Good luck and bet on early races if you want action. Why? With the frigid temperatures projected for Monday, there is a good chance that the jockeys come in after the first or second race and say “no more”. If it is so cold that their hands go numb, they can’t control the horses and bad things happen. Aqueduct cancelled Monday’s card already saving Mick some work. Oh well. Spring is still only 8 weeks away.
Picks for January 21, 2019:
Snow, rain or dark of night? All of that is in the past and has been replaced by numbing cold. Assume fast and frozen or very deep to protect against freezing
Laurel Park Race 1
Maiden $10K boys long. A collection of underachievers. The great thing is that somebody gets to break his maiden today. Look for 4-Oy to the World to finally get his win. He was behind 1-Expect Drama last out but the added distance and inclusion of a second turn should give him the opportunity to get first jump on that one and hold off 7-Trion Wings.
$ 10 W/P/S 4-Oy to the World|
$0.50 Trifecta box 1,4,7
Laurel Park Race 2
$16K non 2 life for fillies and mares going long. The standout 5-Rag Top won’t pay a lot but it’s hard to see her not beating these. No one else has shown the speed and class.
$20 W/P/S 5-Rag Top
Parx Race 1
Maiden $20K 3-year-old boys. None of these have shown whether any distance is their preferred distance, much less whether 7f is. Therefore, make it simple and go with 6-Five More Minutes. This one is the standout on form and was rolling late last out. He won’t pay a bundle but it will take a serious role reversal for anyone else to win here.
$10 W/P/S 6-Five More Minutes
Parx Race 2
Maiden $10K for PA bred older boys. This race is so bad that all but one of the top jockeys is off this race. Look for the somewhat aptly named 7-Left for Dead to break through for backstretch regular Steve Krebs. No one will mistake this horse for Banjo Picker but that shouldn’t matter in here.
$10 Win 7-Left for Dead
And now for some quickies….
Laurel Park Race 3
6-Devotion in Motion looks well placed here following the less than stellar debut at Penn National. Trainer Hugh McMahon changes one Davis for another in the saddle, getting Katie Davis, who wins at 23% for him.
Laurel Park Race 4
Optional $50K for boys at 8f. Excellent field with tons of back class. Beating 3-Moe Trouble will be tough but look outside to 7-Speightsford to accomplish the feat. Trevor McCarthy should get the dream trip sitting outside of Moe Trouble and waiting to pounce.
Parx Race 3
$7500 non 2 life for fillies and mares at 7f. Same comment as for Race 1 here. But this race is not nearly as straightforward since 4-Glowing Star showed her promise on an off track. Try the 11-year-old 3-Border. Maybe the 2+ years off is what she needed.
Parx Race 4
Maiden 3 year old boys at . . . 7f! Not much moving of the starting gate at Parx today. Try the firster, 5-Joshuabullieved. Works have been meh but expect Danny Velazquez to get off the schneid here.