Second start with blinkers often generates positive results; takes appropriate drop in hopes of reversing downward trend of speed figs since he was claimed three back out of $20kMCL win at Kee in April    
3. #1 – Tattered (8-5): Never OTB at this distance (6:1-4-1) with a second and a third in only two efforts over the Lrl dirt oval BUT seems he’s way off form as he tired badly in both starts this year in first-level allowance events, the latest 40 days ago; vulnerable favorite     

Race 9 is ON THE TURF

1. #3 – Grandiflora (7-2): Need head examined making this 5-time winner from 53 starts a top pick but combo of going 6 furlongs against a half dozen who might be best at 5 1/2 furlongs; time for 8-year-old to end his 16-race winless streak racing at lowest level of career    
2. #1 – Bobcat (6-1): Been trying to get back on turf in last two at Prx but Mother Nature had other plans; won on Del turf last Summer v. $16kN3L going 7 1/2 furlongs in gate-to-wire fashion which is possible today if he can outbreak ML favorite #2 – Keep Talking (2-1)  
3. #7 – I Ain’t Never (4-1): Only runner in here who has won at this distance when he beat $16kN2L nearly a year ago on this turf course; off the pace style bodes well as a pace duel is likely; first time in an open claimer