Laurel Park: Stakes spot plays for March 19

Laurel Park (Photo by Maryland Jockey Club)

March 18th, 2022

A total of five stakes events will headline a major afternoon of racing at Laurel Park on Saturday. Below are a few of the horses that I will be tabbing for success in the big contests.

Race 7 – Not For Love S.

The Steve Asmussen-trained #7 Jaxon Traveler (7-2) appears to be controlling speed in the field from the outside post in the $75,000 dash for Maryland-bred runners. By Munnings, the four-year-old colt failed to hit the board for the first time in his career in his seasonal debut on the course most recently, but he is a dual winner on the strip and will make amends for that showing with a big run on Saturday. Victor Carrasco rides.

Wager:

$40 win #7 Jaxon Traveler ($40)

Race 9 – Beyond the Wire S.

Sophomore fillies will travel one-mile on the dirt, and I will tab #1 She Is Wisky (8-1) for a potential upset. The chestnut daughter of Lea was a huge runner-up in the Wide Country S. at 52-1 odds, and I don’t think that the performance was a fluke. Trained by Jose Corrales, she has put forth excellent efforts in two of her last trio of assignments, and I think that she will thrive on the stretch out to a mile for the initial time.

#7 Luna Belle (1-1) has been dominant during her current three-race win streak, and the Hamilton Smith pupil is a must-use, in my opinion.

Wagers:

$10 win and place #1 She Is Wisky ($20)
$10 exacta box 1-7 ($20)

Race 10 – Private Terms S.

Michael Trombetta’s #1 Conclusive (12-1) was the 9-5 choice in a race with many of these last time when finishing a distant sixth, but he can surely improve in a big way off of that at a fine price in this tilt. The Nyquist colt has a pair of route victories on the surface, and he could be the one to catch from the rail with a clean break on Saturday, as well. The inconsistent chestnut is worth including in all plays if he goes off at a number resembling his morning-line odds.