Best Horse Racing Bets Today | Laurel Park, October 12

With the Breeders’ Cup only three weeks away, and the horses expected to run there waiting for the big day at Del Mar, I will turn my attention to an important day of racing at Laurel Park. Maryland Million Day is a celebration for the local horses and features eight stakes races. The richest race on the program, the $150,000 Classic going 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-olds and up, boasts an extremely wide-open field of eleven including the top two finishers from last year, Market Maven and Ain’t Da Beer Cold.

Other races I will focus on include the Nursery for 2-year-olds going 6-furlongs, as well as a pair of races on the turf. The $125,000 Maryland Million Ladies is led by the Graham Motion-trained Active, while the classy Witty will be in search of a second straight victory in the $100,000 Turf Sprint. Without further ado, let’s get to my top picks and plays for this big day of racing at Laurel.

Race #2 Maryland Million Nursery $100,000 6-Furlongs Dirt - 12:00pm EST

A winner of a key maiden race in his career debut, Say Me True moves right up into stakes company as the morning line favorite in a field of eight juvenile males in the 6-furlong Maryland Million Nursery.

A son of Golden Lad, the Robert Bailes-trained runner began his career only four weeks ago when he was sent off as 17/10 favorite. He won by 1 3/4-lengths on the front end and the horses who finished second and third have both come back to win already. There is other speed in the race, but Say Me True might be the speed of the speed. 

Second choice on the morning line is Do It for Michael. He has won two of three starts for trainer John Robb, including a convincing allowance score last month at Laurel, where he has won both of his starts. The Uncle Lino gelding adds to the overall speed in the race.

If you are looking for someone to pick up the pieces late, both Sacred Thunder and Barbadian Runner could fit the bill. The former comes in off two straight wins at Delaware Park, while the latter has rallied for second in each of his last two starts after his maiden victory. I will play both under my top pick, Say Me True.

My Play

• $10 Exacta Key Box - Say Me True with Sacred Thunder and Barbadian Runner = $40

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Race #3 Maryland Million Ladies $125,000 1 1/8-Miles Turf - 12:36pm EST

Precious Avary is the defending race champion, but she will need to prove herself all over again when the speedy daughter Divining Rod faces seven other turf females in the $125,000 Maryland Million Ladies on the Laurel Park turf.  

While the 2024 form of last year’s winner is in question, it’s hard to fault the recent races of the Graham Motion-trained Active. The 3-year-old filly began her career slowly but has come around of late with two wins and two seconds in her last four starts. Most recently, she rallied for second in an allowance race at the Meadowlands.

Another strong contender in the Ladies figures to be the late-runner Downtown Katie. Consistent with her stretch kick, the 6-year-old grandaughter of Galileo should appreciate the stretch out to 9-furlongs on Saturday. She has finished first and second in her last two, both going 8 1/2-furlongs at Delaware Park. 

Juniper Juice also merits strong consideration here. Another 3-year-old, she has won three of her five starts on the turf. In her most recent start, she was a very easy winner on the Laurel Park turf course. Off that effort, she is dangerous, but Downtown Katie beat her two starts back. The experienced Downtown Katie will be my top pick in the Maryland Million Ladies.

My Play

• $10 Exacta Key Box - Downtown Katie with Active and Juniper Juice = $40

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Race #9 Maryland Million Turf Sprint $100,000 5 1/2-Furlongs Turf - 4:10pm EST

The class of the race and the defending champion, Witty will be the one they all have to beat on Saturday when he faces off against a full field in the $100,000 Maryland Million Turf Sprint at Laurel Park.

The 5-year-old grey gelding failed to fire last time out in the rich Turf Sprint (G2) at Kentucky Downs, but before that he rattled off five straight races where he finished either first or second against tough competition. In last year’s edition, he came from well back to blow by on the rail and won going away as the favorite.

Chief among his competition in this 5 1/2-furlong affair is another 5-year-old veteran, Whenigettoheaven. A three-time winner over the Laurel turf, he won the Ben’s Cat Stakes two starts back over the course. A solid second against good competition last time at Colonial Downs, he comes into this race in top form.

Trainer Brittany Russell is no stranger to the winner’s circle at Laurel, and she will try to get there in this race with the fleet filly Bosserati. The stakes winner has been knocking on the door of late and should be the one on the lead early here. Whenigettoheaven is the one I like best, however. He is the top pick.

My Plays 

• $10 Exacta Part Wheel - Whenigettoheaven over Witty, Bosserati, and Had to Have Him = $30

• $5 Exacta Part Wheel - Witty, Bosserati, and Had to Have Him over Whenigettoheaven = $15

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Race #11 Maryland Million Classic $150,000 1 1/8-Miles Dirt- 5:12pm EST

With seven horses listed between 9/2 and 6/1 on the morning line, it’s clear the oddsmaker sees the $150,000 Maryland Million Classic about as wide-open a race as you can get. Feeling Woozy is the one landed on a slight favorite on Saturday at Laurel Park. 

The son of Irish War Cry is a regular at Laurel, where he has finished in the top three in 11-of-18 starts at the Maryland oval. Coming into the race off some sharp efforts, he merits respect here. Still, I find little reason to like him any greater than several others in the race.  

A number of others need to be considered including last year’s winner Market Maven, as well as Brilliant Ice, who beat the morning line favorite in his most recent start, and Mosier Time, who was a sharp allowance winner over the track in his last. This appears to be a race with several horses on or near the early lead, so I will favor horses coming from off the pace.

If any horse comes running late to pick up the pieces, look for the sophomore Mugatu to be a prime candidate. With plenty of early speed in the 9-furlong test, things could set up well for the son of Blofeld. Coming in off eight straight stakes tries, he has kept strong company all year. He is the top pick.

My Play

• $20 Win - Mugatu and Market Maven = $40

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