Laurel Park stakes spot plays for Dec. 26

Laurel Park certainly knows how to celebrate Christmas!

While there won’t be any racing on Christmas Day, the nine-race Saturday card at Laurel Park is stacked with high-class racing. Eight stakes events worth a combined $850,000 are on the slate, highlighted by the $150,000 Allaire  du Pont (G3) for fillies and mares.

Let’s take $60 and put together a handful of spot plays for the du Pont and the preceding $100,000 Native Dancer S, which has drawn a small but quality field.

Race 7: Native Dancer S. (1 1/8 miles, 3:23 p.m. ET)

Pimlico Special (G3) winner #4 Harpers First Ride (3-5) is going to be an overwhelming favorite, after he rallied to a three-length victory in the Richard W. Small S. at Laurel Park last month.

But I believe #1 Cordmaker (7-2) can put up a good fight.

In the Small, Cordmaker was compromised by traffic around the far turn. Whereas Cordmaker had nowhere to run at a key point in the race, Harpers First Ride was able to rally unencumbered on the far outside.

By the time Cordmaker secured racing room, Harpers First Ride was long gone. But to Cordmaker’s credit, he cut into the winner’s margin through the final furlong to finish clearly second-best.

With a clean trip Saturday, Cordmaker can turn the tables on Harpers First Ride. Let’s play Cordmaker on top of a cold exacta, then single him to kick off a straight double.

$20 exacta: 1 with 4
$10 double: 1 with 4
Total: $30

Race 8: Allaire du Pont (G3, 1 1/8 miles, 3:53 p.m. ET)

What a difference a year and a half has made for #4 Eres Tu (2-1).

In early 2019, the daughter of Malibu Moon was a capable performer. She hit the board in the Silverbulletday S., Rachel Alexandra (G2), and Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks.

But after an extended break, Eres Tu has come back better than ever. After she employed pace-tracking tactics to win a 1 1/16-mile allowance at Keeneland, Eres Tu fired off a sharp victory in the Thirty Eight Go Go S. at Laurel, where she pressed the early tempo and pounced to victory.

The du Pont field doesn’t contain much pace on paper, so Eres Tu’s tactical speed is a big asset. She can continue her ascent Saturday, with #2 Another Broad, #3 Landing Zone, and #5 Ice Princess rounding out the minor awards.

$18 to win on #4 Eres Tu
$2 trifecta: 4 with 2,3,5 with 2,3,5 ($12)
Total: $30

Good luck!